Moving to Lake In The Hills?? (Chicago, Rockford: relocating, rental, travel)

[OuttaDodge06]

Moving from FL to job in Elmhurst. Want to live downtown but it's impossible to learn all the neighborhoods from here. Thought I would rent for a year while learning the train, roads, routes to downtown and neighborhoods so I could make an informed decision about moving....
Please tell me all you know about Lake In The Hills.....is it safe? Hickish? Things to do there? Nightlife? Theater? Restaurant types? High Schools? More to think about is the drive to Elmhurst...I mapped it at 35 miles which is not a big deal..how much is gas now? What will the ride be like in the snow? Is there a train between LITH and Elmhurst for commuting purposes??
Thanks for all the advice....

[MagpiesMagpiesMagpies]

Originally Posted by OuttaDodge06

Moving from FL to job in Elmhurst. Want to live downtown but it's impossible to learn all the neighborhoods from here. Thought I would rent for a year while learning the train, roads, routes to downtown and neighborhoods so I could make an informed decision about moving....
Please tell me all you know about Lake In The Hills.....is it safe? Hickish? Things to do there? Nightlife? Theater? Restaurant types? High Schools? More to think about is the drive to Elmhurst...I mapped it at 35 miles which is not a big deal..how much is gas now? What will the ride be like in the snow? Is there a train between LITH and Elmhurst for commuting purposes??
Thanks for all the advice....

I did the same thing you're planning and regretted the heck out of it. If you want nightlife and intellectual stimulation, go to Chicago. Don't be put off because you don't know it. There are great areas in the city with a groove that any newcomer could get into quickly. Try Bucktown, Wrigleyville, Lakeview, Lincoln Park or even Andersonville on for size. You could get a train to Elmhurst dead easy from there.

Now for LITH. First, the train to Elmhurst from there is a non-starter. Your closest station is Crystal Lake on the UP Northwest Line. Elmhurst is on the UP West line. Bottom line: you could go to O'Hare and catch a plane to Philly in the time it would take you to get to work by train.

Don't let the 35 mile drive fool you. You will be battling bumper-to-bumper traffic, road construction and agressive moustachioed Illinois types driving V10 Extend-O-Cab pickups. If you've got 1.5 hrs a day each way to dedicate to that, then you'll be set.

Culture. LITH has none, I repeat, NONE. The "town" is a former redneck hollow that ballooned into a suburban abomination. The epicenter of civic life is on an intersection of two high traffic thoroughfares called Randall Road and Algonquin Road. There is where you will be presented with your choice of dining: Steak & Shake, Applebee's, McDonald's, the salad bar at Dominick's supermarket. As for nightlife, I think that the new Lowe's is open until 10pm.

Do yourself a favor. Give the city a chance. The Chicago Reader is the source for finding rentals (w w w . c h i c a g o r e a d e r . c o m). Then there's Craigslist as well.

Magpies

[j33]

You'll find it difficult to learn the neighborhoods from way out there as you'll probably have a hard time finding people who know them. If you are nervous about moving to the city (you shouldn't be) then you should check out an inner ring burb like Oak Park or something (it is even on the Elmhurst Metra line I think), at least you'll have easy access to the city via 'el' or Metra train.

Honestly, I had to look up Lake in the Hills on a map to even know where it was and I've lived in and around Chicago for my whole life (too be fair though, I'm pretty bad with knowing where all the suburbs are, now city neighborhoods? that I could help you out with).

[OuttaDodge06]

I would Love the City....the problem was that each landlords "good neighborhood" wasn't so when I checked w/people who had lived there. Not to mention, I was under a deadline to "find a place"...so...since I'm committed for a year, please give me as much as advice as possible to start researching new areas once I arrive in 2 weeks.......I hope that I won't be committing hairy-kairy over the next year......thanks for all the input

[artemis]

Rockford is right up I-90 to the North. I used to live in that area, and there's plenty to do there.

Not much going on in LOTH, but since you've got a year, that will give you time to get out & explore different areas.

[SarahPeters]

There really doesn't seem to be much in Lake in the Hills, however, if you explore the surrounding suburbs you will find some good restaurants. For theater and nightlife, well, you will probably end up going into the city a lot, or at least to some of the larger suburbs w/more going on.

[chicagoan]

LITH is too far from Elmhurst in my opinion. Elmhurst is a beautiful town with YORK high school. Can't go wrong with that. LITH schools are always going through tax referendums because of rapid growth. Culture and nightlife can be found via train to Chicago

[nadav41]

Relocating to Northwest Burbs want the Quite life. How is Johnsburg?

[Georgia]

I lived in Crystal Lake for 3 years. Actually, off Miller Road.
One side Crystal Lake, other side Lake in the Hills.

Mag Pie said it most, though I did not see much on the "Red Neck" side. Then again, being a West Virginia native I don't think many folks in McHenry County know the meaning I liked Crystal Lake, but LITH is what MagPie said. Strip mall city off two main roads.

Here is the big skinny and the reason I accepted a transfer to Atlanta! (Big Mistake, then again that is another story. DONT GO TO ATLANTA!) ok, back to topic.

I would travel from Miller Road LITH/Crystal every morning to Golf Road in Schaumburg/Rolling Meadows every morning. On a good clear day the 26 mile trek would take an average of 60-90 minutes one way! If it snowed or iced then plan on 2-3 hours. Yes, to go 26 miles.

If I would come back to Chicago (won't happen wife would divorce me first) I would go downtown. Downtown Chicago, yet expensive, it outstanding. The best large city in America. Good fun, Good folks, Good times.
Now if you want danger and destruction you could always come to downtown Detroit, woops I mean Atlanta. Same thing

[MagpiesMagpiesMagpies]

Originally Posted by Georgia

I lived in Crystal Lake for 3 years. Actually, off Miller Road.
One side Crystal Lake, other side Lake in the Hills.

Mag Pie said it most, though I did not see much on the "Red Neck" side. Then again, being a West Virginia native I don't think many folks in McHenry County know the meaning I liked Crystal Lake, but LITH is what MagPie said. Strip mall city off two main roads.

Here is the big skinny and the reason I accepted a transfer to Atlanta! (Big Mistake, then again that is another story. DONT GO TO ATLANTA!) ok, back to topic.

I would travel from Miller Road LITH/Crystal every morning to Golf Road in Schaumburg/Rolling Meadows every morning. On a good clear day the 26 mile trek would take an average of 60-90 minutes one way! If it snowed or iced then plan on 2-3 hours. Yes, to go 26 miles.

If I would come back to Chicago (won't happen wife would divorce me first) I would go downtown. Downtown Chicago, yet expensive, it outstanding. The best large city in America. Good fun, Good folks, Good times.
Now if you want danger and destruction you could always come to downtown Detroit, woops I mean Atlanta. Same thing

GA, you give sage advice.

As I'm sure everyone's dying to know, the rotten hillbilly core of LITH is just East of Randall Road tucked in behind the movie theater. Keep going east on Miller road past the Randall Road intersection, and listen for the banjos.

Magpies