Winnetka or Hinsdale? Hinsdale or Winnetka?
Hmmm . . .
The truth is that if you are living in Chicago and considering one of these suburbs in which to 
buy a home, you are indeed a very lucky person. The price point of homes, good schools, and a cute downtown are attributes that both Winnetka and Hinsdale have in common.
I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Hinsdale, but I have plenty of good, positive things to say about Winnetka and the other nearby North Shore Suburbs of Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe and Northfield where I have lived for since 1986..
Winnetka is part of a contiguous area that stretches along the North Shore of Chicago - it is mostly residential and there are no interruptions or major expressways. Lots of tree lined streets with sidewalks and homes of all types - new construction and turn of the century historic homes.
The Union Pacific North Line commuter train runs from Milwaukee to Chicago and has three stops in Winnetka. There is plenty of parking, it is first come first serve, and the cost is reasonable.
If the train is not your preferred way to go downtown, we have two ways to drive. Hop on the Edens Expressway going south and it turns into the Kennedy which is a direct shot. If you prefer a meandering and more interesting drive, you can take Lake Shore Drive, which starts out as Sheridan Road in Winnetka.
All the elementary and junior high schools feed into New Trier High School - which is one of the most highly rated schools in the state. You heard it was crowded? The district tackled that several years ago by opening New Trier Northfield, which is a freshman-only campus - and the kids love it!
Lots of local shopping - every village has a downtown and Winnetka has three! If you must head to the mall, it's a short drive to Northbrook Court, Old Orchard, or Edens Plaza. We have interesting shops like Oui Madame where everything is French or French inspired, the best stocked gift store, wine shops, clothing stores, and thrift stores. Oh, there's also that chocolate shop that sells hot chocolate made from melted chocolate and whole milk . . .
Lots of great dining - casual, formal, French, Italian, Mexican, sushi, organic hamburgers, barbeque - it's all here.
Have young children? Plenty of nursery schools that you don't need to sign up for when you're still pregnant.
And of course - the North Shore has the lake. Winnetka has three beaches, Wilmette, Glencoe, and Kenilworth each have one. We also provide for our canine buddies - Winnetka and Wilmette both have dog beaches.
Wait, there's more: running, biking or walking along the Green Bay Trail, canoing or kaying in the Skokie Lagoons, buying ice cream from the ice cream man, parades, block parties, and the annual Children's Fair on the Winnetka Village Green.
What's not to love? Parks, beaches, proximity to Chicago, good schools, short drives to unique places like the Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe) and Ravinia Festival (Highland Park) and Wrigley Field (that one's a bit of a stretch!)
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Call me for more information about living in Winnetka or any other North Shore village - Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, or Northfield.
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Margaret Goss is a full-time real estate broker since 1998 working in the North Shore communities of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield, Glenview, and Evanston.
She can be reached at:
Phone: 847-977-6024
Email: margaret.goss@bairdwarner.com
See her full BIOGRAPHY
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