Wilmette
With a fabulous location directly on the shores of Lake Michigan, the enchanting lakefront community of Wilmette is located just 16 miles north of downtown Chicago and is easily accessible by car, bus, bike and even boat! Many visitors to Wilmette choose to enjoy the ease of Metra, Chicago's premier commuter rail system, which makes a convenient stop in the center of one of Wilmette's most exciting shopping areas.

A progressive community with a strong commitment to its history, Wilmette abounds with glorious tree-lined cobblestone streets, an antique street lighting system (which was first installed in 1925!), gorgeous turn-of-the century Victorian-style homes, stately mansions, interesting boutiques and shops, wonderful restaurants, and, of course, its spectacular lakefront beaches and parks.

The Wilmette Historical Museum, housed in a beautiful 1896 landmark on Ridge Road (see photo), offers visitors lively exhibits and programs throughout the year on North Shore and Wilmette history. Wilmette is also home to one of the world's most spectacular architectural wonders, the famed Baha'i House of Worship. With its filigree dome and exquisite gardens and fountains, the Baha'i House of Worship was the first of its kind to be constructed in the Western Hemisphere, and attracts over 250,000 visitors annually from every part of the globe.

"Shopping in Wilmette is pure delight! With several distinctive shopping districts, Wilmette offers something for everyone. From the quaint small-town atmosphere of Wilmette's Village Center to Green Bay Road, visitors to Wilmette will be amazed by its tremendous array of shopping options. Wilmette also features the neighborhood retail district of 4th & Linden, the architectural beauty of Plaza del Lago (the North Shore's oldest shopping center, which runs along Lake Michigan) the Ridge Road Corridor and the Skokie Boulevard Corridor, home of the North Shore's premier nursery and garden center.

For those who enjoy natural beauty, Wilmette is a recreational paradise. The village boasts 18 beautifully landscaped public parks and playgrounds on 300-plus acres of land. Wilmette also offers scenic lakefront jogging and biking trails, an outdoor amphitheater featuring live shows and concerts, two well-manicured golf courses, and Gillson Park with its gorgeous sandy beaches ideally suited for picnicking, swimming, sailing or a pick-up game of volleyball.

Wilmette is the quintessential North Shore community - see for yourself!