Escape to this spacious four-bedroom retreat in an affluent neighborhood, close to Lake Michigan and the Chicago Botanical Garden. Enjoy sunny days at home or ride the Lake Shore Bike trail all the way to downtown Chicago for beautiful scenery.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Add dates for prices
About this property
Serene Retreat Awaits You!
Set in the midst of an affluent neighborhood, this spacious and sunny four bedroom retreat offers all the comforts of a home away from home. With it's perfect location close to Lake Michigan, Chicago Botanical Garden, Ravinia, Naval Base, and Six Flags Great America to name a few, our family home is within reach to Chicago as well. If you feel very adventurous, just leave your car in garage, pick up a bike and ride the Lake Shore Bike trail all the way to downtown Chicago, enjoying the beautiful scenery. If you feel less adventures but still would like to enjoy beautiful scenery, you can do it by taking a train. Metra can get you downtown Chicago in less than 45 min. and the stop is within walking distance.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the house: WiFi
Parking and transport
Onsite parking options include a garage
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee grinder
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Ice maker
Lobster/crab pot
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Bedrooms
4 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2.5 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Books
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
Pet friendly
Welcoming dogs only
Up to 9 kg per pet
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Safe
Location highlights
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near an outlet shopping centre
Things to do
Basketball nearby
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Golfing nearby
Swimming nearby
Theme park nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total (up to 9 kg per pet)
Note from host: Pets must stay on bottom floors
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Must be respectful to our home.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20
Note from host: Must be respectful to our home.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
About the area
Located in Highland Park, this holiday home is near theme parks. The Glen Town Center and MainStreet Libertyville are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Michigan and Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area. Travelling with kids? Consider Northbrook Sports Complex, or check out an event or a game at Ryan Field. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling nearby. Visit our Highland Park travel guide
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.
How much is parking at Serene Retreat Awaits You! ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Serene Retreat Awaits You! ?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Serene Retreat Awaits You! ?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Serene Retreat Awaits You! located?
This family-friendly Highland Park holiday home is within 3 mi (5 km) of Moraine Park and Lake Michigan. Highland Park Ambulatory Care Center and Park Avenue Boating-Fishing Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km). Highwood Station is 21 minutes by foot and Highland Park Fort Sheridan Station is 26 minutes.
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Serene Retreat Awaits You! Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
This is our 4th stay at the house. It's always clean, and the hosts are immediately responsive when we've had questions. Kids love the air hockey, we make good use of the long dining table, and we all appreciate the large spaces.
This is a great house in a beautiful neighborhood. My family of five stayed here for four nights while we were visiting for my son’s graduation from Navy bootcamp. The beds were comfy and there was plenty of room for all of us. The house is located about 20 mins from Great Lakes Naval Station which made it convenient for us going back and forth. The owners were very helpful and quick to respond to any questions we had. We enjoyed the fire-pit in the backyard. I would definitely stay here again.
This property was perfect for 9 of us. The check in was easy and instructions clear. There was an issue with the gas (no fault of the hosts) and they were extremely responsive and the issue was resolved immediately. Great location with easy driving to downtown and surrounding suburbs.
We stayed for 5 nights visiting my son and his family. Location was perfect, close to where we needed to be and very clean and spacious. Would definitely stay again.
highly recommend. Kitchen has it all, beds very comfortable with high quality linens. Outdoor nicely landscaped, comforable with great seating.
CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN
This house was perfect for our stay with family for our daughter's graduation from pharmacy school in Chicago. The house was very clean and its decor is very peaceful. The main level is spacious with a very large dining table and chairs connected to kitchen. The basement provided adequate room for young family members who wanted to play air hockey or watch tv. Upstairs showers were warm and water pressure was fantastic. The backyard is very beautiful and inviting with a neat fire pit and great chairs. Owners were quick to respond to any questions or concerns. It was truly a great stay!
No issues or complaints about the property. It was an ideal location and distance to Great Lakes. Restaurants and shopping close by, about a 40 minute trip to downtown Chicago.
Angela E.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
thomas h.
19 July 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
The location was perfect. The beds very comfortable and laundry made our stay very convenient. The house overall was rundown and not that clean. These items are easy to fix.
On our third year at this property, we once again connected with our Chicago-area family in a beautiful setting. The hosts remained accessible before, after and during our visit.
Great for proximity to Highland Park activities. Our friends live less than 10 minutes from the property and it is close to downtown HP and train into the city. There were 2 couples and one single and plenty of room for all. Property was clean and spacious. Would stay again.
Five friends and I stayed at Serene Retreat, and it worked very well for us. We were close to the METRA station, which made it simple to get into Chicago; the house was roomy and easy to manage; and we spent each morning drinking coffee and sitting on the back patio, as chipmunks scurried back and forth. Also the hosts were incredibly responsive. Will definitely use again when we're back in Chicago.
I believe our traveling party had a wonderful visit and the home fit the bill to celebrate my daughter and a few of her classmates’ graduation from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Loved all the space, both indoors and outdoors. Very clean, with everything we could need. The house does have multiple levels and steps, which may be an issue for someone with mobility or visual challenges. I work with many individuals with extra needs so this was something on my radar. . I wish I had know prior to booking was that the house is right across the street from fire department. Fortunately it wasn't a very busy department, and we only heard the trucks and sirens a couple of times. Otherwise the house was a great fit for us and we would stay there again if back in town.
Particularly appreciated for this 7-night stay were the hosts' gracious manner, informative messages, and prompt response to questions. The home's highlights include its large dining room table, comfortable lower-level family room w/ large screen TV, spacious laundry room, and 2-car garage. The home's location is quiet yet provides quick access to major transportation routes. Overall, the home is well-appointed, welcoming, and comfortable. Would rent again.
Stuart G.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023
Verified
8/10 Good
Rachael V.
13 May 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Lake Forest College Graduation
Proximity to college and activities is good and overall worked very well for our family gathering, but some details lacking in description and surprised us. House sits on a corner lot on VERY busy streets next to a FIRE STATION. The best thing about this house is its large, open (well-equipped) kitchen and dining area were GREAT for hosting family graduation celebration. Backyard area and patio had nice seating areas and area for a couple yard games (dead plants and pots could be cleared away). House is actually a SPLIT LEVEL with several flooring levels/transitions- difficult for elderly and no main floor bedroom or bathroom. Disclosing bedroom and bathroom locations should be required in VRBO description since some people have accessibility concerns. The bathrooms are very small, and the upstairs bathrooms need updated. A few updates, deep cleaning, and decluttering (abundance of real and fake plants) would be beneficial. The basement pull-out sofa is not a traditional queen sofa (does not fit 2 adults since you have to sleep sideways). The other sleeping accommodations for the 11th/12th person is an even smaller couch or blow-up mattress. The property comfortably sleeps 8 adults with 2 sleeping in the twin beds. Overall, the house worked fine and accommodated us for a fun graduation celebration.
We wanted a house where out three generations could stay comfortably and we could also host the nearby extended family. This was perfect for us to host about 20 for a holiday dinner. It's unusual to find a large dining table, enough seating, modern bathrooms and little touches like kids' games. The air hockey table got constant use! When we texted the owner because we had a little trouble with the keys, the owner was responsive and everything went smoothly after that.
The location, house, and accommodations could not have been better for our multi-generational gathering. There was privacy for all and a big kitchen, dining room, and backyard for us be together. We had everything we needed and the owners could not have been more helpful and responsive. Thank you!!!
Everything was perfect. The kitchen is fully stocked which was an added plus.
The only thing I would add is direction on how to work the thermostat. Fortunately, we were able to figure it out but it took a day or so.