Overview
Winnetka is a village on Illinois' North Shore, in the Chicagoland region of Illinois.
4 sights · 1 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Winnetka
Crow Island School
Crow Island School is an elementary school operated by the Winnetka Public Schools. It significant for its progressive philosophy and its International Style architecture. Its design was a collaboration between the Chica…
Schmidt-Burnham Log House
A log house built in the 1830s and now restored to reflect that era. The house is named after the Schmidt family, who immigrated from Germany in 1839 and lived in the historic house, and also for the Burnham family, who …
Home Alone House
This house was featured as the McCallister home in the 1990 film Home Alone and at the beginning of the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2. It's a private residence, not open to visitors.
Winnetka Historical Society
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Chicago)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago — 12 mi away (major hub). Directions
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago — 22 mi away (major hub). Directions
The Metra Union Pacific North Line runs from downtown Chicago, with stops at Indian Hill, Winnetka and Hubbard Woods.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Winnetka Historical Society, Home Alone House
- Afternoon Crow Island School, Schmidt-Burnham Log House
- Evening Fred's Garage
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By train
The Metra Union Pacific North Line runs from downtown Chicago, with stops at Indian Hill, Winnetka and Hubbard Woods.
Go Winnetka railway station
Go Indian Hill Station
By bus
Winnetka is served by two Pace Bus Routes:
See
See Crow Island School
Crow Island School is an elementary school operated by the Winnetka Public Schools. It significant for its progressive philosophy and its International Style architecture. Its design was a collaboration between the Chicago firm of Perkins, Wheeler and Will and Eliel and Eero Saarinen. It serves kindergarten through fourth grade students. The school was established in 1940-41. Sebastian Hinton's prototype "jungle gym" is located here, having been moved from Horace Mann School in 1940. The school was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1990.
See Schmidt-Burnham Log House (Anita Willets Burnham Log House)
A log house built in the 1830s and now restored to reflect that era. The house is named after the Schmidt family, who immigrated from Germany in 1839 and lived in the historic house, and also for the Burnham family, who called it home from 1917 to 2001. The house is the oldest log structure in Cook County still in use. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
See Home Alone House
This house was featured as the McCallister home in the 1990 film Home Alone and at the beginning of the 1992 sequel Home Alone 2. It's a private residence, not open to visitors.
Eat
- Lakeside Foods has great sandwiches.
Drink
Drink Fred's Garage
Well-curated selection of local beers on tap, as well as good nibbles for kids and adults.
Nearby
Northfield
City / town · 10 listings · 2 mi away
Glencoe
City / town · 3 listings · 2 mi away
Wilmette
City / town · 23 listings · 2 mi away
Glenview
City / town · 14 listings · 4 mi away
Evanston
City / town · 22 listings · 5 mi away
Skokie
City / town · 16 listings · 5 mi away
Morton Grove
City / town · 1 listings · 5 mi away
Northbrook
City / town · 11 listings · 5 mi away
My experience
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