Entire home

Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet!

Riverside holiday home with private pool and kitchen

Photo gallery for Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet!

Main floor deck.  All screened in.
A December morning. Sun. Off river is like 2 suns. Can still sit on deck
Front entrance.  connector for electric car, space for motorcycle and golf cart
View from master deck overlooking river
Private kitchen

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 6111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Ottawa, IL
  • Place, Tangled Roots Brewing Company - The Lone Buffalo
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Washington Square Park
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Skydive Chicago
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Main floor/living room

1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Main floor bathroom

Towels provided · Toilet

Master bath

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Second bathroom

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet!


RiverZen - Your Quiet Getaway on the Illinois River!

Located right on the Illinois River within the beautiful Heritage Harbor resort, RiverZen offers the perfect escape with its pristine, peaceful setting. Enjoy private, uninterrupted panoramic views of the river from multiple decks, providing a serene atmosphere to unwind and relax.

As a self-proclaimed clean freak, I ensure that everything—including the floors—is thoroughly washed after every guest, guaranteeing a spotless stay for you.

Your Perfect Relaxation Spot!

Whether you're here for a few nights or a week, this is the place to unwind. The area offers a wealth of activities, yet you can also simply relax on one of the decks and let time slow down. Spend your days reading, watching barges glide by, or observing eagles soaring and landing across the river, where untouched woodlands create a stunning, peaceful backdrop.

Fully Stocked Villa with Comfortable Amenities!

This charming villa features two spacious bedrooms: a master with a king-size bed and a second with a trundle bed. The main level also includes a brand-new queen sleeper sofa for extra sleeping space.

The open floor plan offers all the comforts of home, including a fully equipped kitchen, a cozy gas fireplace, and two and a half bathrooms, ensuring plenty of room for relaxation and privacy for all your guests.

Amenities and Activities!

Enjoy a wide range of activities during your stay, including swimming, boating, kayaking, biking, and fishing right off the property. Experience bird watching, with eagles and other species frequently spotted, or relax while watching barges pass by right from one of the decks. Additional activities include fire pits, kite flying, corn hole, and much more—there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Just a 3-minute walk away, the marina offers a variety of activities and amenities, including a playground, three swimming pools (open from May to the end of September), volleyball, pickleball, cornhole, a tiki bar, and the Blue Gill restaurant for dinner and cocktails.

Adjacent to the resort, the I&M Canal Trail is perfect for walking, running, biking, and cross-country skiing. If you're interested, there's also a free 5k every Saturday morning around the marina.

Minutes from Downtown Ottawa!

Just minutes away from downtown, you'll find a charming area filled with unique local spots. Enjoy cozy coffee shops, an independent bookstore, an old-fashioned movie theater, craft beer and wine shops, a toy store, a candy and ice cream shop, a variety of gift shops and museums. Whether you're browsing high-end boutiques, resale shops, antique stores, or historical sites there's something for everyone.

Ottawa is also home to a vibrant festival scene throughout the year. Highlights include the Christkindl Market in November and December, Saturday markets with live music, Brew Fest, the Starved Rock Marathon, and numerous festivals and parades for children.

Proximity to Nearby Parks!

RiverZen is just minutes away from several beautiful parks, including Matthiessen, Illini, Buffalo, and Starved Rock State Parks. For a quieter, less-crowded experience, explore the nearby Dayton Bluffs Preserve, a hidden gem.

Quiet, Relaxing, Safe, and Extra Clean!

At RiverZen, cleanliness and comfort are a top priority. I have my own dedicated cleaning team, and the cleaning products and materials are used exclusively in my home. But don't just take my word for it—be sure to check out the reviews. Many of our guests are talented writers who share their wonderful experiences!

Treat yourself to a stay at RiverZen—you deserve it!

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 23
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
The party renting RiverZen needs to sign, follow and abide by the rental agreement.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Ottawa

Located in Ottawa, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a river. Starved Rock State Park and Tangled Roots Brewing Company - The Lone Buffalo are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Buffalo Rock State Park and Illini State Park. Mix's Trading Post and Grand Bear Falls Indoor Water Park are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Ottawa, IL

What's nearby

  • OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Tangled Roots Brewing Company - The Lone Buffalo - 7 min drive - 6.7 km
  • Washington Square Park - 7 min drive - 6.7 km
  • Skydive Chicago - 13 min drive - 12.2 km
  • Starved Rock State Park - 16 min drive - 18.6 km

Getting around

  • Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) - 95 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Subway - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The New Brite Spot Family Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Court Street Pub - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Jimmy John's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet! have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Panoramic riverfront view/King bed/5 min off I-80/Nature trails/Clean and Quiet! located?

