100+ year old building that was renovated a few years ago - we kept the good old things and made it a home for today! Tons of windows, plants, lots of space, all in a very walkable neighborhood with huge trees, 5 parks nearby, library, restaurants, cafes, shops - everything you could need is a quick walk away!
The Space
When you enter, you'll be in a small entryway that leads straight up to the main floor.
On the main floor:
- The office and lounge. These are in the front of the house with large windows overlooking the street and sidewalk. The office has a separate monitor, and there is a large tv with a sofa, comfy chairs, and a vintage record player with a large collection of old records
- Queen size bedroom
- Bathroom with shower
- Great room, with kitchen, dining room, tv area, and mud room. There is a huge sliding glass door that leads out to the deck with comfy outdoor furniture overlooking the backyard with grass and trees. There's a screen so you can leave the door open for indoor-outdoor living.
Upstairs:
- Huge bonus room/playroom with toys, trampoline, climbing structure, and couches. The windows are huge and overlook the large trees - it's like you're floating in the leaves
- Workout room with Peloton bike, tv with streaming services and Peloton app, free weights, and everything you need for a good workout
- Kid's bedroom with a twin bed and blackout curtains. Second twin mattress is under the bed and can be brought out if needed
- Primary suite: bedroom with king bed and blackout curtains leads to a large dressing room with mirrors and wardrobes. This connects to the primary bathroom, with an extra large shower and large window
Outside:
- The front yard is a native plant garden, with flowers from March through November. Lots of wildlife and birds, and benches to relax. Raspberries for you to enjoy in the middle of summer
- The side yard has a newer garden connecting to the backyard
- Backyard has a small grassy area and trees, including blackberries and an apple tree. We have a gated, off-street parking space in the backyard that may be available for guests if needed.
Guest Access
There are two floors. When you enter the home you immediately head up one flight of stairs, so there are two flights of stairs in total.
We have two units available for PLU in the same building. This home is on the top two floors; listing #41020 is on the lower level and is often booked via Airbnb.
Notes
We have a very friendly cat that we will ask guests to care for. She will reward you with endless cuddles!
We also have backyard chickens - we ask that guests refill their water, let them out in the morning, lock them up at night, and eat their delicious eggs!
Our house is full of plants; if guests are staying more than a week, we'll ask you to water (with instructions provided)
Features
Fridge
WiFi
Bed sheets
Oven
Towels
Washer
TV
Heating
Hair dryer
Microwave
Iron
Dishwasher
Smoke alarms
Workspace
Clothes dryer
Coffee machine
High Speed Internet
Garden / yard
Bathtub
Air conditioning
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
BBQ
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Balcony
Fireplace
Toys
Covered porch / verandah
Bikes
Pool
Gym
Wheelchair accessible
Home cinema
Hot tub
Gated community
EV Home Charger
Standup paddleboard
Camping gear
Kayak
Sauna
Tennis court
Meat-free kitchen
Kosher home
Piano
Travel Styles
Foodie
Eco
Luxury
City
Beach
Culture
Good public transport
House Rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets not allowed
No smoking
Allergens
Dog free
Smoke free
Fragrance free
Dates of Availability
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Neighbourhood
We are in Lincoln Square, a family-friendly and very safe neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. This is an incredible area with large trees, beautiful old brick buildings, lots of parks/playgrounds, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and shopping all within quick walking distance - we rarely drive because everything we need is right here!
Our house is a few minutes' walk away from the CTA, or subway train - getting to downtown Chicago takes 35-50 minutes on the train depending on where you're going.
We are 2 miles straight west of Lake Michigan, one of the largest lakes in the world with some of the best beaches anywhere. By mid-June, the water has warmed up and you can spend your days relaxing at the beach and your nights exploring everything the city has to offer.
Nearest airport
O'Hare International Airport is about 15 minutes away by car, and Midway International Airport is about 40 minutes away by car. Chicago traffic can get intense, so at certain times of day it will take longer.
You can get to both airports easily on public transit (bus/train), or Uber/Lyft/rideshare.
Getting Around
We rarely drive and recommend walking or using public transit while you're here. Chicago has a great public transit system with buses and trains, both of which are easily accessible from our place. Lyft/Uber are good options as well, with tons of drivers and short wait times even during off-peak times. There are Divvy (hourly bike rentals) available in multiple locations nearby.
If you do drive, we will most likely be able to give you access to our off-street, gated parking spot behind the house - it is uncovered. Parking in front of the building and on surrounding streets is free; the spaces immediately out front tend to fill up in the evening and you may need to park down the block if you return home late.
Map of Approximate Location
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We just got home from a sim exchange with Beth and Drew, and what a week it was! Their home was just minutes from the train station, so a quick 30-minute train ride had us right in the heart of the city. We grabbed city passes and packed in as much as we could — the architecture boat tour, the incredible views from the Sears Tower, the aquarium, the architecture center, a concert at Millennium Park, and two different local art festivals. We saw the iconic Bean, devoured deep dish pizza, Stan's Donuts, and Garrett popcorn, and even caught an underground magic show! My kids were in heaven at the LEGO Store, the Jellycat store, and the Harry Potter store.
