World Renowned Vacation Destination

Nestled on the northeastern shores of Geneva Lake in southeast Wisconsin, Lake Geneva has been a resort community since just after the Civil War when wealthy Chicago families discovered the site and began building summer homes there. Today, the elegant, often historic estates still ring the unspoiled waters of Geneva Lake.

The beautiful natural surroundings, laid back attitude, lively downtown and understated opulence is apparent, but it’s the wide variety of events, expansive nature preserves, outstanding dining and lodging options, scenic walking and biking trails and top rated golf courses designed by such icons as Trevino, Player, Palmer, Nichlaus and Dye that help secure the Lake Geneva area as one of the region’s top getaway destinations for both day trippers and overnight guests.

Located just 90 minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and 45 minutes from Milwaukee’s Mitchell Field, visitors will find the region easy to navigate with a wealth of lodging options ranging from cozy bed and breakfasts to quaint inns to luxury spa resorts offering every amenity under the sun.

Geneva Lake, the largest of the area’s three lakes and the second deepest in the state, is a busy place as visitors flock to its pristine waters for rest and recreation. Watercraft rentals are plentiful with the menu ranging from ski boats to sailboats to wave runners. If fishing is your game, local guides stand ready to help you take home your “prize” catch. And if you prefer to take it easy, there’s nothing like a summer’s day at one of the area’s beautiful beaches.

The Lake Geneva area also boasts a number of one-of-a-kind attractions including Black Point, a painstakingly restored estate offering public tours spring through fall; Yerkes Observatory, home to the world’s largest refracting telescope; Geneva Lake Museum of History, housing a treasure trove of information and artifacts dating back to the 1880s; and the U.S. mailboat tour, carrying on a tradition since 1870 of delivering the mail by boat.

One of the region’s greatest assets is the Geneva Lake shore path that rings the lake. Created by the region’s earliest settlers to connect the many Native American camps, the 21-mile walking trail can be navigated in segments; all offering a backyard view of the many historic estates that dot the shoreline.

Dining in the Lake Geneva area runs the gamut from quaint sandwich shops to nationally renowned cuisine. And as in most resort communities, the Lake Geneva area is home to a wealth of fine local eateries located off the beaten path.

Known as the ‘Newport of the West’ and showcased as the setting in best-selling author James Patterson’s New York Times bestseller, “Sam’s Letter to Jennifer”, Lake Geneva is the ideal destination for the day tripper, overnight guest or for those looking for a romantic escape.

Lake Geneva is also the newest member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations. The trust refers to Lake Geneva as one of the “Midwest’s most beautiful natural wonders” and picked the city because of its long history as a vacation destination with its abundance of recreational activities.

Lake Geneva – It’s Always Been the Place.