Enjoy life in the charming countryside of this rural town outside “Chicagoland.”
Remington Pointe North is a new home community set in a scenic landscape of evergreen woods, neighboring croplands, and natural wetlands, all tucked away in the small, yet charming Midwestern village of Volo. Residents step outside to smell the sweet morning air, and they see trim green spaces and tranquil ponds throughout Remington – calm, cheerfully-embracive sights to accompany a daily jog on the neighborhood paths. Away from the clamor and concrete of the city, you are bound to see an abundance of friendly wildlife pass through on its way to the conifer woods and marshes of the nearby Volo Bog to the west; all sorts of migratory birds flock overhead, and on the ground tramp the paws of foxes, coyotes, deer, and smaller mammals.
North Illinois has a humid continental climate, with warm, steamy summers and frosty, cold winters. Pleasant breezes roll in off Lake Michigan – less than 20 miles east of Volo – to cool your summer days, amassing the clouds to drop summer rains – 36 inches fall a year, and then north winds charter thermal vapors overland in the winter, enhancing snowy drifts to drop heavier flurries across the countryside. In truth, Illinoians enjoy all four seasons: Spring welcomes budding life across the fields, and the colorful wildflowers then retreat for the summer greenery. The crisp autumn air cues the trees to alter their leafy heads for more vibrant hues – flaming cascades of reds, oranges, and yellows, and before long the cool blast of winter strips the foliage and covers the ground with white powder to be upset with sledding and snowball fights.
Volo of Lake County has unique outlets of entertainment, like the Volo Auto Museum that houses a staggering 400-car collection, including vehicles from iconic TV shows and movies, or the Volo Antique Malls, where you can find amazing deals on sci-fi collectibles, rustic roadside relics, retro décor, and other antiquities. Folks also enjoy easy commutes to big events and family-fun attractions in neighboring towns. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee – 13.4 miles away – has thrilling coasters and water rides, while 60 to Escape challenges your team’s intellect to solve one of four immersive, interactive puzzle rooms in 60 minutes. Tour the Gold Pyramid, a home that features a replica of King Tut’s tomb, as well as a museum of Egyptian artifacts, in Wadsworth – 15.6 miles. Mainstreet Libertyville – 13.8 miles – hosts a weekly farmers market with over 30 vendors selling fresh food and flowers, while Lincolnshire – 20.4 miles – celebrates the accomplished creativity of 100 artists from around the country at its annual Art Festival (every August), where attendees can enjoy live music, great food, and shop the artists’ collections.
If you want variety and excitement, the Windy City will blow you away. Chicago – 51 miles southeast – has a little something for everyone, and no matter what you love to do, you feel right at home doing it here. Wander the galleries of the Art Institute of Chicago, displaying over 300,000 masterpieces from antiquity to modern contemporary, or indulge your curiosity at the Museum of Science & Industry with its hands-on exhibits about the human body, natural phenomena, space exploration, and other scientific inquiry. Meet beluga whales at Shedd Aquarium, or ride the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier, where you can board an evening cruise to watch the Aon Summer Fireworks on Lake Michigan. Enjoy an exciting concert lineup of rock, jazz, and other genre-defying music during the free Summer Music Series at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Root for the home teams – Chicago Bears (football), Chicago Cubs (baseball), and Chicago Blackhawks (hockey) – in one of the nation’s top sport cities. Shop the 460 retailers strewn along The Magnificent Mile, or stroll the sassy boutiques of Wicker Park and Bucktown. Discover Chicago is a foodie town with a voracious appetite. Grab a deep-dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria or a Chicago-style hot dog at Gene & Jude’s. If you want to dine in style, visit Cindy’s rooftop for brunch over Michigan Avenue or reserve a table at one of the city’s many Michelin-star restaurants. At night, you can see a Broadway show, opera, or world-class ballet performance at one of over 200 theaters, or laugh till you cry at The Second City, a premier comedy club that launched the careers of Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Joan Rivers.
The northern Illinois countryside offers plenty of excursions to fun outdoor recreational spots. Reel in largemouth bass, catfish, or northern pike at the Chain O’Lakes, where seasonal hunting of waterfowl, pheasant, and deer is available to registered huntsmen. Bike, horseback ride, or walk the Millennium Trail – a 30-mile stretch through forests, farmland, and suburban neighborhoods of Lake County, or spend some time close to the vine, gathering your own bushels of produce at local pick-your-own farms. When snow covers the ground, Lakewood Forest Preserve is a winter wonderland for cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating, and ice fishing. Summer days beg for a little beach action, and of all the shores along Lake Michigan, Chicago boasts some of the nicest sands near you. You can serve in a volleyball tournament at Oak Street Beach, paddleboard at North Avenue Beach, or play frisbee with your canine companion at dog-friendly Montrose Beach. As long as you are in the Windy City, challenge yourself to scale up the 40-foot Maggie Daley Park Climbing Wall or complete the seven-acre canopy course of zip lines, Tarzan swings, rope ladders, and bridges in the treetops of Bemis Woods.
