how to visit home alone house

Here's Where You Can Visit The House From Home Alone

For all of the "Home Alone" fans who want to personally visit the house connected with the 1990 classic film, the time may be now. And as  House Beautiful  reports, this Winnetka, Illinois property is widely considered to be an art and real estate attraction for film fans. As IMBd notes, Chris Columbus directed the film, and John Hughes wrote the film. Stars include Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern. Given the film's 1990 release, cinematic spin-offs, and ubiquity during the 1990s, it stands to reason that many visitors and fans are members of the Millennial generation. The Pew Research Center defines Millennials as people who were born between 1981 to 1996. But, while scores of fans whose childhoods reflected the 1990s imagined themselves as protagonist Kevin McAllister, played by actor Macaulay Culkin, these contemporary adults can physically visit the brick and shuttered two-story home made famous by this film provided that they are willing to travel to the Midwest.

According to Trip Advisor , many people do visit the home. In fact, visiting the "Home Alone" house currently holds the top spot on a list of 12 noteworthy things to do in the general Winnetka, Illinois area. Additional preferred activities include visits to lagoons, woods, parks, a natural trail, and boating. In the Winnetka community, the "Home Alone" house is considered both a point of interest and a landmark, as Trip Advisor reports. 

About the home and area

With respect to the "Home Alone" house, the structure is indeed an architectural beauty. This two-story house boasts different lovely elements, including a striped, red brick exterior with complementary deep-toned shutters and crisp, white trim details. In front of the house, lush landscaping includes trees, shrubs, and flowers. This landscaping leads up to a multi-step entryway linking the pavement to space before the detailed home door. The property is also enclosed by a gate and physically located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, IL 60093, per Trip Advisor .

For many locals, the village of Winnetka holds reverence for a variety of reasons. In particular, Winnetka is appreciated because the village hugs Lake Michigan's North Shore, enabling waterfront access, as the Village of Winnetka explained. Additionally, the village includes tree-dotted streets, sandy beaches, well-regarded schools, and parks and recreational facilities. With an 1869 founding date, the town also holds a name derived from a Native American word that reportedly translates to beautiful land.

Everything You Need to Know About the Home Alone House

Including where it was actually filmed.

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In 2019, Netflix came out with a series called The Movies That Made Us that takes a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes action from famous films, including Home Alone . In that episode, some of the film's production crew share interesting details about filming, but they didn't share everything we wanted to know. How much is the house worth? Can you visit the Home Alone house? Well, we did some research and found all the answers to your burning questions. Keep reading to find out some fun facts about the John Hughes movie, and impress your guests with this trivia the next time you sit down to watch it together.

Where Is the Home Alone House Located?

The property you see in the exterior shots is located at 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, Illinois. The town is a northern suburb of Chicago, and according to Zillow , the Colonial was built in 1920.

Where Were the Indoor Scenes Filmed?

The gorgeous, warm interiors of the Home Alone house look authentic, but they're not from that Winnetka mansion. Instead, according to the Netflix special, the film's indoor scenes were shot at New Trier Township High School, an abandoned school building with enough space for an entire makeshift sound stage. The mansion was too small for all the crew to fit inside, explained director Chris Columbus, so they built an entire two-story set in the high school gym. In fact, the scene near the end of the film when Kevin goes into his neighbor's house was filmed in the old school pool, which made flooding its "basement" much easier.

How Much Is the House Worth?

Though the home is off the market, Zillow estimates that the 10-bedroom, six-bath property is currently worth $2,317,200. Hey, when there are five kids, six cousins, and multiple adults all staying in one place, you need a lot of room!

Can You Visit the House?

A few years ago in 2021, AirBnB opened the mansion doors for a one-night-only stay hosted by none other than Kevin's older brother, Buzz. Other than that, there's no way to get inside unless you know the current owners. However, many fans still walk or drive by the house each year and take pictures of the exterior. If you really want to spend a night living out your own Kevin McCallister adventures, you can rent out a Home Alone– themed AirBnB in Dallas, Texas, for $247 a night .

Who Lived in the Home Alone House in 1990?

At the time of filming, John and Cynthia Abendshien lived in the inviting home. They had reportedly been living in the house for only two years before the movie aired in 1990. John Abendshien said of writer Hughes, "John Hughes had a real interest in filming in community settings. He, I understand, grew up in the North Shore, and really wanted his sets and backgrounds to have a real world, a true neighborhood and a true-home-type ambience."

Who Lives in the Home Alone House Now?

In May 2011, the Abendshiens put the home up for sale for $2.4 million before lowering the price in September to $1.995 million. The Colonial didn't sell until 2012 for $1,585,000 , and the current owners have stayed out of the public eye.

What Is the Square Footage of the House?

As empty nesters , it makes sense that the Abendshiens didn't want or need a home as large as the one on Lincoln Avenue. The Home Alone house, according to Zillow , is 5,398 square feet and sits on just over half an acre of land.

Were Any Other Movies or TV Shows Filmed at the Home Alone House?

John Hughes loved Chicago, and according to the same Netflix special, he also filmed Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Uncle Buck at the abandoned high school. When it comes to the Colonial mansion, there actually may be a connection to the beloved '90s sitcom Friends . Apparently, the series used stock footage from Home Alone to represent the house Monica and Chandler (played by the late Matthew Perry ) move into at the end of the series. If you look carefully, you can see the same neighbor's blue home with a wreath on the door from the inside windows. So, in a sense, you could say that the Bings bought the McCallisters' place! Of course, Chandler and Monica moved to a New York City suburb, not a Chicago one, but it's a fun connection nonetheless.

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Everything You’ve Ever Wondered About the Home Alone House

By Claudia Williams

There are two reasons people continue to watch Home Alone. First, to get into the Christmas spirit. Second, to ogle over the Home Alone house, which has become an iconic piece of pop culture history over the last few decades. If you need more proof, consider the fact that after the dwelling recently recently hit the market for $5.25 million, it found a buyer in a week.

The iconic film first hit the big screen in 1990, when navy blues and dusty rose pinks were the popular colors amongst family homes. According to Eve Cauley, the set decorator responsible for the iconic look of the McCallister family home, “There were no saturated green or red upholstered furniture sold in stores. Not one piece.”

That was, until the movie came out. “A red dining room became the in-style trend of the 1990s. My decor and wall-covering choices for Home Alone changed the color palette of the nation for the upcoming decade,” Cauley tells AD. According to an article by House Beautiful , the most popular paint colors ahead of the film were subtle mauve, denim blue, light turquoise, and barely-there pink. And after the film’s release, in 1991, Benjamin Moore’s most popular color was Arroyo Red, a deep reddish-brown color. In 1992, it was Forest Green. It seems as though it wasn’t only the holiday spirit that rubbed off on fans.

And with the revival of ’90s nostalgia and the trends that come with it, there’s no better time to do a deep dive into the Chicago-area home where it all began. Whether you’re looking to plan your visit to the real-life dwelling (the Home Alone house address is 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL) or find inspiration for your decor this holiday season, read on.

How the Film Came to Be

This moment from the film became a meme before most people even had access to the internet.

Home Alone was produced and written by the venerable film legend, John Hughes. The movie was inspired by a real trip the director went on with his family.

In an article for Chicago magazine, James Hughes—son of the director—recalls: “On August 8, 1989, my father [John Hughes] jotted down in a notebook a movie idea born of traveler’s anxiety that occurred to him during the bustle of departing for our first family trip to Europe, and set it aside. Two weeks later, after returning home, he revisited the premise: What if one of the kids had been accidentally left behind?”

Hughes continues, “Over the next nine days, he completed the first draft of Home Alone. ” According to that same article, Home Alone went on to defy everyone’s prerelease expectations, and quickly became the highest-grossing live-action comedy ever made. It earned $476.7 million worldwide.

A Bit About the Plot

Daniel Stern as Marv and Joe Pesci as Harry in Home Alone

The original Home Alone follows the McCallisters as they prepare for an extended-family Christmas trip to France. The morning of their connecting flight to New York, their youngest son, Kevin McCallister (played by Macaulay Culkin), oversleeps, misses the family headcount, and gets left behind—just like John Hughes dreamt of. (Kevin’s parents were played by Catherine O’Hara and John Heard.)

The first few days feel like sweet freedom, as Kevin basks in his first real dose of independence by tobogganing down the stairs, indulging in massive ice cream sundaes, and watching R-rated movies that uncle Frank (Gerry Bamman) would never allow.

But the fun and games soon come to an end when Kevin is faced by the wet bandits—two bumbling burglars who have their sights set on robbing the McCallister home. Villains Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) soon realize the house isn’t vacant like they first thought, and an endless game of cat and mouse ensues, with Kevin setting intricate booby traps to protect himself and his family home. All with a little help from old man Marley and his wicked brother Buzz’s pet tarantula, of course.

Where Was Home Alone Filmed?

The street signs near the Home Alone house

By Christopher A. Daniel

By Sophie Dweck

By Jennifer Ash Rudick

While all indoor scenes were filmed on set in a high school gymnasium (more on that later), a handful of memorable moments took place outside 671 Lincoln Ave, the address of a red-brick home in the affluent, cookie-cutter town of Winnetka, Illinois. Situated on the North Shore of Chicago, the neighborhood boasts suburban charm that practically begs to be made into a Christmas movie. The home itself was built in 1920 in the Georgian colonial style—perfectly symmetrical. According to Zillow , the home now boasts 5,398 square feet, 10 bedrooms, and 5 baths.

It’s Chris Columbus, the director of the film, whom we can hold responsible for finding the iconic Chicago suburb house. “We basically drove around for several weeks until we found the right house,” Columbus said in a 2015 interview . “We needed to cast a house that would work for the stunts and also a house that was visually appealing, and—if this makes sense—warm and menacing at the same time,” Columbus explained.

“It’s the kind of house, if you were a kid, it would be fun to be left home alone.” Columbus then took photos of home’s exterior, sent them to Hughes for approval, and the rest is history.

The House Then and Now

A fan doing Kevin McCallister’s signature facial expression in front of the home in 2021

671 Lincoln Avenue instantly became a destination for fans of the movie, with hoards of tourists flocking to the home hoping for a little taste of movie magic. But it wasn’t the McCallisters that had to put up with the newfound attention—it was the Abendshien family, who owned the home. “We would have not believed back then that there would be sightseers coming to look at that house for years afterward,” John Abendshien said in an interview with Vanity Fair .

