Lake Geneva
The resort city of Lake Geneva is only one and a half hours northwest of Chicago. This kid-friendly community is located along Geneva Lake and provides visitors with the ideal mix of leisure time and outdoor pursuits. Take a stroll through Lake Geneva's downtown to experience some small-town charm while enjoying fantastic restaurants and a variety of local shops.
The town also has a singular relationship to Chicago's past. Numerous affluent Chicagoans constructed sizable Gilded Age estates along the lake after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. One of the town's top attractions, the Lake Geneva Shore Path, can be used to get to these estates by strolling along it. This 26-mile path offers lakefront views and the chance to get up close to the gilded mansions.
You can take a wakeboarding private lesson at Gage Marine or rent a kayak or paddleboard from Clear Water Outdoor. When you're hungry, head to the town center's Egg Harbor Café and Simple Cafe for delectable, hassle-free diner fare. A popular champagne brunch with waterfront views is available at Baker House, a 19th-century mansion-turned-hotel, if you feel like spending some money.
- Pro Tip: When walking along the Lake Geneva Shore Path, homeowners ask that guests be respectful and refrain from wandering up into their yards. The homes themselves are still private property.
- Distance from Chicago: 1.5 hours
- Lake Geneva Website: https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/
