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Serene Retreat Awaits You!

Photo gallery for Serene Retreat Awaits You!

Interior
An outdoor seating area with Adirondack chairs and a fire pit.
A statue of a seated figure on a wooden bench, a vase with pink flowers, and a mirror on the wall.
Private kitchen
Living area

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Room to spread out
    Enjoy spacious layout that give everyone more room to relax.
  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Garage parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Highland Park, IL
  • Place, Moraine Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Naval Base Great Lakes
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Place, Six Flags Great America
    ‪29 min drive‬
  • Airport, Chicago, IL (ORD-O'Hare Intl.)
    ‪42 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Brooklyn Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

2 Queen Sofa Beds

Master Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Two Twin Beds

2 Single Beds

Zen

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Number of living rooms
Garden
Dining area

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.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Must be respectful to our home.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Pets must stay on bottom floors
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 1430218vb
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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 has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Highland Park

Located in Highland Park, this holiday home is near theme parks. Market Square and The Glen Town Center 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 Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve. Consider Candela Night Club for a night out or Northbrook Sports Complex if you're travelling with kids. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling nearby.
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Map
Highland Park, IL

What's nearby

  • Moraine Park - 4 min drive - 2.5 km
  • Naval Base Great Lakes - 18 min drive - 15.8 km
  • Northwestern University - 26 min drive - 23.3 km
  • Six Flags Great America - 29 min drive - 27.1 km
  • Donald E. Stephens Convention Center - 39 min drive - 41.3 km

Getting around

  • Highwood Station - 2 min drive
  • Chicago, IL (PWK-Chicago Executive) - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Tala Coffee Roasters - ‬18 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Serene Retreat Awaits You! pet-friendly?

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.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 43 out of 53 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 53 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 53 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 53 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 53 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Bradley J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were in Chicago to visit family and the home had plenty of room for our family. The games were a big hit with the kids and helped them pass the time when we needed a little down time from running around.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wendy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We found the property clean, well equipped and a perfect fit for our family. A short 15 min drive to the navel base. They have family games, an air hockey table, an outdoor gas fire-pit and plenty of room for a large family. If we ever return to this area, we will definitely stay again. Thank you for a great experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Natalie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location for an event we were attending, easy to find, great communication with owners
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Rosanne U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Angela E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Michelle A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great experience

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.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Emma I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

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.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Rosanne U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday Retreat

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

thomas h.

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your feedback! We're delighted you found the location super convenient and the beds really comfortable—that’s so great to hear. We’re sorry to hear you felt the place looked a bit run down and wasn’t as clean as expected. We take cleanliness very seriously and normally keep our space spotless, so we’d love to hear more details to ensure everything is perfect for future guests. Thanks again for staying with us, and we hope to welcome you back soon!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Margie F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

excellent rental

highly recommend. Kitchen has it all, beds very comfortable with high quality linens. Outdoor nicely landscaped, comforable with great seating. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

greg v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We enjoyed our stay. Very interesting layout but functional for a large family

The twin beds need new mattresses. Other than that, very comfortable weekend for the family.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 18 May 2023
Thank you for your feedback. We are glad you had a wonderful stay. All mattresses are new. We understand that a one size fits all mattress is not possible, so a common medium firm was selected to accommodate most guests. We apologize if your sleep may of been uncomfortable. All the best, Lana and Luca
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Karen N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable/Good location

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.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cathy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique Layout

Loved the design of the house! Super clean and organized. We’ll stocked kitchen and linens. Owners are very accommodating!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Abner O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay in Highland Park

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jun 2024
Thank you kindly for the wonderful review. It was a pleasure hosting you. All the best. Hugs, Lana
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Dan A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Graduation

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.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Erin R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

graduation celebration

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!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stuart G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Suburban Setting

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.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Carol S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

lovely house, great space

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Rachael V.

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.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Steve R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The hosts made sure we checked in without any problems. The home was pet friendly but there was no lingering odor of pets! The outdoor space was beautifully landscaped.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

emma n.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay.

Nice quiet neighborhood. Great for large families.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Rosanne U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ideal Hosting Home!

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Rob K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice stay

We had a great stay at this home. It fit all of our needs and the hosts were very helpful.
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Abby F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family gathering

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!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Lana and Luca

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

Lots of room and lots of sun. We have 3 skylights and a unique English basement that brings in sunlight from 2 areas that make it feel warm and inviting.

Languages:

English, French, Italian, Greek

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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