According to an article written in 2015 for the Chicago Sun-Times , writer Richard Roeper stopped by the house in the winter of 1991 and reported that 400 vehicles had lined up outside 671 Lincoln Ave on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some curious tourists went as far as knocking on the front door, or even venturing into the backyard in hopes of catching a glimpse of the tree house. The Abendshiens stayed in the home until 2011. It then sold in 2012 for a reported $1.585 million , closing the chapter on the Abendshiens’ 25-year residency.

Following the release of Home Sweet Home Alone in 2021 (the sixth sequel to the original), Airbnb reopened the doors to the home. This Airbnb stay offered a highly coveted trip down memory lane, and came complete with a candlelit dinner of Kraft macaroni and cheese and Chicago-style pizza, plus a viewing of the film franchise’s newest holiday adventure, Home Sweet Home Alone. While the Airbnb experience is no longer on the table, you can stream the original Home Alone , Home Alone 2, and the rest of the sequels on Disney+.

The Home Alone House Hits the Market

The house that was once booby-trapped in every way imaginable by Kevin McCallister hit the market for $5.25 million in May of 2024 and found a buyer quickly after. (The Dawn McKenna Group held the listing .) Prior to the 2024 sale, the home had last changed hands in 2012 for a reported $1.585 million . Located at 671 Lincoln Ave, in Winnetka, Illinois, the 9,126 square foot home boasts five bedrooms and six full bathrooms. “The stately brick Georgian residence of Home Alone fame brings forward a rare opportunity to own one of the most iconic movie residences in American pop culture,” stated the listing, which was held by real estate team the Dawn McKenna Group. The property was fully renovated and expanded in 2018, which just about doubled the square footage of the home. “The current owners took the utmost care in maintaining the architectural detail and integrity of the home's most memorable and recognizable spaces,” stated the listing.

Updates include a new sun-drenched family room with sweeping 10-foot coffered ceilings and a gourmet kitchen with every bell and whistle imaginable, from a double island to an eight-burner Wolf range and integrated Sub-Zero fridge. And the eerie, unfinished basement from the movie? It’s nowhere to be seen. In its place you’ll find a fully equipped gym, a recreation space, a full bath, wet bar, and a cozy home movie theater (complete with a Home Alone movie poster), according to the listing. But that’s not all. The space even has a state-of-the-art indoor sports court featuring three basketball hoops. If only Kevin and Buzz could see it today. And the attic where Kevin is shipped off to sleep and says “I hope I never have to see any of you jerks again” has been transformed as well. The space now boasts a junior primary suite that doubles as a treetop escape. It features a full en suite bath with soaking tub, built-ins, and uninterrupted views of the lush backyard. Other updated amenities throughout the home include a three-car attached heated garage and a screened-in porch with a wood-burning fireplace, ideal for movie nights with the whole family. It’s only fitting.

While the light-filled, updated home of today is a far cry from the wallpapered and carpeted space we all know and love, one constant remains: the grand foyer with its iconic staircase. While all other interiors were duplicated on a sound stage, the main staircase was used to film some of the most iconic scenes in the cult-classic Christmas movie. The deep red carpeting has been removed to highlight the rich wood floors, and the damask wallpaper has been subbed out for sleek white walls that bring out the endless crown molding throughout the house.

About Winnetka

Winnetka has established a reputation as one of the most desirable communities in the greater Chicago area, according to Dawn McKenna Group. The town was established in 1869 and named Winnetka, a Native American word that translates to "beautiful land.” Since the town is so idyllic and close to the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan, it comes as no surprise that Winnetka was named the second best city to live in in America by 24/7 Wall Street in 2020 . The community feels like a serene escape, but is conveniently located just a little over an hour by train or 35 minutes by car from downtown Chicago. Winnetka occupies a land area of 3.81 square miles in Cook County, Illinois and as of 2020, has a population of 12,744, according to the official website of Village of Winnetka.

The neighboring homes to 671 Lincoln Ave are just as stately, and prospective buyers will find similar Georgian-style homes (though not famous) on the market just a few blocks away.

Can You Visit the House From Home Alone Today?

Fans visiting the Home Alone house in 2021

Whether you’re looking to tour the home as a prospective buyer or you’re just a fan of the film, a quick search in Google Maps will lead you straight to the house, making a trip to 671 Lincoln Ave accessible and easy. Dawn Silvers, an Illinois resident and lover of the movie, visited the Home Alone house this Thanksgiving. Silvers and her youngest child originally made the drive to Chicago for a concert, and then decided to tack on a visit to Winnetka. “ Home Alone is one of our family favorites. We watch it multiple times throughout the holiday season,” Silvers tells AD.

“When we pulled into the neighborhood, we were giddy as schoolgirls. We pulled onto the street and I think I may have squealed with joy,” Silvers explains. “We knew immediately which house it was by the looks and the amount of people standing on both sides of the street and in front of the house.”

Silvers wasn’t the only one who had the smart idea to visit the house ahead of the holiday season. “There were quite a few cars parked on the opposite side of the street so as not to interfere with picture taking. Everyone was smiling ear to ear, taking pictures, pointing to the different windows.” She eavesdropped on fellow fans asking, “Was this the window Marv went through and stepped on the broken ornaments?” and, “That’s the doorknob that burned the M into Harry’s hand, and the front door that Kevin McCallister slid through on his sled.” The movie magic is (and will always be) in the air on Lincoln Avenue.

The home looks a little different than it did in 1990. There is now a wrought iron gated fence enclosing the property, with a sign that states: “Please do not touch the gate. Thank you!” as well as a new driveway and garage. But the holiday spirit remains. “The Home Alone house had wreaths on five of the windows upstairs, as well as the front door. There was also green garland wrapped around the white columns, the edge of the porch roof, and on the handrails of the front steps,” explains Silvers. The McCallisters would approve.

Building the Set From Scratch

Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister and Joe Pesci as Harry, one of the burglars, in Home Alone

The Winnetka house that Chris Columbus hand-selected as the McCallister house was perfect in every sense of the word, except for one small hiccup—the interior wasn’t big enough. “Film sets must be large enough to have room for the camera, as well as the actors, in addition to the furniture,” explains Cauley, the movie’s set decorator.

The set team ultimately decided to build the entire interior of the home in the gymnasium of New Trier High School, also in Winnetka. At that time, there were few film studios in Chicago, and John Hughes lived north of the city. “Filming in an empty high school meant we were in close proximity to his family,” explains Cauley. “He could visit the sets easily or stop in and see filming, and then go home and write.” Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Uncle Buck were also filmed in Chicago.

Curating the Rich, Lived-In Interiors

In the film, Kevin sets elaborate traps in order to catch the burglars attempting to break into his home.

The only way to describe the interior of the Home Alone house is to compare it to a Norman Rockwell painting, which is precisely the aesthetic Cauley was going for. “I thought about what look would best represent Americana, and of course, Norman Rockwell came to mind,” Cauley says.

Like Rockwell, Cauley used saturated greens, reds, and golds to stand out against the white fluffy snow. “I thought of it like a flip-book, where use of color orchestrated throughout would give the film a warm feeling,” says Cauley. She also found inspiration from historic Christmas cards.

Cauley had about six weeks to bring the McCallister family home to life. “I love selecting and finding decor that builds a character, or when collaged together, supports a story visually,” she says.

When asked how she sourced such rich fabrics, wallpapers, and carpets, Cauley shared her best-kept secret. “I also do some residential interior design, so I have trade accounts at some stores,” she says. “John Hughes wanted a timeless traditional look, so I went to brands with that look, within my color palette.”

The Finishing Touches

Catherine O’Hara as Kate McCallister in Home Alone

With every rewatch of Home Alone, you may start to pick up on little details you never noticed before, and that was Cauley’s intention. “I put personal character details about the house as clutter that might not ever be noticed but felt right to me,” she says. “I had a little book about the care and feeding of spiders on the kitchen counter, as if perhaps Buzz was reading it, put it down when he went to the kitchen to get a snack, got distracted and ran off, leaving the book there.”

She also laid out holiday wrapping paper in the primary bedroom, as if Kevin’s parents, Kate and Peter McCallister, were wrapping Christmas gifts but didn’t have time to clean it up. It’s these little details that all come together to create the thoughtful, curated set fit for this celebrated holiday movie.

The admiration for Home Alone is still going strong decades later, and it was on full display recently when Macaulay Culkin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Catherine O’Hara, who played the role of Kevin’s mom, gave an emotional speech at the celebration and concluded with an iconic line from the film: “I just wanna say, merry Christmas, ya filthy animals.”

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By Michelle Duncan

By Katherine McLaughlin

By Marianna Cerini

clock This article was published more than  2 years ago

Decades later, ‘Home Alone’ fans are still casing the iconic house

The home where Kevin McCallister made his family disappear remains a tourist attraction in the Chicago suburbs

On a chilly Saturday afternoon in the affluent, tree-lined Chicago suburb of Winnetka, two men stand and stare at the red-brick Georgian at 671 Lincoln Avenue. The house appears welcoming to families — and maybe fictional burglars. However, the men aren’t casing the joint to rob, and they aren’t alone. They will be joined by dozens of visitors throughout the day to gaze at the house that hosted a holiday classic: “Home Alone.”

“It’s part of iconic Chicago, it’s part of the history,” said one of the men, Louis Prettitore, who was visiting from New York City with his husband, Connor Heaney.

“We’re hiding from family for the holidays,” Heaney said. “We ran away for Thanksgiving.”

In the 1990 film, Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McCallister defended his house from two robbers (the Wet Bandits) with elaborate traps, dancing mannequins and a clever use of the VCR, yet the setting for his Christmas high jinks continues to draw fans from around the world. 2021 also marked a reboot for the film, though the new version, “Home Sweet Home Alone,” was filmed in Montreal.

The Chicago-area home located about 30 minutes north of the city has become a staple for tourists, especially around the holidays.