Lake County has several golf clubs and courses for you to choose from, but some stand out more for their condition and challenge to play, providing an authentic experience for golfers of any skill level. Stonewall Orchard – a little over 3 miles southeast of Remington – has a 7,124-yard, par 72 championship layout designed by renowned course architect Arthur Hills. The 18-hole course takes advantage of the Illinois landscape, playing over lush rolling hills and tranquil wetlands, while more than 65,000 mature pines and oak trees are scattered along the fairways; there are no homes on course, no nearby developments – everything is isolated from the noise and distraction of the outside world, leaving the golfing public pleasantly immersed in nature. Golfers face forced carries, strategically-placed bunkers, and tall grasses bordering the fairways, giving every hole its own identity and challenge. After you finish the back nine, lunch is served at the club’s Sweetbriar Grill, or you can enjoy the seasonal Friday Night Fish Fry. Venture to the ThunderHawk Golf Club – 25.6 miles northeast – to play the Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterpiece that was certified by the Audubon Society as a Signature Sanctuary Course and ranked as one of the best par-5 collections in the Midwest. This 18-hole, par 72 layout comprises beautiful forests, marshes, and prairies, balancing bold elements with player-friendly features. Golfers are challenged by well-thought carries over water hazards and bunker complexes; wide fairways narrowed by tall grass roughs; and undulating greens. The ThunderHawk’s Grill and bar offer players a delicious lunch menu of burgers, sandwiches, melts, and signature appetizers, and should you ever find yourself the host of a special event, the Banquet Hall is an elegant venue to reserve. If you look to reserve some tee time while visiting Chicago, there are several top suburban courses like Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, The Glen Club, and Cantigny Golf that have lasting appeal in the golfing community.
Inspirited by the agrarian culture of Volo and its surrounding countryside, Remington offers beautiful, rustic ranch-style homes of appealing brick and timber, with gabled roofs, extended eaves, large picture windows and non-functional shutters. A covered front porch is a nice sitting place to greet visitors, and the two- to three-car garage with its wide driveway leaves streets less crowded during the next family reunion. Ranch floorplans are open, with a seamless flow between communal spaces to foster a sense of togetherness between friends and family. There is a healthy connection with the outside by way of sliding glass doors off the kitchen or dining area onto a small deck or covered patio that overlooks the large, family-friendly backyard. Remington has three collections of single-family, low-maintenance homes – The Crossings, The Prairies, and Andaré. The Crossings and Prairies offer lavish single-family plans – both single- and second-story abodes, sizing 1,595 to 3,430 sq. ft. – that boast comfortable living for multiple occupants, as well as their guests, with three-to-four bedroom, one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half bath layouts. The joined formal living and dining rooms, as well as the expansive family room with a seamless flow to the spacious kitchen and breakfast areas, make the hosting of party guests easy and enjoyable. Impressive two-story foyers and looming lofts overlooking the downstairs gathering areas give the impression of togetherness with splendid appeal. Master suites feature single or dual walk-in closets, and new homeowners have the option to upgrade master baths to garden baths with walk-in showers and deep soaking tubs for end-of-the-day relaxation. Some plans give you the choice of a morning room off the family or dining rooms, giving you a quiet space with plenty of natural light, as you sip your coffee and read a good book. Most layouts have a first-floor study for productivity or play, and every plan has a walkout basement for added storage or finishing detail. Additional options can include a fireplace in the family room; bay windows in the master suite or dining room; and a mud room at the garage entry way. The Andaré collection is Remington’s Active Adult home series, and these single-story residences feature most of the aforementioned elements of The Crossings and Prairies but size a comfortable 1,224 to 2,171 sq. ft. Lennar homes are built with desirable new home features, including but not limited to GE® stainless steel appliances, designer lighting, upgraded floors, and Aristokraft® cabinetry. Our homeowners can also have guaranteed peace of mind with a 10-year major structural warranty.
Additional Sources
Shopping in Wicker Park and Bucktown by Jess Keys and Morgan Olsen
Best Shopping in Wicker Park and Bucktown by Kaitlyn Barrett
Chicago’s 2018 Michelin Stars by Ashok Selvam and Daniel Gerzina
Outdoor Adventures in Illinois
29 Chicago Beach Activities Your Summer Needs by Mike Ewing
The 10 Best Golf Courses in the Chicago Area by Golf Advisor