Located in the heart of Ottawa, this holiday home is 3 mi (4.9 km) from OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center and within 6 miles (10 km) of Washington Square Park and Appellate Court. Reddick Mansion and Tangled Roots Brewing Company - The Lone Buffalo are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 114 out of 116 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 116 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 116 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 116 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 116 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A beautiful property with everything we needed and more. The attention to detail and personalized extras for the kids made our stay even more special.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

CV G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Starved Rock Spring Break

We stayed at this beautiful and impeccably clean home for our recent trip to Starved Rock. My little ones loved the toys and visiting the ducks at the Quacker Deck.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

kristen g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quick Getaway

The home was great! VERY CLEAN. Many little extras and EVERYTHING you could need/want. Excellent view in a peaceful setting!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

lauren l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Stay

A wonderful weekend getaway. The property was clean, comfortable, had everything you could need, the location and surrounding area was perfect and the host was so helpful. Absolutely nothing negative to say about our stay. We hope to come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peg C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another wonderful stay at Tranquility at RiverZen

Clean, comfortable, relaxing river views. Excellent communication from host including restaurant recommendations and ideas to keep my 3 year old granddaughter entertained! Our second time here, and it feels like home! Already planning our next visit!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matthew L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

Very clean, modern condo, with magnificent view of the Illinois River. We had wander up three days
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Greg B., Arlington Heights

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for a long weekend.

The place was very clean and as described, no surprises. We enjoyed the location and did a lot of hiking at the nearby State Parks. Highly recommended renter and property.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Laura H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The views of the river are beautiful

This is the 2nd time we stayed here. We love the views. So quiet and peaceful for us to relax. The home has everything we needed during our stay. Owner was quick to respond, and knowledgeable about the activities in the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Roxanne H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

River Zen

We enjoyed sitting on porch and watching the activity on the river. The surrounding area is full of history and many daytime adventures. Could not have asked for a better host.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Summar G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquil

Just as the name implies this place is very tranquil. Our favorite part of the day was sitting on the porches, enjoying the peace and quiet with a beautiful view!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Beautiful River View

We enjoyed our stay at Tranquility at RiverZen. The house is so pretty and we love staying in Heritage Harbor. There was plenty of room to cook, eat and relax. Our favorite parts of the house were the screened in porch & covered 2nd floor porch. They both had a wonderful view of the river. We really enjoyed mornings and evenings on the porches!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nicole B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay

We had a wonderful 3 night stay at RiverZen. The views of the river were beautiful and so peaceful. We had coffee every morning out on the top deck watching the barges float by. The house was clean and comfortable. There were so many games, books, toys for all ages, pool toys, pickle ball mallets, pool towels, etc, This place offered a lot more "extras" than your typical rental, which was really fun for my kids. The host was so great with communication- very attentive to responding and providing information prior to our stay. The community was great, there was live music at the sand bar, pickle ball, the marina, playground, lots of space for the kids to run and play. We hiked Starved Rock, Matthiessen State Park and went kayaking on the river. It was a great escape from our busy lives and the perfect place to relax and spend some quality time.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emily P., Wilmette IL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome stay; everything we needed and more!

The home was as pictured, very clean and well appointed with comfortable beds and two nice decks to enjoy the view of the river and sounds of nature. Our host was wonderful - left a pinwheel as a welcome gift to my child when we got there and had toys and board games available which he loved playing with. She also recommended hikes and other things to do in the area. The community also has a playground which was a nice surprise. We had a lovely stay and highly recommend the home!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Laura H., Sugar Grove, IL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect home getaway to relax

The views from this home of the river are amazing! We spent days watching boats passing through. The owner was so accommodating and quick to respond to my messages. I highly recommend this property, (it's not the most spacious home, but it was a nice fit for my husband and myself) The views are priceless. Very nicely stocked home. Would be beautiful to stay there in the fall.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Britney F., Springfield, IL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Zen - inside and out!

