Country Living is What You Make It!
” At Heritage Harbor, we enjoy all the perks of ‘country life’ without all the labor country life usually requires. “
Country Living is What You Make It!
What image comes to mind when you hear the phrase “country living?” Oftentimes, what we imagine country living to entail includes the notion of rustic, farmhouse living on acres of land surrounded by animals and lots of work. What if we were to tell you that country living is what you make it?!
Heritage Harbor Ottawa parkrun
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“Searching for a fun and active way to spend a Saturday morning? Come try out parkrun at Heritage Harbor! .”
Searching for a fun and active way to spend a Saturday morning? Come try out parkrun at Heritage Harbor!
What is parkrun? It’s a free, weekly 5km timed run open to everyone. parkrun events are hosted all over the world, and visitors travel far and wide to participate in events in different locations.
Heritage Harbor is the first and currently the only parkrun event location in Illinois. Heritage Harbor parkrun is conveniently situated only 90 minutes from Chicago. We have welcomed parkrunners from several countries abroad including England, South Africa, New Zealand, Russia, Australia, and Ireland.
Every Saturday morning at 9:00am, participants and volunteers gather at Heritage Harbor, 2 Great Loop West, Ottawa, IL to enjoy this free event. See our course page for more details. There is no cost to participate, but please complete a one-time registration before your first run. Don’t forget to bring your printed barcode to ensure your finish time is recorded.
parkrun is uniquely inclusive, and all ages and fitness levels are welcome. parkrun draws all types of people, and the comradery is really a draw for many people. We’d love to have you join us for an active Saturday morning run/walk and invite you to stay for a post parkrun coffee at the Red Dog Grill. We look forward to welcoming you next weekend!
Have you been to a parkrun at Heritage Harbor? Tell us about your experience. Comment Below
First Floor Living
” With everything from classic ranch style plans to cozy cottages and luxurious estates, you’re sure to find a design with the features you desire.”
Our 4 favorite home plans that are perfect for main-floor living
Main-floor living designs come in all layouts and sizes to meet your needs, budget and lifestyle. The benefits of main-floor living are numerous. Accessibility, ease of maintenance, energy-efficiency, and design flexibility are just some of the preferred aspects of such homes.
Home plans with main-level master suites have an ageless appeal—perfect for everybody regardless of age or ability. Our main-floor living floorplans allow homeowners to seamlessly transition their vacation home of today to retirement home in the future. With everything from classic ranch style plans to cozy cottages and luxurious estates, you’re sure to find a design with the features you desire.
Many homeowners desire homes in which all main living spaces are at ground level, making their home accessible and comfortable. Beyond convenience, however, our plans tend to have very open, fluid designs, making great use of square footage across all sizes. These plans almost always have open living space combining kitchen, dining, and living rooms to create a comfortable and cozy space to gather. Our builder-ready, complete home plans range from modest to sprawling–simple to sophisticated, and come in all architectural styles.
River’s Edge Villa
River’s Edge Villa model is a prime example of a complete main-floor master suite in which all main living spaces are at ground level. The upstairs bedrooms and bathroom are perfect for accommodating any guests. Follow the link to view the Villa Floorplans.
The West Peninsula Finley
The West Peninsula Finley plan can be positioned on the Harbor’s edge and can accommodate a lower-level walk-out basement, giving you all the benefits of main-floor living, but with the additional pleasure of walking out to the water’s edge. This home is well-suited for vacation-to-retirement transition. Click here to view the West Peninsula Plans
Allison Ramsey Designed and Styled | The Eden Plan | A Perfect Fit for 48′ Pinnacle Point Homesites
The Eden
The Eden floor plan is well-suited for a river-facing Pinnacle Pointe homesite. This floor plan appeals to those searching for timeless architecture positioned on a premier homesite. To view the Eden and more Pinnacle Pointe floor plans, follow this link to view the Pinnacle Pointe Plans.
Allison Ramsey Designed and Styled | Whisper Creek Cottage | A Perfect Fit for 30′ West Peninsula Homesites
Whisper Creek Cottage
Whisper Creek Cottage is a classic ranch-style floor plan, offering cozy and accessible one-story living. Enjoy the harbor happenings from your featured wrap-around front porch. Follow the link to view Whisper Creek and other West Peninsular floor plans on our website.
Our home plans, designed by Allison Ramsey and Heritage Harbor architects, are packed with the latest amenities and designed to utilize all available space to create a timeless, yet functional home that you’ll enjoy spending time in for years to come. Our homes are built for living.
Are you dreaming about a waterfront lifestyle? What plan suits your lifestyle? Comment Below
SPRING has SPRUNG!
“ Spring has sprung, and with it, the promise of all things new! .. “
New Life—New Promises!
Spring has sprung, and with it, the promise of all things new! Many of us make New Years Resolutions at the beginning of each year….and many of those resolutions soon fall by the wayside. Winter doldrums inevitably set in, and those changes we envisioned making in our lives are forgotten as the reality of day-to-day life sets back in.
Optimism—An Important Ingredient
So here we are, a few months into the year, and the ice and snow are quickly becoming memories of another winter past. Spring in the Midwest affords an unrivaled sense of optimism, so doesn’t it make sense to rather focus on our resolutions now? New life and growth as well as longer, warmer days are the perfect ingredients for implementing successful changes.
Move It!
Have a desire to incorporate more physical activity? There’s no better time than spring to jump-start an active lifestyle! The still moderate temperatures encourage physical exertion without the discomfort of summer’s heat and humidity. Head to the numerous state parks in Starved Rock Country to enjoy a nature walk. The trails are teeming with new signs of life as flora and fauna begin another cycle of life. Hike or bike the I&M Canal trail or the Harbor and River Walks. Every Saturday morning, Heritage Harbor Ottawa parkrun (a volunteer-operated free weekly timed 5K) is hosted at the Harbor. This weekly event is a great way to measure your fitness growth week by week throughout the year.
Make the Connection!
Connecting more with our community is an inner desire many of us harbor. It can be one of the most difficult of resolutions to implement because it most often involves stepping out of our comfort zones to spend time with people we don’t yet know. The great thing about living at Heritage Harbor is that you have a built-in community network surrounding you! Our neighbors become friends and our friends have become neighbors. The resort team loads the events calendar with a variety of fun events designed to encourage connection among residents as well as members of the larger Ottawa community. Heritage Harbor Ottawa parkrun encourages fitness and community involvement through participation as either a volunteer or a 5k participant. Make it a goal to take part in one or more event next month, and you will be well on your way to making the personal connections we all so deeply crave!
Live it Up!
Maybe your intention is to live your life to the fullest. Spring at the harbor means patio dining at Red Dog Grill! Take your dining alfresco and enjoy a delicious meal while taking in the beautiful sunsets over the harbor. Renting a cottage with family and friends is a great way to spend a long weekend. Unwind and recharge while you enjoy some local boutique shopping, spa sessions, delectable cuisine, and outdoor adventures. You may even decide that the Harbor is where you’d like to spend more time. This is the season to house hunt or plan your dream home, so come see what’s on offer at the Harbor! Secure your slip at Heritage Harbor Marina this month and start your boat preparations to ensure a long season of aquatic fun for your family and friends.
Are you excited for spring??? What are your plans for this coming spring? Comment Below
However you decide to spend your lengthening days this spring, make sure you make time to stop and smell the roses…and the peonies and the hyacinths!
‘Slip’ Into the Harbor Life at Heritage Harbor
“ With daylight saving time 2019 just around the corner, you should start getting your summer plans in order… “
With daylight saving time 2019 just around the corner, you should start getting your summer plans in order. Heritage Harbor is planning a summer to remember full of sun, sand, water, friends and fun!
Heritage Harbor’s vibrant marina was voted Boaters’ Choice 2018 by marinas.com, and you only must stop in to see why. Just 90 minutes from Chicago, our vibrant marina is ready and waiting to give you the boating experience you’ve been looking for.
Positioned on the Illinois Waterway, Heritage Harbor Marina offers 32 acres of harbor, boasts a harbor opening width of 200 feet, and hosts 140 boat slips ranging between 35 and 60 feet. You’ll enjoy the single-load floating docks and private dock boxes for each slip. Due to demand, our marina is expanding with a summer 2019 addition of 20 new small-craft boat slips. We have been operating at near-full capacity and are ready to welcome more families into our harbor community with this expansion.
The gorgeous Illinois River provides an incredible backdrop to our amazing resort. Our additional marina services and amenities set us apart. We offer poolside beverage service, concierge-level dock service, dock staff assistance with fueling, pump out, and deliveries, full-service boat dealership with an on-call mechanical staff, Internationally Accredited Marina Manager and on-call management staff, and 24/7 on-site Harbor Hosts. Restrooms and shower facilities, restaurant, ship store, swimming pool, ATM, cable/satellite TV, wireless internet, ice, dry storage, floating docks, fuel, oil recycling, pump out, and winter storage are just some of the numerous amenities available for your enjoyment at our marina. We really are a ‘home away from home’ for all who stop here.
Want to try out our harbor before making it your home away from home?
Heritage Harbor offers on-site rentals of jet skis, pontoon boats, and electric boats. The Heritage Harbor Marina is also in association with Quest Watersports, offering rentals of Hobie pedal boards, kayaks and Stand Up Paddle boards. Our staff will ensure that all the necessary equipment is transported to the marina, and we will retrieve it when you’re done—no stress! .
Heritage Harbor Marina is a stopover point of choice for many mariners committed to completing the Great Loop. Our marina is on the map for an average of 140 loopers each season. These loopers take advantage of all that Heritage Harbor and Historic Downtown Ottawa have to offer. Follow their example and make us your port of choice!
What are your favorite memories about waterfront resorts or marinas? Comment Below