Winthrop Harbor is known for having the largest marina on the Great Lakes. In fact, it draws nearly a million tourists each year, who take advantage of the various recreational facilities, including the beach, that the marina offers.
Winthrop Harbor is a small village located in Illinois, very close to the Wisconsin border, and right on Lake Michigan
Winthrop Harbor is known for having the largest marina on the Great Lakes. In fact, it draws nearly a million tourists each year, who take advantage of the various recreational facilities, including the beach, that the marina offers.
Winthrop Harbor is a small village located in Illinois, very close to the Wisconsin border, and right on Lake Michigan. The population consists of about 6,700 permanent residents (not counting tourists!), and the land area is about four and a half square miles. Within the village limits, you'll find a variety of parks, beaches and fun things to do, so you just might feel like you're on vacation year-round when you call Winthrop Harbor home. Welcome to the cornerstone of Illinois!
If you are planning to move to Winthrop Harbor, you might want to time your move to not coincide with the major tourist season, which is basically from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The reason for this is because not only will you be contending with crowds when you're trying to maneuver your moving truck, but you might also find it difficult to find an apt for rent in Winthrop Harbor; landlords who have vacancies may offer up their spaces to tourists, who are usually ready and willing to pay top dollar for those few months. Once the crowds die down in September, the rental rates will too, making it easier for you to swoop in and get a good deal.
Now, if you're looking for a studio apartment in an apartment complex, Winthrop Harbor might not be the best place to begin your search. Most of the vacancies in this village are going to consist of two- and three-bedroom houses for rent, with a few larger houses and a few smaller apartments thrown in for good measure. Nearby towns like Zion and Waukegan tend to offer more of the complex-style apartment buildings, if that's more up your alley.
If you don't mind taking care of the lawn and would like the privacy that a single-family home offers, though, then a local realtor can walk you through the process of putting in an application and ending up with the keys to the home of your dreams. You can also call private landlords, but keep in mind that rentals tend to go quickly, so you'll need to act fast and have your documents in order to get the best shot at the home you want.
Winthrop Harbor is not a big place, so it doesn't really have delineated neighborhoods, the way a bigger city might. Still, there are a few areas that you should be aware of:
Village Center: The center of the village is actually situated in the northwest corner of town. Here, you'll find Village Park, which hosts several recreational activities, including youth baseball and softball, ladies' volleyball, adult softball leagues and sometimes special events.
Sheridan Road: This is where you'll want to live if you don't have a car or if you share a vehicle with another driver. Here, you'll find a variety of restaurants, like Hot Dog Harbor and Roma Pizza & Pasta, along with CJ's Coffee House, clothing stores of all types, and Harbor Foods, a grocery store.
North Point Marina: This section is a pretty big tourist area, but of course you might be able to find a rental if you look and ask around. Be aware that while living here will get you really close to the beach, you'll also be sitting in traffic fairly often during the peak tourist season. This might not dissuade you, however, if you really want to be where the action is!
Getting around in Winthrop Harbor is easy by car, and there's also a bus that can take you around the village and into some of the nearby towns. You'll be very close to Rt. 173, which can take you to Interstate 94. You're also within spitting distance to Wisconsin, so if you are in the mood for squeaky cheese or to check out the Green Bay Packers, head on over to the Badger State. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is only 40 miles away, so you could be enjoying your time in a brewery in under an hour.
In all, Winthrop Harbor is a nice place to live, whether you like being within a stone's throw to the beach or to a major city. Start planning your move to this village today!
