Peoria is a nice city for a city of its size – metro area of 370,000 people. Many cities of this size do not have the many ameneties that Peoria has and this has been documented in several publications where metropolitan places are rated. There are many things to do here although some obviously have not tried hard enough to find. I am from Peoria, leaving in Chicago, and wanting so badly to come back. It is a very liveable city.