“It’s very great, it was like a child[hood] dream,” said Yurii Tkachuk, who grew up watching the movie in Ukraine and now lives in New York. Tkachuk obsessed over the sequel’s locations, too, and visited the Plaza Hotel and Central Park upon his first visit to New York. “Every year before Christmas we see this film, and it was like a dream to see this house.”

The stately, symmetrical house is one of the most iconic movie residences in American pop culture. Despite its fictional provenance, many of the tourists who peer over the short, wrought-iron gate earnestly gush about the house’s historical significance.

“It’s like Wrigley Field, because it’s so historic,” said Reyes Santos, who was visiting his son in Chicago from Cidra, Puerto Rico.

A real family lives there today, and there’s a small fence that keeps out brazen fans. The circular driveway is gone now — a landscaping detail nearly every visitor is quick to point out — depriving fans a look at the place where Kevin was left out of a family head count before the airport. The treehouse, a prop , was taken down after the movie. While the home was used for outside shots, the interior scenes were filmed on a set in a gym at an abandoned high school.

A couple named John and Cynthia Abendshien owned the home when filming began in 1990, but they sold in 2011 for a reported $1.585 million.

Late filmmaker John Hughes wrote “Home Alone.” Like much of his work, the movie explores the chaos and dysfunction of an American family that hides under a Rockwellian veil, in this case a suburban estate. The McCallister home, like the bubble gum pink dresses of “Sixteen Candles” and the Griswold family station wagon that drives the “Vacation” series, echoed the tidy ideals of the 1950s while its inhabitants were bursting with late-20th-century anxiety.

“When we were little we all dreamed of these really pretty suburban American houses, and I think a lot of that came from films like this one,” said visitor Marie Schulte-Bockum, who grew up in Europe.

As a regional attraction, the McCallister house is a unique treasure that stirs regional pride for Chicagoans. Like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” which spotlighted Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Lake Shore Drive and the Mercantile Exchange trading pits, “Home Alone” is deeply rooted in its sense of place. The film’s cops, cashiers and Santas deliver their dialogue with Midwestern accents. The McCallisters race through O’Hare’s vaulted terminals. A cardboard cutout of Michael Jordan totters on a train set through the living room.

That’s why for visitors like Palos Heights, Ill., resident Jackie Andersen, seeing the famous house feels like reliving the movie.

“It just became alive and it brings people into the movie,” she said. “It just makes you feel part of it even though it’s a private residence.”

Andersen has relived the movie in more ways than one. She bought Kevin’s hat for her son and had him push a grocery cart at the Grand Food Center in Winnetka where Kevin buys the milk, eggs and fabric softener (a list she rattles off by heart). She has watched the film more times than she can count.

“It’s my lifelong dream if I ever win the lottery,” she said, trailing off while admiring the building. “The house became a character in the movie.”

Andersen could realize her dream for one night; in one of its regular stunts, Airbnb has listed the “Home Alone” house for a brief rental. Living next door may also be a fan’s dream. But for 11-year-old Noah Irizarry, who lives in Old Man Marley’s house , it’s more than that.

“It’s good business,” he said while perched behind the hot cocoa stand he and his friend, 11-year-old Emmett Hourihane, manned on his front lawn. Irizarry has seen the movie at least three times. Like many children who visit the house, his favorite scenes involve Kevin torturing hapless criminals Harry and Marv.

“I like the part where … this might not be appropriate,” Noah said, pausing before glancing at his mother. “But when Kevin gets his BB gun and shoots one of the robbers in the [groin].”

Noah’s father built the white lemonade stand with a small metal awning. His mother, Cassandra Bayna, said Noah thought of the business himself, including the idea to perch signs for “Kevin’s Hot Cocoa” on the sidewalk. Around 40 to 50 customers will come by on a typical Saturday or Sunday. Bayna said last year 1,000 to 1,500 people came to see the house on the weekends.

“It can be frustrating sometimes because of the parking,” she said. “People live here. I think that’s something people forget.” Last year was “the worst,” Bayna said. “Because of the pandemic, people couldn’t go anywhere, so they said, ‘Let’s drive up to the Home Alone house!‘ The police had to come and make this a one-way, and they barricaded part of the entrance, which I’m willing to bet they’re going to do again.”

Her neighbors inside the famous house didn’t like people peering into their windows, she said, which is why they built a fence.

According to Bayna, most visitors start streaming in by late morning or early afternoon, though several will come late at night and yell “Kevin!” She has watched hundreds of people slap their cheeks in a mock scream to mimic Culkin’s famous pose in the movie poster. Others do dance routines, and there’s been at least one saxophone player.

“Nothing is a shocker so we’d be hard-pressed to find original ideas because we’ve seen everything,” she said. “It’s a charming aspect of the neighborhood.”

For the tourists who come from all over the world to see the house, the visit is a chance to reenact the movie and make memories of their own. Aline Tomaz, 10, came with her family from Minneapolis after her father, Alexandre Tomaz, showed them the movie. Her mother, Andressa Tomaz, herded them in front of the fence for a family Christmas card photo as if the house was Macy’s Santaland.

“My favorite part is when he said ‘I made my family disappear,’ ” Aline said. When asked whether that was something she thought about sometimes, she gave her parents a mischievous smile.

“Please don’t say that!” her father said with a laugh. “Home Alone 3!”

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Home Alone: Where is the house from the film and can you stay there?

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Christmas just wouldn’t be complete with at least one viewing of Home Alone – the classic 90s film in which a young Macaulay Culkin defends his family’s abode from burglars.

While we all remember the movie’s hilarious set-pieces and stunts – not to mention Culkin’s starmaking turn as eight-year-old Kevin – the actual house itself remains one of the film’s star attractions even to this day.

The house has nabbed its fair share of headlines over the intervening years – including eagle-eyed fans noticing Monica and Chandler from Friends moving in there – and it returned to the spotlight again on the film’s 30th anniversary in 2020.

But just where is the house from the film – and can you actually stay there?

Where is the house from Home Alone?

Home Alone is set in Chicago – andthe famous house which provides the backdrop from the action is also located nearby – in the suburb of Winnetka, Illlinois, around 16 miles from the city.

Director Chris Columbus said of the dwelling: ‘We needed to cast a house that would work for the stunts and also a house that was visually appealing and, if this makes sense, warm and menacing at the same time.

‘It’s the kind of house if you were a kid it would be fun to be left home alone. I wanted it to feel timeless.’

The house, which is located at 671 Lincoln Avenue, close to Lake Michigan, was owned by John and Cynthia Abendshien at the time of filming – and their daughter Lauren, who was six when the movie was made , revealed in 2020 just how they coped with living there while scenes were being shot.

‘We stayed in the house pretty much the entire period they were filming, between four and five months they were there,’ she told This Morning.

‘In order to avoid appearing on screen, we would have to crawl around under the window line from room to room.

‘Especially in the evening when it would be much easier for that to show up on camera. You had to do an army crawl from spot to spot in the house.’

The three-storey, five bedroom house went up for sale in 2011, eventually selling for around £1,300,000.

Can you visit the Home Alone house?

The house is of course a private residence and not usually open to visitors.

However, fans of the film now have the chance to stay there for one night on December 12, for just $25 – courtesy of Airbnb.

The listing, posted by ‘Buzz McAllister’ (played in the film by Devin Rattray) promises a full-on Home Alone experience, inviting visitors to ‘eat junk food, watch rubbish on TV, borrow my dad’s aftershave and choose your own adventure with a legendary battle plan as a guide’.

He adds: ‘Just stay out of my room, okay?’

Booking opens on December 7 and can be seen at Airbnb’s website – and as it’s the season of giving, Airbnb will make a donation to Chicago’s La Rabida Children’s Hospital, which is helps improve the quality of life for each of its patients.

MORE : Saturday Night Live shares the most adorable throwback sketch of brothers Macaulay and Kieran Culkin

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Home Alone House: Inside The Iconic Kevin McCallister House 30 Years Later!

Updated on June 12, 2024

If you’re a Home Alone fan, you likely dreamed of spending a Christmas in the Kevin McCallister house at some point. Built in 1920, this gorgeous 4,200 square foot red brick Georgian played an important role in the Christmas classic film Home Alone . Boasting 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, it made the perfect scene for the McCallister’s massive family and Kevin’s mischievous traps for Marv and Harry. With Home Alone just celebrating its 30 year anniversary as of 2020, Velvet Ropes is giving you the inside scoop on this iconic house! From the Home Alone house address to the movie magic that transformed it into the McCallister home – keep reading for all the deets!

Where Is the Home Alone House?

For those looking for the real-life Home Alone house location, look no further than Chicago, Illinois. The sprawling residence is located only 16 miles north of downtown Chicago in a north shore neighborhood called Winnetka Illinois. The Home Alone house address is below!

McCallister House Home Alone

In 2011, Coldwell Banker real estate agent Marissa Hopkins was granted access to film a video tour by owners John & Cynthia Abendshien. At the time, the house from Home Alone was just placed on the market by the couple for $2.4 million.

The Abendshien family purchased the red brick Georgian in the late 80s after relocating from Evanston. Fun fact: Evanston is where the popular John Hughes film Sixteen Candles (1984) was shot!

While a large portion of the movie was filmed on a soundstage, shots of the home’s interior can still be found in the film. The scenes of the foyer’s grand staircase and the living room were the real-life Home Alone house. There were, however, some tiny changes made to facilitate some scenes in the film. For example, new wallpaper was added to make the house more festive.

Oh, and the back door down the set of stairs outside – that actually wasn’t real. A backhoe was brought in to dig up that part of the property so that a fake door and steps could be added in. Kevin’s treehouse was also specifically built for the film and ended up being taken down after filming wrapped.

Home Alone House Now

Today, the McCallister house would be hard to recognize inside. Gone are the days of green and red wallpaper and red carpeting on the stairs in the foyer – now replaced with modern grey paint and blue & white carpeting.

The kitchen has also undergone some extensive work, now featuring elegant white shaker cabinets, green tile backsplash, and a small breakfast bar.

The tacky wallpaper in the master suite has been replaced with a chic grey & white striped print.

Additionally, the once hardwood floors are now decked out in white carpeting. The dining room, which featured red walls in the film, is now adorned in a warm cream color painted with vines and pear trees. Quite the improvement overall…unless you’re a diehard lover of 90s interior design.

