Time to Buy a Home in Wilmette, Illinois!
If you are looking for a home, the Wilmette, Illinois, and North Shore, areas are the ideal location.
While there are many spots to find a home, you want a house with more than four walls and a backyard. You want a location that offers all the amenities a person could ask for, and the Wilmette and North Shore areas are exactly what you are looking for.
To help you to make the right choice, we have answered some questions you may have.
How Far Is Wilmette from Chicago?
Wilmette is the perfect location for those who work in the Chicago area. Getting to Wilmette from Chicago is just a 16-mile trip, and public transportation is available for you to easily get to work, enjoy a day shopping, or watch a game at one of the many sports teams in the area. You can take either the bus or the Metra train to reach downtown, and there are easy-to-navigate roads. In fact, riding the train takes just 49 minutes, a comfortable ride while you get those last-minute tasks done for reaching work.
Why Wilmette Is a Nice Place to Live?
Easy access to downtown is great, but you likely also want to know why Wilmette is a perfect place to live. It starts with a fantastic community, offering great schools and a comfortable lifestyle. It is located near Lake Michigan, providing a great day to go out to the lake, sit by the shore, or enjoy a relaxing walk with the cool lake breeze on your face.
The downtown area offers a lot for you to do. There is a two-screen multiplex that is located on Central Avenue. This theatre shows contemporary movies as well as classic films. They also host live performances at times.
The Plaza del Lago is one of the country's oldest shopping centres and offers an array of retailers and shops that will handle any of your needs. The Bahá'í House of Worship is also located downtown and offers free tours.
The Wilmette area offers a great school district where students are offered the best in athletics and academics. Many of the students go on to the very best universities in the country.
This is a safe area where crime is very rare. This is one of the most attractive aspects of Wilmette, as it offers the ability to get to all of the great things in the Chicago area without concerns about some of the challenges that Chicago has faced in recent years. This is truly a very nice place to live.
What Are the Best Restaurants in Wilmette?
Because you live in the greater Chicago area, you will be able to enjoy the best restaurants the region offers. Chicago has a restaurant that can serve just about any pallet desired. However, the restaurants in Wilmette are fantastic as well. You do not need to go downtown or to the suburbs to find great food. Some of the very best restaurants include:
Sophia Steak
This neighborhood steakhouse is located on the North Shore and is known for incredible stakes and fantastic hospitality.
Torino Ramen
Offers fantastic Japanese food, including the best ramen outside of Tokyo.
Pit & Tap
Offers brisket, pulled pork, and chicken, all cooked in their wood-burning smoker known as "Big Earl."
Pescadero
Get incredible oysters and other seafood.
Homer’s Ice Cream
Homer's Ice Cream is an iconic Wilmette, IL establishment that has been serving delicious homemade ice cream since 1935. In addition to its scrumptious ice cream flavors, the restaurant also serves classic burgers, dogs, and sandwiches.
Depot Nuevo
Offers incredible Mexican gourmet food and a tequila bar to boot.
Village Lodge Tavern
They offer incredible food and host a wide variety of live events.
Napolita
Get authentic Italian pizza cooked using a wood-burning oven.
Central Station Coffee
The perfect place to get premium coffee before you board the train.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Wilmette in the Summer?
If you want to know the best things to do in Wilmette in the summer, you should know there are many great things to do. Because of its proximity to Gillson Beach, you can enjoy incredible activities for people of all ages. This includes your dogs, who can join you on the beach. There is plenty of parking available. The main parking lot requires a lakefront sticker or a daily parking pass. If Gillson Beach is free, know that you can swim here, but it requires a pass which can be purchased at the park or online. You also can use your personal kayak or stand-up paddle boat. Boat rentals are available on the weekend as well.
At the beach, there are picnic areas for you to enjoy a meal with family and friends while you enjoy your day at the beach. You can purchase a picnic area for the day, which includes shelters or pavilions, at an additional cost. Boat rentals are available on the weekend, and there is plenty of water to enjoy for swimming.
Of course, plenty of great sports are happening in the Chicago area because of your location. Not only do you have Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs, but several minor league teams are also in the area, including the Chicago Dogs and the Schaumburg Boomers.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Wilmette in Winter?
Just because it is winter does not mean you need to stay inside. You will find that the best things to do in Wilmette in the winter mean you can enjoy outdoor activities, including skiing and snowboarding, ice skating, and cross-country skiing. Some trails are available for cross-country skiing, and great skiing and snowboarding resorts are located near Wilmette.
Once again, because you are close to Chicago, there is great professional action for sports. The Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), and the Chicago Bears (NFL) all play within close proximity to you. Plus, there is great minor-league hockey with the Chicago Wolves and the Rockford Ice Hogs.
How Are the Schools in Wilmette in District 39?
Moving to any area will have you wanting to know how the schools are in Wilmette. That is a good question you will be happy to learn the answer to. This is one of Illinois's most highly rated districts, ranked in the top 5% among schools in the state. There are six schools, including the Wilmette Elementary School, Wilmette Middle School, and Wilmette high school.
Besides the public schools, there are a number of private schools, including Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican high school, St. Francis Xavier School, and St. Joseph school, all run by the Catholic Church. The Baker Demonstration school is an alternative school in the area.
Students in the Wilmette area rank in the top five in both math and reading proficiency. As of 2023, over 3400 students were attending the six public schools.
How Do I Find a Home in Wilmette?
Now that you have seen all that Wilmette, Illinois, has to offer, there is no doubt that you will find that this is the right location for you. However, finding the right home for you takes a seasoned professional, and that is what you will find at Zenlist. You can work with top realtors like Laura, who has successfully matched hundreds of clients with homes throughout the region.