Every day we explored the city and then came home to snuggle their sweet cat. There was something so perfect about spending the day playing in the city and then hopping on the train to be right back at their place. And their home is just gorgeous — so much space for each of us, a huge open kitchen, and our family favorite, a rain shower. We even got to enjoy fresh eggs from their chickens!
We are so filled up from this visit and so thankful for Beth and Drew, and for the PLU platform. This is our second year on PLU and we absolutely love this way of traveling. 💛
Beth and Drew's place was absolutely fabulous! We fell in love with Kitty the Beast and enjoyed caring for their sweet hens too. Beth was a joy to communicate with & everything just went really smoothly. We had a wonderful time in Chicago, doing all kinds of touristy and local things, and having the space to come back to and relax was truly a gift. The location was perfect and we loved having several parks to walk to around the neighborhood, as well as free public swimming pools.
The house is very comfortable and spacious & had everything we could possibly need. So thankful for a wonderful experience and looking forward to hopefully welcome them to our country getaway in NC sometime soon!
We had a wonderful stay in Beth and Drew's downstairs apartment. The apartment is spacious and comfortable -- and extremely well-equipped. Not only were we able to relax, cook, hang out, and generally prepare for our family celebrations, we were also able to easily work remotely, with the ability to attend zoom calls and do work at the same time in separate rooms. The access to public transportation was incredible, making it very easy to get to the Loop, Lincoln Park, and various neighborhoods. (We know the brown line very well now!) And we very much enjoyed getting to know the Lincoln Square neighborhood, walking to the Green Post pub, the movie theater, bookstores, and more. We were also very glad to have the opportunity to get to know our hosts, Beth and Drew -- always a bonus of exchanging homes!
Beth and Drew left our home absolutely spotless, and we came home to a happy dog who had clearly been loved on all week while we were away. What a surprise to walk in and find that they'd left us gifts to remember our special time in Chicago, along with a fridge full of food to enjoy. We would welcome Beth, Drew, and their son back anytime!
Beth and Drew were wonderful guests! They communicated well before and during their stay. Our home and our pets received excellent care! We are so appreciative to have met them through PLU.
Beth, Drew and their son were wonderful guests. Communication was super easy and always fun. When we came back home we just felt how wonderful they treated our home. Special thanks for the flower rescue on our balcony, taking care on Ellie, the treats and your kind words in our Guest Book! 🫶
We absolutely recommend having them as guests.
We had an absolutely wonderful home exchange and can highly recommend both the apartment and the neighborhood.
The apartment itself was fantastic, and Beth and Drew gave us such a warm welcome. At the beginning of our stay, we met them upstairs for a coffee, which was a lovely way to start. A few days later, we met again and went together to a local sports bar to watch the Germany vs. USA friendly match – such a fun and personal experience.
We stayed in the apartment below their main home. Beth and Drew had also offered us their primary residence, but that would only have been available later during the school holidays. For our trip, the garden-level apartment was absolutely perfect and more than sufficient.
We were there on a girls’ trip as two friends, and the apartment was ideal for that setup – we even had the luxury of having a bedroom each, which made the stay especially comfortable.
The apartment easily accommodates up to four adults, even for a longer stay. Being partially below ground level, it stayed pleasantly cool – and there is also air conditioning and underfloor heating, so you’re well prepared for any weather.
The kitchen and bathroom were extremely well equipped – we didn’t miss a thing and were able to cater for ourselves very comfortably. We especially appreciated the thoughtful snack bowl and the available pantry items. A real highlight were the fresh eggs from their chickens, who greeted us every morning through the window. The amount was perfect for us, and we could have had more anytime.
The neighborhood is simply beautiful: quiet, well-kept, with many young families and very friendly neighbors. At the same time, it’s very well connected – it took us about 50 minutes by train to get to the Loop, and the ride never felt long because there was always something to see. We felt safe at all times.
That said, you don’t need to go downtown every day – we spent several days just exploring and enjoying the neighborhood itself. There’s a large park as well as several smaller ones, supermarkets (even an Aldi), and plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafés all within walking distance. Beth and Drew also gave us fantastic personal recommendations, which made our stay even better.
Chicago itself was incredibly welcoming. We had so many kind and memorable encounters that we’ll keep thinking about for a long time. We highly recommend doing a Greeters tour as well as attending a sports event – we went to a White Sox game, but there are many great options. Of course, we also did the classic architecture river boat tour and otherwise explored the city at our own pace.
Overall, we felt like we found the perfect balance between seeing the main highlights and experiencing the city like a local.
Feedback for Lauren·Simultaneous exchange·7 nights
Lauren's home near the beach was wonderful! We stayed for a week with two adults and an energetic seven year old and there was more than enough space for all of us. We appreciated the low tech household and the extensive collection of board games and graphic novels! The air conditioning worked well to keep us cool during the very hot and humid June weather. We used the bikes, scooters, and beach toys often.
We walked to the beach everyday and it was the nicest beach any of us have ever been to - when the tide is out, it's a HUGE stretch of sand, shallow warm water, and incredibly clean. There are lifeguards on duty which made us feel safe on big wave days with strong currents.