My husband and I stayed here to celebrate our anniversary and first getaway since the start of the pandemic. The cottage and views were amazing! The host, Lynmari, is so attentive and friendly. The cottage is exceptionally clean and well stocked - with amenities and little extra touches (hello yummy s’mores fixins) everywhere. There is nothing you need to do but bring yourself and any food you may want during your stay. Everything else is there waiting for you. Lots to do in close proximity: shopping, hiking and eateries. Even a couple days of pouring rain didn’t dampen our spirits. There is a nice fireplace, board games, smart TV and a wonderful covered porch to enjoy the spectacular views! I spent blissful amounts of time just watching the world and barges float by on the river just steps from the porch. My husband and I loved the cottage, surrounding small towns and state parks. We are already talking about another visit - and River Zen is where we want to be!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kris D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great marina community to stay while hiking in the area! RiverZen was a wonderful place to stay and come home to after exploring the area. We especially enjoyed the porch and pool.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very pretty, very clean house with a great balcony overlooking the river. Really relaxing and in a cute neighborhood/development. Definitely visit the nearby state parks, and would also suggest renting bikes, electronic or otherwise, and riding the I&M Canal Trail.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place to relax and catch up with a good friend. Beautiful view of the Illinois River and great restaurants in the area. Would highly recommend!
View from the bedroom balcony!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ellen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We were in town to attend my father's funeral and very much needed a place to peacefully unwind after hectic family events. Upon arrival, the host had left a beautiful condolence card which immediately made us feel welcomed. She would check in to see how things were going or answer any questions, which I found very attentive and thoughtful.The property itself is beautifully decorated, quiet and comfortable. The soothing river views from both balconies did not disappoint.We are planning on going back whenever we need a recharge.Don't hesitate to stay here. You won't regret it!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bridget N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay in this cottage. It was beautiful, clean, and stocked with the necessities. The owner provided lots of insight into the area so that my family of 5 had a wonderful time visiting local state parks and restaurants. The onsite pools were perfect for kids!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

M H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great spot, wonderful host

What a perfect place for us for a wonderful weekend getaway to a new-to-us destination. Communication was top notch and many wonderful and thoughtful ideas shared for outings, restaurants, helpful area advice. Very accommodating. Bed was very comfortable, loved the screen porch on the river...was where we spent most of our time. Had all the necessities we needed and felt right at home. Very clean. Enjoyed our evening walks around the resort.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Fourth of July

This is the perfect place to spend Fourth of July. The community is wonderful and the property is right on the river. Communication was fantastic and the place had everything our family needed. We plan on staying again next year.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jill H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Love the River Life!

We had a fantastic weekend - equal parts hanging and relaxing at the property - and biking and hiking and exploring the local area. Highly recommend this place for a simple getaway- not far from Chicago. Lovely community feel, too. Hosts are great!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sirena C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home relaxing retreat

Lynmari is an AMAZING host. She literally thought of everything. We stayed for my husband’s birthday and she helped me through the process (first-time using VRBO). Provided excellent tips and recommendations. Can’t wait to book again. Beautiful
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Caryn A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy and beautiful views

Loved the house, hospitality, and the views.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

About the host

Hosted by Owner

Host profile image
I have a love for people, diverse cultures, and the spirit of hospitality. Traveling with my family and exploring the wonders of the world has brought us so much joy and inspiration. At RiverZen, I strive to bring that same magic to everyone who visits. I hope your time here fills you with as much happiness and connection as it brings to us

Why they chose this property



RiverZen feels like a retreat to another world. From the moment you step through the door and take in the breathtaking river view, the worries of everyday life simply melt away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of tranquility. The possibilities here are endless—whether it's launching your own boat from the marina, enjoying multiple pools, dining at the on-site restaurant, gathering around firepits, or diving into aquatic sports and activities. Despite all the excitement, the house is perfectly situated to provide the best of both worlds: close to everything you need, yet far enough to offer a peaceful, private escape with an unobstructed view of the stunning Illinois River.

What makes this property unique

RiverZen offers breathtaking, unobstructed views right from the house, situated in a peaceful part of the neighborhood—free from noise, parties, or crowds. Across the river, nature reigns, with views of the water, wildlife, barges, and soaring eagles, especially in winter. The home is meticulously maintained, using eco-friendly products and professionally cleaned by a private company. We want you to feel like you're in a true retreat, not a hotel. At RiverZen, it's about the quality of each moment, not the quantity. We focus on creating meaningful, lasting experiences.

Languages:

English, French, Spanish

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests