While many people purchase a vacation home to use primarily during the summer months, there are always those buyers seeking a second home as a year-round retreat. According to Tammy Barry, director of sales and marketing at Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort, a marina resort community on the Illinois River in Ottawa, Ill., within Starved Rock Country, there are a number of factors buyers should consider in order to find a vacation home that will be an appealing destination regardless of the season.

“Quite often, people are initially attracted to a vacation home because of an activity they enjoy, even if it’s just for one season of the year, such as the boating lifestyle we offer at Heritage Harbor,” said Barry. “But it’s smart for buyers to look beyond those seasonal activities and weigh how the home will work for them the rest of the year, too.”

Year-Round Activities

First and foremost, Barry suggests those in the market for a second home investigate what recreational activities are available once the area’s high season is over. “As an example, many of our residents at Heritage Harbor love the active, outdoor lifestyle the Starved Rock Country region offers regardless of the season,” she said. “We have three nearby state parks where they can get out and hike to experience and appreciate nature in winter, spring, summer and fall.

“Because of our location on the Illinois River and our full-service marina and harbor, it’s natural for people to think of Heritage Harbor as a great place for a summer home,” Barry added. “But this area is also amazing in winter, and opportunities to explore it on snowshoes, cross country skis or even a snow mobile make for year-round fun. Winter is also prime time for watching this region’s impressive wildlife, such as the bald eagles that nest along the Illinois River.”

Barry also recommends looking into what area towns are like during the off-season. “Find out if the local downtown closes up once the peak summer season is over, or if there are things going on throughout the year such as the seasonal events and festivals downtown Ottawa regularly hosts,” she said.

Season-Extending Home Features

The actual design of a second home can also be a major contributor to how residents enjoy it throughout the year, noted Barry. “When we help buyers choose features and finishes for their home, we encourage them to think beyond the warm-weather boating season and also consider how they want to spend time during the fall, winter and spring,” said Barry. “Many of our residents choose to add a fireplace, which creates a warm and cozy cabin atmosphere when the snow falls. They also appreciate flexible spaces like sunrooms or three-season porches where they can soak up the sun in late fall and early spring while enjoying views of the river and surrounding natural areas.”

According to Barry, other popular options include adding a fire pit or heating lamp to patios. “Retractable Nano walls are also a great feature because during warm weather buyers can really have an indoor-outdoor space, and then in cooler weather they still have an expanse of glass windows to enjoy their views,” she said.

Community Connections

For many, a vacation home is a place where they want to create a sense of belonging by connecting with a close-knit community of friends and neighbors. Barry pointed out that if this is a priority for buyers, they should ask about what the atmosphere of the surrounding area is like at all times of the year. “One of the things our residents appreciate about Heritage Harbor is that we have plenty of homeowners who live here year-round, and many of our part-time residents love to come for weekend visits throughout the year to not only enjoy a change of scenery, but catch up with their Ottawa friends and neighbors,” she said. In fact, Heritage Harbor frequently organizes get-togethers for residents, from special “wine and paint” nights to beer- or wine-tasting dinners at the Red Dog Grill, the community’s on-site harbor-side restaurant.

Distance from Home

Schedules change with the calendar year, particularly for families who have more obligations related to school and extracurricular activities once summer is over. For that reason, Barry says buyers should think realistically about the location of their second home.

“We always say about 90 minutes by car from a primary residence is the sweet spot in terms of travel time, because it’s close enough for homeowners to easily get there on a Friday night, as well as leave from their vacation home for work Monday morning,” said Barry. “That proximity also means that if a child has a Saturday morning soccer game or has to be home to finish a school project on Sunday evening, the family can get to their vacation home for an overnight stay and a full day of fun.”

Heritage Harbor Ottawa offers a variety of options for vacation, retirement and full-time residences, including custom single-family homes, condominiums, cottages and townhomes. For information on Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort and available homes and vacation rentals, call (815) 433-5000 or visit www.heritageharborottawa.com.

About Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort

Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort is a 142-acre master-planned marina resort community of 600 homes located on the Illinois River in Ottawa, Ill., just 90 minutes from downtown Chicago. Featuring a 32-acre marina surrounded by pocket neighborhoods of waterfront custom homes, condominiums, cottages and townhomes, Heritage Harbor Ottawa is a unique residential option in Starved Rock Country for those seeking a vacation, retirement or full-time home on the water.