Apart from the beach, our favorite thing was Money The Dog - we loved her!! She's so sweet, easy maintenance, and generally delightful.
We didn't travel outside of the general area much at all as the beach is what we came for, but we did rent a street legal golf cart which was a big hit! Very fun to drive around the neighborhood to get to a skateboard park, even in the rain.
Feedback for Lauren·Simultaneous exchange·7 nights
Lauren and her family stayed in our home for a week during a simultaneous exchange. It was a great experience! She was great at communicating, was quick to answer any of our questions, and had clear instructions.
They treated our space with respect, left things clean, and were generally lovely guests! We recommend any exchange with them!
Feedback for Annika·Non-Simultaneous exchange·8 nights
Annika and her friend Lisa were wonderful guests and lovely people! They stayed in our Airbnb and left the space in perfect condition. I strongly recommend exchanging with them!
Feedback for Leslie·Non-Reciprocal exchange·6 nights
Leslie's home was fantastic! We had a great experience here - the home is a few steps from a huge and beautiful beach, along with a beach path that extends for miles and lots of great restaurants. We weren't able to use most of the fun beach toys (wet suits and surfboards) included with the property due to weather, but we did use the skateboards Leslie allowed us to use.
We watched their sweet dog and cat with no issues. The home had plenty of space for us to stretch out, cook up meals, and watch the incredible sunsets on the deck. This was a great experience and couldn't recommend a visit here more!
Feedback for Annika·Non-Simultaneous exchange·12 nights
Annika and Martin's home was perfect for us! Our traveling group was two adults and a six year old, and their home had plenty of space, was extremely clean, and had everything we needed to relax after a busy day sightseeing. Annika was extremely prepared and communication was easy and thorough - she has given us something to aspire to!
Kirchheim is a lovely area, and we were able to really see the sights. There was plenty to keep us busy in the immediate area, but we rented a car for the second half of our trip to ensure we could see everything. Swabia was beautiful and clean, the people were friendly, and everything was easy! We loved this trip.
We can't recommend it enough! Thank you Annika and Martin for a fabulous vacation!
Feedback for Liezel·Non-Simultaneous exchange·17 nights
Liezel and her family are wonderful! We are so lucky they were able to take such good care of our home and our many plants and animals! We have chickens and a very needy cat, and we got regular updates from Liezel during our trip as to how things were going - she went above and beyond during an extreme heat wave to keep our chickens cool!
They left our home extremely clean and fully stocked - this was a great experience, I can't recommend enough. Thank you Liezel and family!
Feedback for Ian·Non-Reciprocal exchange·20 nights
Shay and Ian were wonderful guests. They were thoughtful, left our space extremely clean, and followed all house rules - they treated the space as if it were their own. We were lucky enough to spend a few hours chatting and they are also wonderful people!
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.
Large deck with sliding door to main living space inside
The front of the building as seen from the front sidewalk. There are garden chairs and benches to enjoy the gardens
Dining room on main living floor
Kitchen on main living floor
Lounge, attached to the office/desk room. Downstairs
Work station with separate monitor
Kid room with twin bed and blackout curtains, upstairs. There is a second twin mattress under the bed
Primary bedroom with a king bed
Guest bedroom, downstairs. Queen bed with a rocking chair not shown
The bonus room has climbing and jumping toys, upstairs. Weight limit on the trampoline is 200 lbs.
Bonus room, upstairs. This is a large space with couches, toys, and huge windows for hanging out
Primary bathroom upstairs. Attached to primary bedroom via a large dressing room
Bathroom with shower, downstairs. This is the bathroom for the queen bedroom as well as the great room and office.
Fourth bedroom, used as an exercise studio. Upstairs. Peloton bike, tv (not pictured), free weights, and plenty of space for workouts of any kind
The stairs going down lead to the front door. To the left is the queen size bedroom, the bathroom, then the great room with kitchen and back deck. The office and lounge are behind you in this photo
Our street as seen from the corner - lots of grass and gardens. Our house is about halfway down the block.
Kitty The Beast is the friendliest cat and only wants someone to cuddle with. Our three chickens live under our deck - taking care of them is easy and you get eggs!
Lake Michigan is less than two miles from our house - our favorite way to spend an afternoon in Chicago
Welles Park is a few minutes' walk away and features concerts, large grassy areas, and two playgrounds.
Chicago is a very bike-friendly city, with hourly bike rentals available very close to our house. The entrance to this bike/walking path over the river is about a 10 minute walk from our house.
Lincoln Square has a European flair, with shops, restaurants, and cafes that open onto an open plaza with a fountain and frequent entertainment. This is about a 10 minute walk from our place.
Catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, about 10 mins away by car. A quintessential Chicago summer activity!
The Art Institute of Chicago has one of the largest collections of impressionist paintings in the world, on Michigan Avenue in Grant Park. About 40 mins away via subway train
Downtown Chicago is about 35 minutes by subway train
Downtown Chicago - the river path, architectural boat tour, and the world's first skyscrapers. About 35 mins away via subway train
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