Check Out the Chicago Northwest Suburbs! 

The Northwest Suburbs have all the conveniences of a large metropolitan city without the hassles of one! Enjoy the comforts of City style and small town shops. Primarily known for family-oriented, neighborhood communities, the Northwest Suburbs have excellent schools and park districts that make these neighborhoods perfect for families with children!

The area also boasts excellent shopping and health care facilities. The area is also commuter-friendly, as toll roads and expressways lace the area, providing easy access to the Loop and other suburbs. There are also Metro trains that roll into downtown from many convenient locations.

Housing in this area ranges from vintage dwellings to newly built and custom homes, to condominiums, townhouses, and apartments, all of which are plentiful!

Regional shopping

The malls of this area are considered by many to be the best in the state, and possibly the best in the country. They house a number of nationally known stores, as well as local favorites. In addition, each community has its own unique downtown shopping haven.

• Woodfield in Schaumburg is one of the largest malls in the U.S., and the biggest tourist attraction in the state. Woodfield offers 255 stores, with Marshall Field's, Lord & Taylor, Sears, Nordstrom and JC Penney as its anchors.

• The Streets of Woodfield are under construction where One Schaumburg Place used to be. The plan is to build a multi-use facility that will include shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Galyan's is the first tenant. Nearby Maggiano's and The Corner Bakery are doing huge business.

• Randhurst Shopping Center in Mount Prospect has been serving residents since 1962. The 140 stores are anchored by Kohl's, Carson Pirie Scott, JC Penney and Montgomery Ward. Specialty stores include Circuit City, Home Depot, Jewel- Osco and Dollar Tree.

The following are a few of the local specialty shopping districts and downtown areas for residents to choose from:

• Arlington Heights' downtown shopping offers 50 outstanding shopping facilities, including several clothing boutiques and small retail stores. Town and Country Mall is anchored by Lord & Taylor and Service Merchandise. Nearby are the North and South Point Shopping Centers, Annex of Arlington, Arlington Plaza and Ridge Plaza. International Plaza has 30 stores and Huntington Plaza offers more shopping options.

• Des Plaines' main shopping districts are The Oaks and the downtown area. The historic McDonald's museum and the Chu-Chu Restaurant, where food arrives on miniature trains, are popular eateries.

• Grove Village has a variety of shopping possibilities, with five principal shopping centers and 10 strip malls. The new Elk Grove Town Center is home to a new Dominick's, Walgreens, Wolf Camera, Pearle Vision and Schlotzsky's Deli, and more. A decorative fountain faces the municipal buildings and the area will be used for community events. Elk Crossing, anchored by Jewel Osco, includes Sears Hardware, specialty shops and a number of eateries. There also are a Super K-Mart and a Wal-Mart in the village.

• Hoffman Estates offers plentiful shopping, including neighborhood shopping centers, specialty shops and franchises.

• Mount Prospect's downtown shopping district has charming brick sidewalks, park benches and old-fashioned storefronts. It also has major shopping centers, such as Mt. Prospect Plaza, with anchors Dominick's, Marshall's, Wal- Mart and TJ Maxx.

• Downtown Park Ridge has several retail stores. Shopping centers include Village Green, Summit Mall and South Park Shopping Center.

• Shoppers in Prospect Heights may choose from various strip malls including Prospect Crossing, with 15 stores, and Palwaukee Plaza.

• Schaumburg offers almost 70 shopping areas. After Woodfield, Golf Road is the major shopping area, with almost every big name in retailing, as well as specialty shops, car dealerships and restaurants.

• Streamwood shares the Westview Shopping Center with Hanover Park. The area's largest outdoor mall is anchored by Cub Foods, Burlington Coat Factory, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

Regional shopping

Seven hospitals service this region. Trauma centers are noted.

• Alexian Brothers Medical Center (ABMC) in Elk Grove Village has been providing residents of the northwest suburbs with holistic health care services for more than 30 years. With 473 licensed beds and nearly 700 physicians on its medical staff representing over 40 specialty areas, ABMC offers a full range of services. These include cardiac care, obstetrics as a Level II perinatal center, cancer care, physical rehabilitation through the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at ABMC, orthopedics, emergency care as a Level II trauma center and comprehensive mental health and addictions services.

• Columbia Hoffman Estates Medical Center is a 356-bed general medical-surgical hospital. Its newest addition is an expanded maternity pavilion complete with extensive perinatology services and full pre- and post-natal care in a Level II special care nursery.

• Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines is an acute- care community hospital with 252 beds and a medical staff in excess of 450, representing a comprehensive range of physician specialties. It offers a Level II trauma center, cardiac and intensive care units, maternity services with a Level II perinatal unit, women's health services, a substance abuse center, a state-of-the-art gastroenterology lab, the latest in laser surgery procedures and the Stable Lives Diabetes Program. Holy Family is a member of the Rush System for Health.

• Lutheran General Hospital, in Park Ridge, is a complete medical-surgical facility, research, referral and teaching hospital. Part of Advocate Health Care, with a Level I trauma center, the hospital's reputation precedes itself. In fact, it was selected as one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation by the "Top 100 Hospitals Benchmarks for Success" study in both 1995 and 1996. The 645-bed hospital boasts a staff of 850 physicians and has made numerous improvements in recent years. The two-year-old Yachtman Pavilion, a sunny and colorful structure with an outdoor garden, is devoted exclusively to pediatric care. Yachtman Pavilion provides over 20 specialty clinics for children with chronic and/or complex conditions. The hospital's new state-of-the art cancer care center opened in 1996. Lutheran General is the largest independent academic medical center in Illinois, and one of the largest providers of pediatric care.

• Midwestern Regional Medical Center, in Zion, is a 95- bed acute care facility with a medical staff of more than 150 and a 24-hour emergency room. Affiliated with Cancer Treatment Centers of America, the hospital's cancer program accounts for nearly 70 percent of its operation. Cancer Treatment Centers of America is the nationally recognized developer and manager of comprehensive cancer treatment programs, providing patients with a wide array of traditional and innovative treatments and support therapies.

• Northwest Community Health Care, in Arlington Heights, is a 401-bed inpatient hospital that has provided quality health care services to the people of the Northwest Suburbs for more than 35 years. With a medical staff of more than 650 physicians, Northwest Community offers an extensive range of services and is known for excellence in women's and children's services, including 24-hour in-house neonatology and pediatric coverage through a partnership with Children's Memorial Hospital.

• Sherman Hospital in Elgin, an affiliate of Sherman Health Systems, has more than 350 beds and a medical staff of 375 physicians. Services include a regional heart center, trauma and emergency services, laser and minimally invasive surgery center, oncology services and physical therapy. The hospital also provides outpatient surgery, occupational health services, diabetes care and a Level II neonatal intensive care nursery. Additional services include a sleep center, pain management services and a full range of health and wellness programs.

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