If you’ve ever revisited the Home Alone films for a dose of nostalgia, you probably asked yourself at some point “how much is the Home Alone house worth?” Well, after an extensive redecoration, the original owners of the property put up the Mcalister house for sale in May 2011. In March of 2012, it sold for $1.585 million.

Whatever Peter McCallister was doing to afford the Home Alone home and their extravagant family vacations, we need to know! Seriously – a vacation to Paris for 13 people?!

Home Alone House Address

Wanna see the McCallister house for yourself? It’s located at 671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka Illinois 60093. If you plan to visit the location, however, keep in mind it’s not an attraction open to the public. So, while you can stop by and grab some selfies with the house from Home Alone, you won’t be able to go inside.

Who’s the Home Alone Kid ?

The center of the Home Alone films, Kevin McCallister, was played by actor Macaulay Culkin. And yes, there are 2 Cs in McCallister – it’s not Kevin Mcallister. 😉 In addition to starring in Home Alone and Home Alone 2 Lost in New York , Culkin also appeared in the films My Girl (1991), The Nutcracker (1993), and Richie Rich (1994).

“How old is Kevin from Home Alone?” you may be asking yourself – prepare to feel old! Macaulay Culkin, aka little Kevin McCallister, is now 43!  

Home Alone Robbers

Marv and Harry, the greedy antagonists in Home Alone, were played by actors Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci. Stern, who was also the narrator for The Wonder Years (1988-1993), has spent the majority of his career in television. While Pesci is most often recognized for his roles in Lethal Weapon 4 (1989), Goodfellas (1990), and My Cousin Vinny (1992).

Where Was Home Alone Filmed?

The entire production of Home Alone was shot in the Chicago area! Even the parts that were supposed to be set in the Paris Orly Airport were actually filmed at O’Hare International Airport.

The interior of the plane was a set built on a basketball court at the local high school. In fact, the scene where Kevin McCallister is trekking through the flooded basement is actually the school’s swimming pool.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60262/25-things-you-might-not-know-about-home-alone

https://www.romper.com/entertainment/home-alone-house-video-tour

https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/h/Home-Alone.php

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/11/home-alone-house-winnetka-illinois

.css-16urd06{margin:0;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.5;} .css-1eo6nkc{color:rgb(0, 0, 238);font-size:24px;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;} Sarah Paschall

Sarah has written and edited for numerous media outlets in a variety of different niches – though entertainment is her all-time favorite topic to cover. When she is not hard at work researching and writing about Hollywood’s top talents for Velvet Ropes, Sarah enjoys working on her fiction novels, developing her blog, and gaming. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at: Twitter.com/tuspock91

Spend the Night In The ‘Home Alone’ House – Here’s How!

in Movies & TV

Are you ready to enjoy a Home Sweet Home Alone holiday?

If you’ve ever wanted the opportunity to relive your favorite scenes from Home Alone (1990), this Christmas may be the most magical one yet.

The Home Alone house – yes, THE ACTUAL house – will be available for a stay this December, complete with booby traps and holiday decor.

To celebrate the release of the new H ome Sweet Home Alone (2021) movie on Disney+, starring Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, Kenan Thompson, and Aisling Bea, four lucky fans of the movies will have the chance to enjoy a one-night stay in the classic movie house.

Located in Chicago, the iconic house where the original movie starring Macaulay Culkin was filmed has now been listed on Airbnb for a special one-night Christmas experience.

The Airbnb listing is hosted by none other than Kevin’s older brother Buzz, who writes:

Many Christmases ago, the McCallisters went to Paris – well, most of us. Though we’re older and wiser now (I’ve even got my own security firm), we’re never too old for holiday hijinks. So while we’re away on vacation (all of us, this time), I’m inviting one crew of mischief makers to let their inner eight-year-olds run free in my childhood home on Dec. 12. Booking for this one-night stay opens Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. C.T.* *This is not a contest. Guests are responsible for their own travel. Credit: Airbnb

The beautiful house will be decorated for Christmas, with a twinkling tree and stockings on the fireplace. Lucky Guests will also be able to meet Buzz’s pet tarantula.

Buzz goes on to invite Guests to set their own booby traps and relive the movie, writing:

This holiday season, we’re playing by my little bro’s rules, so feel free to eat junk food, watch rubbish on TV, borrow my dad’s aftershave and choose your own adventure with a legendary battle plan as a guide. Just stay out of my room, okay? After you’ve worked up an appetite, you can feast on all the comfort food your hearts desire, including plenty of Chicago’s finest pizza and a candlelit dinner of microwavable Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Credit: Airbnb

In honor of the first-ever public stay at the McCallister home , Airbnb will be making a one-time donation to Chicago’s La Rabida Children’s Hospital, which is dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life for each of its patients with complex conditions and chronic illness.

Additionally, a “member of the McCallister Security team” will tour the Guests around the home, arrange meals and provide a LEGO Ideas Home Alone set on departure.

The Airbnb host adds:

Those looking to book should note that this stay’s rules require strict adherence with local COVID-19 guidelines. Onsite staff will follow applicable local, state and federal guidelines as well as Airbnb’s COVID-19 Safety Practices, which include wearing a mask and practicing social distancing when required by local laws or guidelines, and abiding by our five-step enhanced cleaning process. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Chicago.

The Home Alone house will only be welcoming Guests on December 12, 2021.

The booking page will open on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at 1 p.m. CT at airbnb.com/homealone . The one-night stay will only cost $25, so log on early to try to snag this amazing holiday treat.

More on Home Sweet Home Alone

The official description of the movie on Disney+ reads:

Ten-year-old Max Mercer has been accidentally left behind while his family is in Japan for the holidays. So when a married couple attempting to retrieve a priceless heirloom set their sights on the family’s home, it’s up to Max to protect it from the trespassers…and he will do whatever it takes to keep them out. 

Will you be trying to book this ultimate Home Alone holiday stay? Let us know!

Comments Off on Spend the Night In The ‘Home Alone’ House – Here’s How!

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A holiday wish come true: The real-life Home Alone house is now bookable

Key Takeaways

• This holiday season, mischief makers can book a stay in the actual house where the Home Alone story began.
• To celebrate the release of Home Sweet Home Alone , big brother Buzz will host an overnight stay in his childhood home while the McCallisters are away for the holidays.

This season, fans are set to have their dreams come true with an overnight stay in the original Home Alone house. While the McCallisters are away on their annual trip (all of them but the pet tarantula, this time), four guests will get the opportunity to relive their favorite scenes from the holiday classic and let their inner eight-year-olds run free for the evening without the interruption of pesky intruders.

Big brother Buzz McCallister will join thousands of Hosts on Airbnb by opening the doors to his family’s Chicago home as the ultimate gift this month. Following the release of Home Sweet Home Alone , the all-new holiday film now streaming on Disney+, this Airbnb stay offers a trip down memory lane and an unforgettable way to celebrate the holidays.

“You may not remember me as particularly accommodating,” says Buzz, “but I’ve grown up, and I’d be happy to share my family home – my pizza, even – with you this holiday season. Just try not to let my tarantula, Axl, loose this time.”

Buzz will host a one-night stay* for up to four guests at the McCallister residence on Dec. 12 for only $25**. 

During their stay, guests will enjoy:

• A cozy holiday scene with twinkling lights and a perfectly trimmed tree in celebration of the season.
• Booby traps galore (but don’t worry – you’ll be setting them, not sidestepping them!).
• Surprisingly searing splashes of aftershave and ample opportunity to scream into the mirror.
• All the ‘90s favorites their hearts desire, including plenty of Chicago’s finest pizza and a candlelit dinner of microwavable Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
• A meet and greet with a real-life tarantula. 
• A viewing of the film franchise’s newest holiday adventure, Home Sweet Home Alone .
• A LEGO Ideas Home Alone set to take and build at home.

“We may all be older and wiser now, but we’re never too old for holiday hijinks,” Buzz said. “So this year, spend the holidays not-so-home-alone at my parents’ house.” 

‘Tis the season of giving, so in honor of the first-ever stay at the McCallister home, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Chicago’s La Rabida Children’s Hospital , which is dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life for each of its patients with complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness.

Those hoping to stay in the McCallister home should note that this stay’s rules require strict adherence with local COVID-19 guidelines. Onsite staff will follow applicable local, state and federal guidelines as well as Airbnb’s COVID-19 Safety Practices , which include wearing a mask and practicing social distancing when required by local laws or guidelines, and abiding by our five-step enhanced cleaning process. Guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Chicago.

Mischief makers can request to book this stay beginning Tuesday, December 7 at 1:00 PM CT at airbnb.com/homealone .

Airbnb is closely monitoring Chicago infection rates and government policies and will offer booking guests a $1,000 USD Airbnb travel credit if it becomes necessary to cancel the stay.

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The 'Home Alone' house could be yours for a night

Rachel Treisman

The 'Home Alone' house in Winnetka, Ill. will be available to rent through Airbnb for one night later this month. The $25 stay will also include junk food, booby traps, a film screening and other holiday hijinks. Sarah Crowley/Airbnb hide caption

The 'Home Alone' house in Winnetka, Ill. will be available to rent through Airbnb for one night later this month. The $25 stay will also include junk food, booby traps, a film screening and other holiday hijinks.

Calling all fans of Christmas movie classics: The iconic house from the 1990 film Home Alone will be available to rent on Airbnb for one night only this holiday season.

Up to four lucky mischief makers will be able to stay in the McCallister family's house on the night of Dec. 12 for just $25, the rental company announced on Wednesday. Renters can request to book the suburban Chicago property beginning Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. CT.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The 2021 holiday movie guide: 100+ new films to get you in the spirit.

That's thanks to elder brother Buzz, aka actor Devin Ratray, who is hosting the stay — even though he and his family (everyone except the pet tarantula, this time) will be out of town on their annual holiday trip.

"You may not remember me as particularly accommodating," 'Buzz' said in a statement. "But I've grown up, and I'd be happy to share my family home — my pizza, even — with you this holiday season. Just try not to let my tarantula, Axl, loose this time."

