'When I walk outside my apartment, I feel like I'm in heaven!"

That's how renter Kathy Westling describes living at the Landings at Amhurst Lake, a 340-unit apartment complex in far north suburban Waukegan. The sprawling rental development rests on 28 acres of lush landscaping and features amenities often found at luxury resorts -- tennis courts, outdoor pool, a playground, a fountain and pond and business and fitness centers.

"The whole development is just beautiful and they [management] take wonderful care of the grounds and every day I walk out and find someone picking up things or mowing, pruning or planting," said Westling, 50, a customer service representative for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Westling has been renting a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment at the Landings at Amhurst Lake for nearly three years.

"My apartment has a homey feeling and when you first rent here you can have it painted any color you want. I have a nice big kitchen with plenty of counter space, a dishwasher and a refrigerator with ice-maker. There also is a lot of cupboard space, which is very nice. Plus, I have a nice-size living room and a little dining area where you can have a table, buffet and chairs," Westling said.

"I also love my master bedroom. It has its own bathroom, a large walk-in closet and a huge window where I get plenty of light. It looks out to the pond and trees," she said.

The Landings at Amhurst Lake features 17 buildings with 20 apartments in each. Rents for 1-bedroom residences range from $915 to $1,065, while 2-bedrooms (some with den) range from $1,150 to $1,495.

All of the apartments at the pet-friendly development include amenities such as: a private balcony or patio; full-size washer and dryer; walk-in closets with custom shelving; large windows with blinds and individual heating and air-conditioning systems.

Apartments also have: gourmet kitchens with appliances and 36-inch cabinets for extra storage. Depending on the floor plan, some of the apartments have 9-foot ceilings and fireplaces.

As for the development's many amenities, Westling says she particularly likes the outdoor pool. "I don't play tennis but you can sit out there and watch people play. I also like the cyber cafe in the business center. It's nice to go in there and get a cup of coffee.

"Another thing I enjoy is the fitness center. It's open 24 hours a day and I have odd hours, so if I get home late I can go and do my thing," Westling said.

"This is a wonderful place to live and I definitely recommend it to other renters. It's well worth the money you pay to rent here. If you're going to be paying out rent, it's more worthwhile to live here," Westling said. "Plus, it's close to everything -- shopping and restaurants -- and I'm near the tollway [Interstate 294 and Interstate 94] so it's an easy drive to work for me."