My last day of school was this past Wednesday, so I made the journey home on Thursday. Prior to Thursday, I couldn’t wait to leave school. Not because I didn’t want to be with my friends or on campus, but just because I needed a break from schoolwork and stress. But on my three-hour drive home, I realized a couple things: a lot of my friends are staying in their college towns, working a summer job elsewhere or just going to be gone a lot throughout the summer. But since I’ve been home, I haven’t been too down about the fact that not a lot of my friends will be here all summer. I've actually been pretty happy. Don't get me wrong, I would love it if they were here. But, I think I'm just happy that I'm home.

While I'm at school, I get homesick easily. I can obviously attribute this to my family and friends, but I also think it's just because of how great my hometown is. I'm not saying other hometowns aren't, because to some, I'm sure they are. But to me, Des Moines is the best home I could ask for. Des Moines is growing constantly with new places, new people and new activities. I may be biased, but Des Moines is the best place to be and here are a couple reasons why:

1. The food.

No matter what you're in the mood for, there’s always somewhere to go. To name a few: Zombie Burger, Jethro’s BBQ, Fong’s, etc. On top of that, there’s always somewhere new to try. When driving around, I’m constantly seeing new places here and there and I get so excited to try them. I am hoping to cross quite a few off my list while I’m home for the summer!

2. The entertainment.

No matter what age you are, there’s always something fun going on around Des Moines and its surrounding suburbs. Of course, the options expand once you’re 21, but that’s the case no matter where you are. But, there’s always something going on. To name a few, Des Moines is home to the Iowa State Fair, Nitefall On The River, Des Moines Arts Festival, the Iowa Cubs, beautiful bike trails and parks, Brenton Skating Plaza, the Downtown Farmer's Market and so many others. There’s always somewhere to go and sights to see around Des Moines. You're never bored around here.

3. It's not too far from the country scene.

When in central Des Moines, I would say the farthest you'd have to drive in order to get outside of the busy city would be about a half hour. If you need some quiet, want to stargaze for a night or just want to see some green fields, it’s not too far out of the way. For example, just about 30 minutes outside of central Des Moines is where the Ashton Observatory Deck is located, where you can see plenty of stars and views you wouldn’t have access to within the city. I've been wanting to check out this place for a while now, so hopefully I'll have time to go this summer! Des Moines is the perfect distance from any country scene that you could need.

4. The people.

I think you’ve heard it before, but the Midwest is best. I’ve heard it from so many different people around town. Whenever people travel elsewhere, they come back and say, “You know, (insert location here) was great, but I’ve missed the people in Des Moines. Everyone’s friendlier here.” And it’s true. Des Moines has the best people around, and you can’t argue that. Everyone's friendly and just happy to be where they are. On top of pleasant strangers, Des Moines is the perfect size that allows you to see at least one person you know no matter where you are. Its always nice to see people from high school or old family friends every now and then!

5. Family.

No matter what is happening in the city of Des Moines, my family is here. I'll always have someone to hang out with or to visit with when I come home, and that’s probably the best part about being in Des Moines. They make me laugh, and they love me no matter what. Even if it's just watching a movie at home or getting dinner somewhere, my family is here and that's the most important part.

6. It's home.

There’s no better feeling than driving into town and seeing that beautiful skyline. It may be tiny compared to other cities, but it's big in my eyes because it's the city I grew up loving. The comfort I feel while driving in on Interstate 80 is one of the best parts about coming home; it's so satisfying and comforting. I'm proud to call the city of Des Moines my home.