It is not clear who owns the house, or how exactly it made its way to Airbnb. The family who owned the property at the time of filming sold it to the current owners in 2012 for $1.5 million, according to the Chicago Tribune .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Airbnb(@airbnb)

While the house is certainly the main attraction, it's not the only advertised perk of the overnight stay (no Kevin included though, sorry).

Ratray told People that anything fans could possibly remember from the first movie will be available — short of paint cans in the face. He said he hopes it will be snowing like it was in the film, and is excited about giving fans the opportunity to experience the house for themselves.

"You've seen the movie so many times, you've seen the Christmas tree in the front room, you've seen the staircase, people running up and down, you've seen the kitchen where Buzz lovingly barfed up all the cheese pizza. Now you get to walk through that," he said, adding that the mess has long since been cleaned up.

Actor Macaulay Culkin

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Airbnb says it will welcome its guests with a "cozy holiday scene" including twinkling lights and a Christmas tree, as well as a meet-and-greet with a real tarantula, a LEGO set to take home and "all of the '90s favorites their hearts desire," from Chicago pizza to a candlelit dinner of microwavable mac and cheese.

It also promises booby traps ("but don't worry — you'll be setting them, not sidestepping them!") and "surprisingly searing splashes of aftershave and ample opportunity to scream into the mirror."

"This holiday season, we're playing by my little bro's rules, so feel free to eat junk food, watch rubbish on TV, borrow my dad's aftershave and choose your own adventure with a legendary battle plan as a guide," Buzz writes in the property listing. "Just stay out of my room, okay?"

Guests will wrap up their night of hijinks with a screening of the franchise's latest installment, Home Sweet Home Alone . The new film , out now on Disney+, follows a married couple trying to steal an heirloom from a resourceful kiddo whose family left him behind on a holiday trip to Japan.

For Airbnb, 2020 Was Supposed To Be A Banner Year. Then The Pandemic Hit

And, like the best presents, this gift also gives: Airbnb says it will make a one-time donation to Chicago's La Rabida Children's Hospital , though does not specify the dollar amount.

The listing describes the 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house as being tucked away on a picturesque street in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, and calls the neighborhood a friendly one "despite past encounters with crooks and folklore about Old Man Marley."

Airbnb adds that guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Chicago, and those hoping to reserve the home must adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and company safety practices.

It's also monitoring local infection rates and mandates as the omicron variant spreads, and says it will offer guests a $1,000 travel credit if the stay ultimately has to be cancelled.

Here's hoping these lucky renters will be able to safely get — and stay — home alone after all.

This story originally appeared on the Morning Edition live blog .

• short-term rentals

Can You Visit the Home Alone House This Winter?

By: Author The Drivin' & Vibin' Team

Posted on November 12, 2021

What do you know about the Home Alone house? Have you ever thought about visiting it? 

Maybe this winter is the perfect time for a road trip to explore Home Alone filming locations. 

Read on to find out more about the Home Alone franchise and where the house is located.

Let’s go!

About the Home Alone Movies

Home Alone is a 1990 Christmas movie about an eight-year-old boy accidentally left at home as his family travels for the Holidays. While he’s home alone, he ends up protecting his home from burglars. 

The comedy was a hit. Due to this, a sequel was filmed in 1992, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The sequel starred the original cast and received mixed reviews. 

Over time, three more sequels have been released: Home Alone 3 in 1997, Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House in 2002, and Home Alone: The Holiday Heist in 2012. Subsequently, Home Alone four and five were made-for-television. 

And, in fact, there’s a sixth one, Home Sweet Home Alone, coming out today! 

Where Is the Home Alone House?

In the first Home Alone movie, the house is the main set. It’s the place where Kevin uses aftershave for the first time, sleds down the stairs, and fights off burglars. Therefore, it is a central figure of the film.

The Home Alone house is an actual three-story single-family home built in the 1920s. It’s about 20 minutes outside of Chicago, Illinois, in a lovely residential neighborhood called the North Shore Village.

Location: 672 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, Illinois 

Pro Tip: After exploring the Home Alone House in Chicago, cruise down Route 66! Make sure to stop and do these 9 Best Things To Do on Route 66 in Illinois.

Can You Visit the Home Alone House?

Although you can drive to the house, it’s privately owned and closed to the public. However, you can take a selfie right outside. It looks the same as it did in the movie, except for an iron fence. 

In the movie, you get to go inside nearly all the rooms in the house, but in reality, only a few things were filmed on location. Scenes such as the exterior, central staircase, basement, attic, and 1st-floor landing are all from the house.

Everything else was filmed on a soundstage on the west campus of New Trier High School in Northfield. 

So how do you get to experience the Home Alone House? Keep reading to find out. 

Can You Stay the Night at the Home Alone House?

Although you can’t stay in the actual Home Alone House, you can stay in a Home Alone-themed Airbnb ! Yep! It’s a private duplex for Home Alone fans in Dallas, Texas.

First, you can watch classic VHS movies on an old-school TV and play ping pong. Likewise, if you’re feeling hungry have a cheese pizza delivered to your door (courtesy of the hosts.)

And that’s not all! Finally, the rental is set up just like Kevin had it with hanging paint cans, toy cars on the floor, and the Michael Jordan cardboard cutout. In fact, the toiletries are vintage packaging from the 90s.

How fun is that?

Best Hikes Near the Home Alone House

Once you’ve experienced all things related to the Home Alone house, it might be time to hit the trails! There are two fantastic hiking opportunities located 15 minutes away: Skokie Lagoons Inner Trail and Chicago Botanical Gardens Trail.

Let’s check them out. 

Skokie Lagoons Inner Trail

Skokie Lagoons is a nature preserve with seven interconnected lagoons and plenty of trails. The area is referred to as Nike Island and Skokie Lagoon Islands. 

You’ll want to take the Inner Trail for an authentic hiking experience. It’s a 4.1-mile loop of unpaved walking trails meandering through shady woods. here’s no actual signage, so stay vigilant and use a hiking app, so you don’t get lost.

The trailhead is located on Forestway Drive near the Forest Grove Picnic Grove #1. There’s roadside parking right there and the N Branch Trail. The Inner Trail is a 450-foot walk north from the picnic grove. There’s no mistaking the N Branch Trail and the Inner Trail.

The N Branch Trail is a paved biking trail, and the Inner Trail is a narrow path that veers west and follows the lagoon.

Chicago Botanical Gardens Trail

If you’re looking for an easy, manicured hike, you’ll certainly want to walk the Chicago Botanical Gardens Trail . This is a 2.2-mile loop on paved cement, brick, or packed gravel paths. The walking paths wind through various gardens, the bonsai courtyard, and a waterfall, to name a few. 

Entering the Chicago Botanical Gardens via the N Branch Trail is free. If you drive to the gardens and park in their parking lot, you must pay to park. 

Please note that dogs are not allowed on the Chicago Botanical Gardens Trail. Also, visit the botanical garden website for specific hours and trail access.

Pro Tip: If you don’t want to be home alone over the holidays, stay at one of these 10 Best RV Parks for Christmas .

Best Camping Near the Home Alone House

The Home Alone house is located near Chicago, and finding camping in urban areas is always a challenge. However, we found two good campgrounds that are 60 minutes or less away. Let’s talk about them. 

Blackwell Family Campground

Located 60 minutes from the Home Alone House, Blackwell Family Campground is inside the 366-acre Blackwell Forest Preserve. The campground is on Silver Lake and has 60 gravel campsites for tents and RVs. All sites have electricity, fire rings, and picnic tables. There are no sewer or water hookups at any of the sites.

All campers have access to running water and a shower house with flush toilets. You can dump your tanks at the onsite dump station. 

The campground is seasonal from May 7th to September 25th and only open on weekends. You’ll also need a permit to camp. 

GPS Coordinates: 41.83805966, -88.17475155 

Illinois Beach State Park

If you need more flexible camping, Illinois Beach State Park might be a better option for you. It has a seasonal campground that’s open between April 1st and December 30th. You need a permit to camp there as well.

Illinois Beach campground has 241 grassy and gravel campsites with electricity. There are no water or sewer connections, but all campers have access to showers and sanitary facilities. 

The campground is 45 minutes from the Home Alone house. Additionally, it is on the shores of Lake Michigan. You can spend your days swimming, biking, walking, or hiking the trails. 

Location: 39150 Illinois Beach State Park Rd, Zion, IL 60099

Is a Road Trip to the Home Alone House Worth It? 

If you’re a fan of Home Alone, a road trip to the Home Alone house is totally worth it. It’ll be fun to get a selfie in front of the home, and there’s still plenty to explore in the area.

Hiking around the Skokie Lagoons and the botanical gardens is an added bonus.

Discover the Best Free Camping Across the USA

To be honest with you,  we hate paying for camping . There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy).

You should give it a try!

As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours.  Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.

Become a FREE CAMPING INSIDER and join the 100,000 campers who love to score the best site! 

We’ll send you the 50 Best Free Campsites in the USA (one per state).  Access the list by submitting your email below:

I live near the home alone house. There’s no neighborhood called the North Shore village. It’s in Winnetka. Also, there are a lot of better places to camp much closer than 60 minutes to here 🙂 check ioverlander or similar ❤️

Inside the real 'Home Alone' house – and its jaw-dropping value

The 1990 hit movie saw macaulay culkin play kevin mccallister.

The hit 1990 movie  'Home Alone' has become part of many families' Christmas traditions, and not only did it make a star of Macaulay Culkin , but also the iconic red-brick Georgian-Colonial house that was home to the fictional McCallister family. 

The stunning residence is a real home located in Winnetka, Illinois, about 20 miles from Chicago, and at the time, it was owned by the Abendshien family, who relocated to a makeshift apartment on the second floor of their house during filming. 

While the exterior of the property was used in the movie, many of the interior shots were filmed on a purpose-built, two-story set inside the gym of an abandoned school, New Trier Township High School, located in the town. 

However, the famous, red-carpeted staircase that young Kevin McCallister sledded down before shooting out of the front door, and the living room, were shot inside the real home. 

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"We needed to cast a house that would work for the stunts and also a house that was visually appealing and, if this makes sense, warm and menacing at the same time," director Chris Columbus said in 2015. 

"It's the kind of house if you were a kid, it would be fun to be left home alone," he added. 

