Glencoe

Glencoe combines gardens, beaches, and exceptional architecture in a way that makes a variety of vacation days possible. You can experience nature, take a narrated tour, explore trails by bicycle, or focus on the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. When looking for a vacation rental in Glencoe, it is therefore worth deciding first what you want to focus on during your trip: varied excursions, culture, or summer time by the water.

Gardens and Trails for Different Day Plans

The Chicago Botanic Garden covers 385 acres and offers nature, scenic beauty, and opportunities for relaxation. From the Braeside Metra station, the garden can be reached via a 0.8-mile, low-barrier walking path. This connection can provide a practical point of reference when planning your arrival if you want to reach the garden without an additional drive.

For a special overview, the Grand Tram Tour is available. It is a 2.3-mile narrated ride on an electric tram. Those who prefer to stay active can use a 1-mile multi-use trail connecting the Green Bay Trail and the North Branch Trail. The trail runs through the Chicago Botanic Garden’s McDonald Woods and through Turnbull Woods. The North Branch Trail also connects cyclists with trails south of the garden. This allows you to shape your stay in different ways: with a guided tour, a walk through the gardens, or a longer bicycle ride.

Frank Lloyd Wright in Glencoe

Glencoe is also a destination for travelers interested in architecture and local history. Thirteen buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright have been preserved in Glencoe. The Glencoe Historical Society describes this collection as the third-largest concentration of such buildings in the world. The Glencoe Historical Society offers an expert-led perspective through docent-led tours of the Ravine-Bluffs development designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Ravine Bluffs was planned with 25 houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; five of them were built in 1915. This difference between the planned development as a whole and the houses built in 1915 makes the neighborhood an insightful example of the area’s development. If you are traveling with children or in a mixed group, such an activity can provide a quieter, cultural accent between more active excursions.

Beach and Cultural Activities

Glencoe Beach represents sun, sand, and summer recreation. The beach season begins on Memorial Day weekend and ends on Labor Day. This period is crucial for your travel planning if you specifically want to include a beach day in your stay. Outside this seasonal window, the garden, architecture, and trails remain independent highlights of your trip.

In downtown Glencoe, the new, state-of-the-art Writers Theatre building opened in February 2016. The Writers Theatre Center offers spaces for weddings, celebrations, business events, and receptions before performances. The spaces can accommodate up to 350 guests. The theater thus complements Glencoe’s architectural and natural attractions with a venue in the center of town.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Stay

When choosing accommodation, you can use the character of your planned days as a guide. For a trip focused on gardens, trails, and nature experiences, planning your days around the Chicago Botanic Garden is an obvious choice; for visitors interested in culture, the Wright buildings and the tour of Ravine Bluffs are the main attractions. If you are primarily looking for summer relaxation, you should take Glencoe Beach’s season into account. A vacation apartment or vacation home in Glencoe provides a suitable base for your individual travel plans without requiring you to limit your stay to just one type of experience.

For additional destinations, you can also view Bridgeview, Park Ridge, Melrose Park, Markham, Glenview, Alsip, Evanston, and Winnetka.

For the overarching travel overview: Cook.