Pleasant Prairie

Gorgeous lake views and tree-lined lanes make life in Carol Beach Estates feel like an escape. This south Kenosha neighborhood is bookended by nature preserves and bordered by Lake Michigan, so outdoor recreation is never more than a short, three-minute drive away. <br><br>Colonials, Tudor revivals and craftsman-style homes line the streets here, and an average listing price of $360,000 sets the neighborhood at a higher price point than surrounding Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie neighborhoods. Large, 7,000-square-foot mansions with one-acre lots and private lake access can reach prices of $1.8 million. For less than $300,000, you can get a three-bedroom ranch-style home with around 1,000 square feet. Whatever your budget, houses in Carol Beach Estates tend to fly off the market within a couple of days of being listed. The majority of homes here sit on quarter and half-acre lots, but the area’s tall trees and lush foliage allow residents to enjoy a sense of privacy from their neighbors. <br><br>Heading to the neighborhood’s north end will take you to Kenosha Sand Dunes, where you can take a two-mile hike with dune and water views. The natural area is also a popular spot for local wildlife enthusiasts, with over 75 unique species calling it home. The Chiwaukee Prairie Nature Preserve sits on the Illinois-Wisconsin border and is part of the last unbroken prairie stretch of its kind in the state. On a hot summer day, locals can head to Carol Beach, where you can enjoy a picnic on the shore or take a swim in the cool, refreshing waters of Lake Michigan. Those who live waterfront can launch small boats or cast a line from their backyards, and numerous public water access points allow other residents to launch non-motorized crafts from the shore. <br><br>Prekindergarten through fifth-grade students can attend Southport Elementary School, which earns a B-minus overall rating from Niche and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 15-1. Lincoln Middle School first opened its doors in 1929, and today’s students can participate in before and after-school extracurriculars, including clubs centered around soccer, reading and writing, and gaming. Tremper High School earns a B-minus overall rating and an A-minus sports rating, according to Niche. Tremper was recognized as a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Award of Excellence school for the 2019-2020 school year thanks to its outstanding athletics program. <br><br>While the neighborhood has a quiet and secluded atmosphere, residents still can enjoy the convenience of being just three miles from Kenosha’s amenities. You can pick up your groceries at Festival Foods or Family Dollar on 80th Street before enjoying a meal at Tipsy Bear, where you can order items like steak fries, bacon cheeseburgers and popcorn shrimp that you can savor alongside a chilled draft beer. The Village Supper Club has been family-owned and operated since it opened 100 years ago. Surf and turf, patty melts and Thai chicken adorn the menu at the Supper Club, along with nightly specials like shepherd's pie and pomegranate lamb chops. After a filling meal, return home along winding, tree-lined streets to digest and rest.

Pleasant Prairie is home to worldwide headquarters for major companies, including Haribo, Uline and Pfizer. "Great place to work, a great place to play, and people find out it is a great place to live," Dave Klimisch says. Klimisch is a trustee on the Village of Pleasant Prairie Board. The neighborhood is near Lake Michigan and as close as possible to Illinois while still in Wisconsin. The area has easy access to Interstate 94, so locals can cruise down the interstate to Chicago or up the interstate to Milwaukee. "If any place has 10 possible things you could love, we have 7 or 8 of them, and you can't have all 10," Klimisch says. Residents in the neighborhood enjoy outdoor recreation, especially with Lake Michigan so close and Lake Andrea right in the area. Locals go to Lake Andrea to fish, swim, and sunbathe on the beaches. Bring a boat and head out on the waters for a relaxing afternoon adventure. Off the south shore of Lake Andrea is the RecPlex, one of the country's most extensive municipally owned recreational facilities. The RecPlex offers ice rinks, swimming pools, volleyball courts and several other facilities for recreational sports. Outdoor hobbyists head over to the Kenosha Sand Dunes on the coast of Lake Michigan for hiking trails and scenic views of the water and beaches. The neighborhood has several smaller parks with green space and walking trails to get some steps in. The house prices in Pleasant Prairie range from $240,000 to $355,000 and come in several shapes and sizes. Some areas have more ranch-style and Tudor homes, while others feature more arts and crafts-style houses. Residents primarily rely on their vehicles for transportation; however, bus routes stop at the Shoppes at Prairie Ridge. There are many marked bicycle lanes for commuting or enjoying a casual ride. Students in Pleasant Prairie start school at Pleasant Prairie Elementary School, which receives a B grade from Niche. The school offers student holiday activities like Thanksgiving Cooking with Chef Kyle and Pancake Breakfast with Santa. The next stop on their educational journeys is Mahone Middle School, which receives a B-minus. Mahone Middle School gives students several clubs to get involved in, including drama club, gamers club and eco club. Teenage students will attend Indian Trail High School & Academy, a B-graded institution. The school has a prominent athletics calendar during the school year, including football, boys and girls wrestling, softball and baseball. The Village Supper Club gives locals a place to go with an old-school diner vibe, serving steaks, chicken and seafood. The Spot Drive-In is a drive-up burger joint that has been a staple to the community since 1945. Residents stop by Festival Foods for deli meats and produce. Meijer Distribution Center offers another option for locals for their pantry favorites and other groceries. Stop by Costco to pick up bulk items, then go across the street to enjoy shopping at the Shoppes at Prairie Ridge, including Target, PetSmart and JCPenny. Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets is where people go for major brands in apparel, such as Express, Kate Spade, Columbia, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Nike. The community regularly has festivals and other gatherings on the shores of Andrea Lake, including a farmers' market on the southwest shore. They will also host beer gardens and sports tournaments at the Lake and the RecPlex.