Inside the real 'Home Alone' house

Located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, the 'Home Alone' house boasts 10 bedrooms and six bathrooms across 5,398 square feet of space and just over half an acre of land, according to Zillow . 

In May 2011, fans got a proper look inside when the Abendshien family put the house on the market for $2.4 million, a huge increase from the $800,000 Cynthia and John Abendshien paid for the property back in 1998. 

At the time, real-estate agent Marissa Hopkins – who worked with the Abendshiens on the sale – posted a YouTube video showing off the interiors in all their glory. Check out the video below...

"It looks different than the fans might expect (i.e. no plaid wallpaper)… but that's Hollywood! " Hopkins told Insider . "The images depicted at the time I sold the house, were how the house looked when it was filmed," she added. 

One noticeable difference between the interior of the real house and the ' Home Alone'  one is the lack of red and green painted walls and furniture, a design choice that gained popularity following the film's release. 

"There were no saturated green or red upholstered furniture sold in stores. Not one piece," ' Home Alone ' set decorator, Eve Cauley told AD . 

"A red dining room became the in-style trend of the 1990s. My decor and wall-covering choices for Home Alone changed the color palette of the nation for the upcoming decade," she added. 

How much is the house worth? 

The $2.4 million asking price proved to be too hefty a price tag for the famous home as four months after it went on the market, the Abendshiens lowered the asking price to $1.995 million. 

Again, there were no takers, but the house eventually sold in 2012 for $1.585 million although the current owners are not known. According to Zillow , the luxury mansion is today worth over a whopping $2.3 million! 

Visiting the 'Home Alone' house 

For decades fans of the movie have traveled to Winnetka to see the 'Home Alone' house in person and snap pictures of the exterior, and it is a particularly popular destination around Christmas. 

"We would have not believed back then that there would be sightseers coming to look at that house for years afterward,"  John Abendshien previously told Vanity Fair.  

As the home is currently occupied and not available for sale or rent, the only way to get inside is if you know the owners. However, back in 2021, Airbnb  offered fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stay at the real-life McCallister home. 

The lucky guests were treated to Chicago's finest pizza, a candlelit dinner of microwavable Kraft Mac & Cheese, and set up booby traps for potential intruders.

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Ahhhhhh! You now have a chance to stay in the 'Home Alone' house

Another holiday, another night the McCallister family won't be sleeping in the giant house from "Home Alone."

But you can!

Thanks to Airbnb, the Chicago-area house that co-starred with Macaulay Culkin in the 1990 classic slapstick comedy will be available to book for one night only, as part of a promotion to celebrate the new Disney+ movie "Home Sweet Home Alone," for just $25 (plus taxes and fees).

Pop Culture 'Home Alone' director Chris Columbus on how Macaulay Culkin made scream 'iconic'

Hosted by Buzz McCallister, the older brother to left-behind Kevin McCallister (Culkin) in the film, the overnight stay opens for booking on Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. CT , for a stay on Dec. 12.

"You may not remember me as particularly accommodating,” Buzz is quoted as saying in the news release, "but I've grown up, and I'd be happy to share my family home — my pizza, even — with you this holiday season. Just try not to let my tarantula, Axl, loose this time."

Buzz was played by actor Devin Ratray in the original and "Home Alone 2," and he also makes an appearance in the new "Home Sweet Home Alone" as a police officer. Ratray is not actually staying overnight, but photos of Buzz (and other "Home Alone" actors) will hang on the walls.

And here's the real holiday gift — the house comes with all kinds of extras, including:

• a trimmed tree
• booby traps that you can set yourself
• aftershave and a mirror to scream into
• 1990s junk food, including Chicago pizza and a "candlelit dinner" of microwave Kraft mac and cheese
• a meet-and-greet with a real tarantula
• a screening of "Home Sweet Home Alone"
• a Lego Ideas "Home Alone" kit to take home

Airbnb is also donating to Chicago's La Rabida Children's Hospital in honor of the first-ever stay at the fictional McCallister family home.

For those who may not remember, "Home Alone" focused on a young boy (Kevin) left behind accidentally while his family took off to Paris for the holidays. Stuck in the house by himself, he has a great time until two burglars target the place for theft — and then he strikes back with every homemade device he can imagine.

For those looking to make the booking, COVID-19 guidelines will be in effect: on-site staff will be following local, state and federal guidelines as well as Airbnb's safety practices, which include wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. Guests will be responsible for their own travel to and from Chicago. Airbnb will offer guests a $1,000 travel credit if cancellation becomes necessary due to infection rates shifting or quarantining changes.

Randee Dawn (she/her) is an entertainment journalist and author based in Brooklyn. In addition to writing for TODAY.com, Variety and The Los Angeles Times, her debut novel, Tune in Tomorrow , about a reality TV show run by mythic creatures, published in 2022. She's also the co-author of The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion . When not interviewing the stars or dabbling in speculative fiction, she dreams of the next place she can travel to, or cuddles her Westie. More at RandeeDawn.com .

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You Can Stay at the Real 'Home Alone' House This Holiday Season — Here's How

And yes, you can even set your own booby traps.

This holiday season, Airbnb wants to help you eat all the junk food and watch all the rubbish you want with nobody there to stop you.

On Wednesday, the home rental giant announced it's giving classic holiday movie fans the dream opportunity to spend a night in the original Home Alone house.

The stay, Airbnb shared in a statement, will take place "while the McCallisters are away on their annual trip." The stay will allow up to four guests to relive their favorite scenes and get into the true holiday spirit. The best part? Big brother Buzz McCallister will play host and be there to hand over the keys to his family's Chicago home.

"You may not remember me as particularly accommodating," Buzz shared in a statement, "but I've grown up, and I'd be happy to share my family home – my pizza, even – with you this holiday season. Just try not to let my tarantula, Axl, loose this time."

During their stay, guests will enjoy a bit of holiday magic thanks to the home's gorgeous holiday decorations, all the '90s junk food they can handle, and of course, a few of Chicago's finest pizzas.

Guests will also get the chance to set their own booby traps and have a casual meet-and-greet with a real-life tarantula. And of course, guests can watch the entire film franchise as well as the newest holiday adventure in the series, "Home Sweet Home Alone."

"We may all be older and wiser now, but we're never too old for holiday hijinks," Buzz added. "So this year, spend the holidays not-so-home-alone at my parents' house."

And, because this is the season of giving, Airbnb will make a one-time donation to Chicago's La Rabida Children's Hospital , whose mission is to maintain and improve the quality of life for each of its patients with complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness.

The stay for four lucky fans will happen Dec. 12. And bookings go live Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. CT at airbnb.com/homealone . The stay costs $25 and guests are responsible for their own travel to and from Chicago.

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( 20th Century Fox; Realtor.com )

‘Home Alone’ House Is Listed for $5.25M After a Serious Renovation—but Is It an Improvement?

A dozen years after it was last on the market, the famous “ Home Alone ” house is up for sale.

Listed at $5.25 million, the 16-room stunner served as the setting for the 1990 classic holiday movie in which Macaulay Culkin portrayed Kevin McCallister , a clever kid who’s accidentally left behind by his vacationing family and forced to outwit a pair of bumbling burglars.

Though it might be far from the Hollywood Hills, the 9,126-square-foot Winnetka, IL , home has received a starlet-worthy makeover. And while the stately brick facade probably looks familiar, the interior—renovated and expanded in 2018—would leave the whole McCallister family gobsmacked by its transformation.

In addition to its updated interior, the house boasts an ideal location in an upscale suburb along Chicago’s North Shore, along Lake Michigan.

“The community is known for great schools, wonderful beaches, parks, and a cute town with shops and restaurants,” says real estate agent Cara Ameer , who got married in this vicinity and knows the area well. “It’s really an idyllic place to raise a family and for kids to grow up in. Winnekta is easily accessible by commuter train to get to downtown Chicago, so that is also a huge plus, in addition to a short drive from Northwestern and Loyola Universities.”

So will this ideally situated piece of pop culture fetch its asking price?

“The house is well priced for its size and condition,” Ameer says of the current price tag. “The celebrity factor of this home, being featured in a such a popular and legendary movie, also adds to the overall value. It is one of those homes people will want to drive by to see if they know the movie and the area where it was filmed.”

Real estate agent Jason Gelios believes there’s a good chance the home might even sell for over list price.

“Any time you have a famous name or movie associated with a property, it affects the value in a positive way,” he says. “The only way a property associated with someone famous would not sell for asking price would be if the property is distressed or in horrible shape. This often causes the property to sell for less than desired, no matter who is associated with the property.”

Luckily, that’s not a problem with the “Home Alone” house, which has received a remarkable transformation.

Sam Fitz-Simon , a real estate agent in San Francisco, predicts, “I would expect to see the home sell for a premium to an investor that views it more like an art piece, than a home.”

Inside the ‘Home Alone’ house makeover

Let’s take a look at how this Georgian residence, built in 1921, has evolved since it graced the silver screen in the beloved John Hughes film.

While you might remember the famous staircase where wily Kevin foils the men who’ve broken into his home, you probably won’t recognize it now.

The entryway has changed significantly, too, from elaborate wallpaper to a cleaner white-on-white look.

The home’s new owners also decided to ditch the wallpaper in the bedrooms and give these sleep spaces a modern, luxury-hotel aesthetic.

The McCallisters’ cozy kitchen now features double islands, bespoke white cabinetry, and a hidden pantry, as well as an eight-burner Wolf range and an integrated Sub-Zero fridge. It’s fair to say Kevin could make a lot more than macaroni and cheese here.

The dining room looks a lot bigger and brighter without those burgundy walls and that behemoth china cabinet.

The renovated home also boasts several new features the McCallister kiddos would have loved. The lower level now includes a state-of-the-art, indoor sports court with a true three-point line.

It’s only fitting that the home includes a theater, too.

Who wouldn’t mind being left “home alone” here? Perhaps it’s time for the updated property to star in the next installment.

Liz Alterman writes about a variety of subjects, ranging from personal finance issues for CNBC.com to career advice for The Muse. She's also written a memoir and several suspense novels. For more details, visit LizAlterman.com.

Twitter Follow @LizAlterman

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Kate hudson still receives 10-cent residual checks for ‘home alone 2’.

