The Quad Cities (made up of 5 cities) is the largest metropolitan area on the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and St. Louis. It is three hours west of Chicago and two and a half hours east of Des Moines, Iowa. The area has recently been ranked as a “best place to live” and is known for safe neighborhoods, short commute times and a reasonable cost of living.   The community is fortunate to have excellent schools (in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas), the Niabi Zoo, museums, fine arts, a local festival scene, minor league baseball and hockey, and many seasonal outdoor activities.   The John Deere Classic, PGA Tour event, and the Bix 7 road race bring in people from all over the world every summer.