That motto belongs to Racine for a reason. Having grown up there as a child and since moving to central Florida, there is not a hot, humid summer that goes by that I don’t long for home. The people are second to none that I have ever met, and the understated beauty and simplicity of Lake Michigan is a sight to behold. Downtown’s Main St. is full of quaint and unique little shops, cafes and charm. You’re never too far from a corner pub to pop into and make new friends, and the Racine Zoo is a perfect way to spend a spring afternoon.
The variety of places to grab a bite never ceases to impress me each and every time I come home. From a greasy spoon diner where you can get an entire meal for just about the price of a gallon of gas, to the elegant and posh resturants along Lake Michigan, Racine will not leave you hungry in the least. Friday night fish fry’s are a staple of midwestern life, and Racine in no exception. Cliff’s Boathouse on Hamilton is no bigger than my kitchen, but they have the best fish fry… hands down.
I’ll be heading home for a visit at the end of the month, and I couldn’t be happier. You won’t find a lot of “exciting night life” in Racine, but if you’re in the market for a city with deep seeded roots and people to go with it, Racine is a great place to be.
Make sure you check out Inside Out on Main St. It’s a funky, eclectic little shop with some of the most decorative and colorful home accents you’ll ever find. The saleswoman I met (I believe her name was Nancy) was just the type of person that makes Racine (and the parts of Wisconsin that I’ve been to) one of the greatest places to be.