Residuals aren’t what they used to be, apparently even if you’re A-list talent.  That’s what Kate Hudson revealed on her Sibling Revelry podcast on Monday while speaking about the minuscule checks she receives from her brief appearance as a child in the hit sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Hudson asked her guest, […]

• Feb 14, 2024 10:20 am
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Josh Hutcherson Reveals He Lost Out on ‘Home Alone’ Role

Josh Hutcherson has starred in some memorable projects since starting in the industry as a child, but there’s one role he lost out on that might surprise fans. During a recent interview with BuzzFeed, the actor revealed he auditioned for one of the Home Alone films when he was younger. “I was probably 11, I […]

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How Much Was Clark Griswold’s Christmas Bonus? The Internet Wants to Know

It’s the week before Christmas. Trees are adorned with tinsel and bulbs. Mistletoe has been hung in strategic locations. Gingerbread cookies are being baked, decorated and eaten.  And, of course, the internet is buzzing with cost-analysis calculations over exactly how much money Clark Griswold earned for his annual bonus in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Glory be […]

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How Wealthy Were the McCallisters in ‘Home Alone’? The Federal Reserve Says They’re in the 1 Percent

It’s been 33 years since Home Alone was released on the big screen, and fans are just now getting an answer to an age-old question: How wealthy was the McCallister family? Not only did the famous movie family — Peter (John Heard) and Kate McCallister (Catherine O’Hara) and their five children, including Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) — live […]

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Few feel-good holidays movies have stood the test of time quite like Home Alone, and its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost In New York. And one of the most endearing — and enduring — scenes from the sequel comes as Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin McCallister, gifts a pair of white turtle doves to the Pigeon […]

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Safety & Prevention

Is your child ready to stay home alone.

While child experts typically agree that 11 or 12 years old is an appropriate age to stay home alone for a few hours, there are a number of factors to consider. It is important to recognize that the right time will vary by family, so trust your instincts. With some advance planning and preparation, this milestone can be a great way to build your child's independence and confidence.

How to gauge if your child is ready for the responsibility

Knowing the right time is different for each family. Take into account the maturity of your child, where you live, your nearby support network, and how far away you will be. Some states do have laws about when you can leave a child home alone, with minimum ages ranging from 8 to 14 years old. These laws typically include language about "unreasonable amounts of time," so check the details for your local regulations before setting a plan.

Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding whether your child is ready to be home alone:

Do you think your child is old and mature enough to take care of themselves? Keep in mind that each child's maturity and parents' comfort level may be different. Most children will not be mature enough to manage being alone on a regular basis until they are about 10 or 11 years old. However, some parents may be OK leaving a more mature 8- or 9-year-old home alone for a half hour or so once in a while.

Does your child think before they act? This is especially important for young teens, who may be tempted to experiment with illegal activities such as sneaking a few sips of liquor from the liquor cabinet. How does your adolescent respond to peer pressure?

Would your child feel comfortable left alone? Have you directly asked your child if they would be OK home alone?

Common sense

Would your child be able to make good judgements on their own. Do they have common sense? For example, if the milk smells sour or curdles when it's poured, would your child drink it?

Can your child keep busy without relying on relying on television or video games ? Can they creatively use their time with activities such as reading, drawing, making music, doing homework and playing with toys, among other things?

Would your child be able to remember and follow important safety rules? For example, can they tell you how they would respond to a fire, gas leak or other emergency? Can they follow other rules such as not opening the door, not telling telephone callers that they are alone, and not posting on social media that they are alone?

Once you have decided that your child is ready to take on this new responsibility, take some time to plan and talk as a family to ensure a successful experience. First, gather information that your child may need while you're gone.

Key contacts

Make sure your child knows your cell phone number, workplace numbers, how to reach key family members and your pediatrician contact information. Post these details in a visible location, such as on your refrigerator or a family bulletin board. Make sure your child is familiar with when to call 911 .

First aid kit

Make sure to have a first aid kit on accessible, including for all of the basics for minor injuries, such as bandages, alcohol wipes and antiseptic ointment. Teach your child when and how to use the supplies in the kit.

Emergency supplies

Show your child where you store flashlights and batteries and anything else they might need if the power goes out or something unexpected happens.

Problem-solve together

You will need to talk through common situations and potential emergencies so your child knows how to respond. This should include:

Alarm systems

If you have an alarm system, show your child how to turn them off and on and watch as they practice.

What food is allowed when you are gone? Is cooking allowed? Make sure your child has practiced with you before using any appliances.

Emergency exit plan

What should your child do if there is a fire or gas leak? Are they familiar with your home's smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?

Walk through your first aid kit and how to address minor injuries. Discuss when to call 911 and who to call first. In a life-threatening situation, remind your child to call 911 before taking time to contact you.

Do you have pets that need care while you are gone? What happens with the animals during an emergency?

Phones and doors

Do you want your child to answer the door or the phone? If they do, what should they say to someone who asks for you? Do they know when it is appropriate to let someone into the house?

If your child is locked out accidentally, does a neighbor have a key, or is there one hidden outside the house?

Take a test run, asking your child how they would handle different situations. Remind your child that although you aren't home, you are accessible by phone or text if anything should come up. If you won'' be available, make sure your child knows who the first point of contact should be if they have a question, there is an emergency, or if they just need some reassurance. If they will be looking after younger siblings, consider a first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class held locally.

Set the rules

Kids of all ages need to recognize rules and boundaries to keep them safe. This is particularly important as children become teenagers.

Always check in

Your child should contact you to check in when they first get home. It does not have to be a lengthy discussion, but a quick phone call or text creates a routine and gives you a chance to gauge how the day is going. If you or your child is anxious about the time alone, consider a video call or texting a few silly photos to provide peace of mind to both of you.

Set boundaries on socializing

Have clear expectations about friends. Provide rules about who can visit your home and where your child can go when you are not home. If your child will be going out or hosting friends, establish steps for notifying you, ensure the other parents are aware that no adult is home, and set limits on times and activities.

Set rules around media use

Provide options for what your child can and cannot do when they're home alone, including how they use media. Having a set list of daily chores and tasks can help keep them busy. Also, there are a number of tools parents can set up to set reasonable limits on various games and apps and even household Wi-Fi usage. Consider creating a family media use plan .

During your initial outings, set your child up for success by keeping the timeframe short or picking a time of day without more complex responsibilities, such as cooking. As both you and your child become more comfortable, you can extend the time your child is home alone.

Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions about your child's safety and developmental readiness.

More information

• Fire Safety: Planning Saves Lives
• Family Media Plan Tool
• Stages of Adolescence
• Finding a Sitter: Tips for Parents

Where Is the ‘Home Alone' House Located? See Photos of the Inside

While visitors aren't permitted, photos from last year's airbnb listing offer a look at the inside, by staff reports • published november 28, 2022 • updated on november 29, 2022 at 4:18 pm.

There are few, if any, holiday movie homes more iconic than the one featured in the Christmas-time classic "Home Alone."

And if you're looking for a unique holiday activity, but not wanting to travel far, you can actually see the home in person. While not currently open to visitors, the magnificent abode is located in north suburban Winnetka, specifically at 671 Lincoln Ave.

Watch NBC Chicago local news and weather without login

Last year, the home's owner offered fans quite the experience. A one-night-only stay was listed on Airbnb for $25 plus tax. And well, as you may have expected, the listing garnered a whole lot of attention .

"Though we’re older and wiser now (I’ve even got my own security firm), we’re never too old for holiday hijinks," the listing read. "So while we’re away on vacation (all of us, this time), I’m inviting one crew of mischief makers to let their inner eight-year-olds run free in my childhood home on Dec. 12."

Kevin McAllister's older brother, Buzz, was said to be the guests' lucky host for the evening. Unfortunately for "Home Alone" fans this time around, the house isn't listed on Airbnb this season.

While visitors aren't permitted, you can get a peek of the inside through the below photos:

Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.

How To Travel Alone: 10 Legitimately Helpful Tips for First-Timers

• Traveling solo can be just as fulfilling as traveling with family or friends with proper planning and budgeting. Step out of your comfort zone for a real adventure.
• Choose a destination that is friendly to solo travelers, with tourism industries and English-speaking locals. Connect with locals and other travelers to enrich your experience.
• Plan ahead, pre-book activities, and consider whether to have an independent trip or a small group tour. Find the best and cheapest way of accessing money, and remember to buy travel insurance. Stay connected and do something unforgettable.

Many people love to travel in groups, especially with families. It makes the trip lively, more fun, and memorable. There are also so many amazing places a family can visit on a budget . But traveling solo can also be as fulfilling as traveling with family or friends. Although it may be intimidating at first, with proper planning and budget, it can be the best trip ever. Feeling anxious to travel alone is normal, just like any other new experience. However, the real adventure starts once someone steps out of their comfort zone.

One gets many questions when a family member announces their intention to travel alone. Some of the concerns they and their loved ones may have are how much they will spend, where they’ll go, how they’ll get there, and where they will stay. These questions make budgeting for the trip feasible. This article shares some tips that answer these questions and help individuals successfully plan their first solo trip.

Choose A Friendly Destination For Solo Travelers

One of the top tips for traveling alone is to choose a place friendly to solo travelers that they can easily explore on their own. Interestingly, there are so many places travelers can visit alone . Some countries are easy to tour as solo travelers, and others are great for group travel. When picking a place, choose one that has many tourism industries. This means that the destination is ready to host travelers. That way, one can easily navigate around with their public transportation. Also, most of these places speak English, meaning one can easily communicate with others even if English isn’t their native language.

• Suggestions : Paris, Iceland, San Diego, Thailand, Malaysia and California

RELATED: 20 Questionable Places On Earth Where We Shouldn't Ever Travel Alone

Connect With Locals And Other Travelers

One of the easy ways for first-time solo travelers to enrich their experience is to make new connections during their visit. Connecting with locals can lead to meaningful friendships and a better understanding of where one is touring. Check out festivals, concerts, exhibitions, and other events that offer opportunities to interact with the community. Staying in hostels, guest houses, or co-living places is a chance to meet other travelers and learn while sharing experiences. Learn how to start conversations with strangers, as it is key to connect with people.

