Port Barrington is a riverside village with ample outdoor escapes
Located along the Fox River, 47 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, Port Barrington is a tight-knit recreational community with walking, biking and snowmobile trails, boating, fishing, several parks and marinas. Even with ongoing road, bridge and park improvement projects, Port Barrington maintains one of the lowest municipal property rates in McHenry County.
Leafy streets reveal cozy remodeled houses and spacious new homes
A walk through Lake Barrington reveals narrow streets without sidewalks. Mature trees dominate the landscape and provide shade during the warm months. Residential lot sizes are small, apart from the newer homes on acreage near Rawson Bridge Road. The list price range for homes in Port Barrington is $221,000 - $577,000. You can get a wholly remodeled two-bedroom, two-bath ranch-style home for $269,990. For a modern build with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, you can expect to pay about $400,000.
Village parks support recreation from summer to snowy seasons
Fox Trail Park stands as the community's largest green space, boasting a network of winding trails that stretch for miles. Among these natural paths, a charming bluebird trail meanders through the forested marshland. During winter, the Village Santa Parade commences at Fox Trail Park and concludes its festive journey at Village Hall and Clara Hermann Park. The snowy season transforms this area into a haven for snowmobile enthusiasts, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers. Adjacent to Fox Trail Park, the Fox River Forest Preserve beckons with its network of trails, picnic shelters, a designated youth group camping area, open spaces for outdoor recreational activities, and facilities such as restrooms and drinking fountains. Clara Hermann Park is located behind Village Hall. It is a community hub featuring a pavilion, playground, fishing pond, basketball hoop, horseshoe pits, and an ice skating rink in the winter months.
Wauconda public schools offer extracurriculars and experienced staff
The Waconda Community School District 118 ensures that local students can embark on their education journey with commitment, purpose and pride. Elementary school students can attend Cotton Creek School. It has a B grade on Niche and a student-teacher ratio of just 12-1. Niche gives Matthews Middle School an overall grade of B-minus. Less than 6% of teachers are in their first or second years. Wauconda High School has a B-plus grade on Niche and is the last stop in the public school pipeline. Wauconda High produces well-rounded graduates by supplementing solid academics with various extra-curricular clubs, intramurals and interscholastic sports.
Local restaurants offer outdoor dining, live music and kayak rentals
The Broken Oar Marina Bar & Grill offers fantastic views of the lower Fox River. Patrons enjoy year-round outdoor dining, an entertainment stage and party tent, and McHenry County's largest beer garden. Hermann's Rest-A-While cherished destination for campers, hunters, and fishermen from across the Chicagoland area since its founding in 1927. Besides serving hearty food and a variety of beverages, this welcoming tavern also provides the convenience of renting kayaks, rowboats, and various recreational equipment. Liberty Square sits at the northeast intersection of Liberty Street and Rand Road, offering a one-stop solution for everyday needs. This bustling hub features a Jewel-Osco for your grocery essentials and a United States Postal Service store to address your mailing requirements. If you need hardware supplies, Ace Hardware is conveniently situated on Rand Road.
Photography Contributed By
Chris Jeong