Think About the Local Language

One should first consider their language and the countries that speak that language. For instance, if a traveler only speaks English, traveling to somewhere like Russia may not be ideal as many people don’t speak the language. Instead, opt for countries where English is a national language . Considering the local language people in the chosen destination speak is always wise. If someone picks rural China for the first trip and doesn’t speak Chinese, it will be difficult.

When visiting a country that only speaks a foreign language , Use translation apps and memorize some phrases beforehand.

RELATED: Language Guide: Can You Travel Abroad Knowing Only English?

Pre-book Activities

There are many reasons to choose a particular destination. For instance, many people touring New York City want to visit the Statue of Liberty . But imagine traveling all the way here and being told it's fully booked. How disappointing can that be? It's wise to book the attractions ahead of time to avoid such. The same applies to restaurants and tours.

Be sure of a place before buying the ticket.

Decide Whether To Have An Independent Trip Or A Small Group Tour

After settling on a destination, the next thing to decide is whether to travel independently or on an organized tour. Both have advantages, and depending on one's needs, one may be suitable over the other. There are many travel companies offering group travel. However, individuals must do thorough research before settling on the group tour. A midlife solo traveler will not want to share a bus with Gen Z party lovers. Think about convenience and logistics. A group tour may take most of the burden from a traveler since the trip is organized by someone else. But, one may lose independence and may not feel they belong.

Do both. Book a group tour for anchoring the trip, then travel independently once at the destination.

After deciding on the destination, start planning early. Look for flight prices and compare them to get a good deal. Prepare the most important travel documents to carry when traveling and plan how to navigate around after landing. Also, have a backup plan. Please note that things may sometimes go differently than planned. Flights can be delayed/canceled, and public transportation can go off schedule. Have all the information about flights and accommodation contacts. Then, think of a backup plan. If a taxi isn’t available, can one use a taxi? If the flight is delayed, carry an extra pair of essentials.

Work with a reasonable budget when planning.

RELATED: 10 Safety Tips To Be Aware Of When Traveling Alone

Find The Best And Cheapest Way Of Accessing Money Before Traveling

Technology has made it easier to access money and make payments from anywhere. Many destinations offer ATMs, and businesses these days accept cards. In some places, one will need to write cheques or wire transfers. Also, remember that cards are not equal, and some charge exorbitant fees, which can break the bank. For this reason, it’s best to get one of the best cards for travelers and also research cheap ways to access money when traveling.

Compare different forms of payment accepted in a destination and pick an affordable option.

Buy Travel Insurance

For first-time solo travelers, please note that the insurance of one’s home country isn’t accepted abroad. So, if a person gets hurt or falls sick and they have to be treated, or their items get lost or stolen, they will cater to the expenses themselves. But since that can be expensive, travel insurance can reduce the financial burden. In most cases, travelers don’t get injured or robbed when traveling, but it is always important to have travel insurance in case the worst happens.

Some credit cards provide enough coverage, so read the small print carefully.

RELATED: How To Choose The Right Travel Insurance Company When Planning Your Trip

Stay Connected

Traveling solo encourages independence, but please remember to stay connected with friends and family. Regardless of where one travels, they should always disclose their whereabouts to someone. Get a local SIM card upon arrival. It will make communication more straightforward, and navigating around will be more comfortable. One can use the SIM card to book an Uber and use Google Maps to their location.

Remember to share the new number with the most important people.

Do Something Unforgettable

Solo traveling allows one to be adventurous and try out something new. This is the perfect time to do things not part of the daily routine. Instead of everyday activities like swimming or relaxing on the beach, try watching whales or any water sport. There are many destinations with great whale-watching opportunities for solo travelers. Take pictures of the details in a place, even if they are minimal. Have something to look back on and recall that destination.

Bring a selfie stick to help get different angles.

Justin Timberlake arrested on DWI charge in Hamptons, told police 'I had one martini'

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. — Justin Timberlake claimed he had just "one martini" before he was pulled over, failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving early Tuesday in the affluent Hamptons area of Long Island, police said.

Timberlake — identified as a 43-year-old Franklin, Tennessee, resident in the criminal complaint — was arraigned and released without having to post bail about nine hours after he was arrested, police said.

He pleaded not guilty and was ordered to appear in court July 26, officials said.

His attorney, Edward Burke Jr., said in a statement Wednesday: "I look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake on these allegations. I will have a lot to say at the appropriate time but am currently awaiting full discovery from the District Attorney’s office."

Timberlake was behind the wheel of a gray Florida-registered BMW when he was stopped a little after 12:15 a.m. near Madison Street and Middle Line Highway, initially for driving through a stop sign and failing to stay on the right side of the road, according to the criminal complaint.

But once police spoke to Timberlake, they said, it was clear he was not in shape to drive, according to the complaint, written by Sag Harbor Village Police Officer Michael Arkinson.

It was "ascertained that the defendant was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition in that his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests," Arkinson wrote.

Timberlake struggled to walk heel-to-toe and stand on one foot without swaying or using arms to balance, the report said.

The officer quoted Timberlake as saying: "I had one martini and I followed my friends home."

He also declined to be tested for impairment, said police, who alleged he told them, "No, I'm not doing a chemical test."

NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos said: "A refusal can be introduced at trial to establish conscious evidence of guilt. It is the predicate for a revocation of driving privileges."

Timberlake had dined at the American Hotel in the Hamptons community of Sag Harbor "and then headed to a friend’s house when he was pulled over by police," a source close to him said.

While the property where the American Hotel now sits can trace its roots back to before 1776, this edition of the inn wasn't restored and opened again until 1972 . It boasts an extensive wine list that includes dozens of four-digit offerings.

Timberlake is set to play in Chicago on Friday and Saturday before he plays Madison Square Garden in New York City next Tuesday and Wednesday.

His "The Forget Tomorrow World Tour" had been in Miami on Saturday and Tampa, Florida, on Friday.

Just a day before he was arrested, Timberlake's wife, actor Jessica Biel, gushed about him as "the rock" of their family, pledging to keep him "eternally grounded and warm."

Biel's loving words are in stark contrast to the backlash Timberlake has faced from fans of former girlfriend Britney Spears.

Timberlake, who rose to fame in the pop group NSYNC, wasn’t portrayed flatteringly in Spears' memoir last year, “ The Woman in Me .” The pair, who met as kids on the set of “The Mickey Mouse Club,”  dated from 1999 to 2002 .

Spears wrote that she had an abortion after she got pregnant by Timberlake, and she accused him of cheating on her “a couple of times.”

In January, Spears apologized on social media for offending anyone with her memoir and complimented Timberlake on his latest single. Days later at a show in New York City, Timberlake kicked off another round of online criticism by saying he’d “like to take this opportunity to apologize — to absolutely f---ing nobody.”

Pei-Sze Cheng and Adam Reiss reported from Sag Harbor, New York, and David K. Li and Brittany Kubicko from New York City.

Adam Reiss is a reporter and producer for NBC and MSNBC.

Brittany Kubicko is an NBC News assignment editor.

David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

‘Alone’ Season 11 Has the Most Remote Location Yet: Everything to Know

• ‘Alone’ Survival Series Releases Season 11 Premiere Date & New Location
• ‘Alone: Frozen’ Finale Makes Franchise History With First Female Winner

Alone is back for another bone-chilling season on The History Channel. The reality series returns for Season 11 on Thursday, June 13, and it looks like this will be its most intense season yet.

Fans will definitely want to be prepared for some of the icy adventures ahead in the beloved survival series, so before Alone  Season 11 premieres, here’s a look at everything we know.

Who are the contestants in  Alone Season 11?

There are 10 new participants in Season 11:

• Peter Albano , 42, from Castlegar, British Columbia, is a librarian who loves the outdoors and camping.
• Dusty Blake , 36, from Fifty-Six, Arkansas, is a welder who has been in the woods quite literally since the day he was born.
• Michaela Carriere , 34, from Cumberland House, Saskatchewan works as an adventure guide and has extensive experience trapping and hunting.
• Timber Cleghorn , 35, from Salem, Indiana, is a humanitarian aid worker who earned his name from his occupation and grew up off the grid.
• Cubby Hoover , 33, from Seligman, Missouri, works as a bowyer and a homesteader.
• William Larkham, Jr. , 49, from Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador, is a fisherman who had to learn to hunt to survive.
• Jake Messinger , 42, from Fremont County, Indiana, is a professional falconer with extensive fly fishing experience.
• Dub Paetz , 44, from Frederic, Michigan, is a wilderness skills practitioner and loves fly fishing and hunting.
• Sarah Poynter , 48, from Skewenta, Arkansas, is a fishing lodge owner who escaped to the remote wilderness of Alaska with her family, so she can handle the cold.

Which Reality Competitions & Game Shows Do Viewers Want to Play Most?

What kind of gear do  alone season 11 contestants get to choose from.

Each contestant gets to choose 10 items from the list of allowable gear (sourcing and purchasing it themselves), including no more than two food items and no repeats of a single item. (Also, loops of string attached to other items results in a reduction of paracord allowance.)

• Shelter, bedding, and hygiene options : tarp, rope, paracord, cotton cord, sleeping bag, bivi bag, sleeping pad, hammock, bar of soap, tube of toothpaste, face flannel, dental floss, bottle of shower soap, shaving razor, towel, or comb
• Hunting, cooking, and food options : fishing line and hooks, gill net, foraging bag, snare wire, slingshot and ball bearings, beef jerky, dried legumes mix, military biscuits, chocolate, pemmican, GORP, flour, rice/sugar/salt, lard or ghee, pot, frying pan, ferro rod set, bowl, spoon, or canteen
• Tools : Pocket knife, hunting knife, multitool, sharpening stone, duct or electrical tape, shovel, sewing kit, carabiner, LED flashlight, ice spikes, scotch-eyed auger, adze, draw knife, hatchet, saw, or axe

Where does  Alone Season 11 take place?

The contestants for this season are challenged to survive in isolation in the Arctic Circle, which is the most northern locale yet on the series.

What else should I know about this season of  Alone ?

The History Channel is launching  Alone: The Official Podcast for a weekly watch-along series.

Alone , Season 11 Premiere, June 13, 9/8c, The History Channel

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