Now is the best time to plan your next summer vacation escape to Lake Geneva! Get the most out of your trip, take our advice and start here. We've got a list of 10 activities you don't want to miss putting on your list for your next family trip to Wisconsin.
Hike The Geneva Lake Shore Path
Come explore the #1 rated activity to do in Lake Geneva, hike the shore path around Geneva Lake. Make the challenge to view Geneva Lake from every angle, whether it's from Lake Geneva Public Library/Riviera Beach, Fontana, Williams Bay or Big Foot Beach State Park. The Geneva Lake Shore Path is a timeless activity that everyone should try at some point in their lives.
Surrounded with historical homes that date back to the days when famous Chicagoans, like the Wrigley, Schwinn and Maytag families came to live during the summer months after the Chicago fire and gated in history, the Geneva Lake Shore Path tells its own unique story with markers created by foot paths from its earliest settlers who walked the very same route. This 26-mile hike can be a bit difficult at times, so make sure to wear proper attire for the lengthy trip. The trail can take up to 10 hours to hike alone, so it's wise to park a car at the end of one section and drive a car to where you’d like to start, that way you can drive back! You are sure to discover something new each time you walk it, with the scenery constantly changing throughout each season, from the bloom of spring to the ever-changing fall colors, each and every one is a beautiful and magical site to see.
Get on the Water!
Wisconsin is famous for its extensive list of notable lakes and Geneva Lake is a favorite on that list. This deep and wide lake, is perfect for boating, tubing, paddle boarding, jet skiing, fishing and the list goes on. Summer is made for soaking up the sun, water and sand along the pristine shores of Geneva Lake.
So make sure you book a cruise or rent a boat and get on the lake for a day or two! Whether lounging with a good book, building sand castles with the kids, or taking a refreshing dip, the beaches around Geneva Lake are the ideal place to take it all during your summer vacation! Make sure to schedule enough days, just for swimming at area beaches, kayaking at sunrise, or just relaxing by the pool, as Lake Geneva is packed full of area resorts and hotels ready to entertain your entire family! Every adventure, land, air or water is something that your family is sure to enjoy.
Go on an Adventure!
Come experience a day of fun at one of Lake Geneva's many area attractions.
Try a guided family tour climbing your way through the treetops, marking each different challenge of 16 suspended obstacles, eight exhilarating zip lines, five suspended bridges, three spiral staircases, and a 1,200 ft. long racing zip line at the Lake Geneva Zip Lines & Adventures. You could take the kids for a water soaked day at Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark's, or better yet explore and discover exotic animals at the Safari Lake Geneva with your kiddos for a fun day. You’re sure to make some great memories along the way! Check out a full list of Lake Geneva adventures here.
Explore The Great Outdoors!
A vacation to Lake Geneva isn't complete without some time in the great outdoors. Besides your time on the lake or at the beaches, sure to take advantage of all the great adventures that await you.
Take a horseback ride and hike or bike with your family along miles of Wisconsin's endless shaded trails. Spend a few hours walking in the woods, enjoying nature together, without the everyday distractions of life. Escape the city, get a few extra steps in your day, and enjoy the quiet birds chirping, bunny trails and who knows maybe even a deer or two along the way. Who says a little exercise isn't fun? Click here for a list of area parks to check out with your crew.
Shop Til' You Drop
Who doesn't love a great day of shopping to pick up a souvenir or two? With over 40 unique shops to choose from in downtown Lake Geneva, a week long trip could easily not be enough time to visit them all.
So start with your favorites and be sure to hit them all to find some great gifts for yourself or someone you love. From home accessories, to designer fashions, to antiques and handcrafted gifts, it's guaranteed that you will not find the same item twice. Bring your kiddos for an entire day of family-friendly window shopping and ice cream indulging while you venture around town. What are you waiting for? Plan an entire day to wine, dine and shop til you drop here.
Rainy Day Activities
There's no guarantee that every day of your vacation will be sunny, so make sure you plan a few activities to do inside.
Engage in a little family competition at Lake Geneva Axe Throwing or the Lake Geneva Lanes, or see if your family can escape from the Lake Geneva Clue Room. Kids need to burn off a little energy? Head over the fully equipped indoor Lakeland Park where you will find a 2 1/2 story play structure, interactive wall of games, a toddler area, basketball area, and pickleball court in their 5000 square foot venue. If the kids likes to get a little creative there are lots of options to keep you busy. Try your hand at making a candle or other scented product at The Candle Mercantile, or sign up for a family cooking class at the Lake Geneva School of Cooking. And what's better than a big bucket of popcorn and a fun movie on a rainy summer day? Emagine Theater is a luxury experience that incorporates not only reclining chairs but also gourmet snacks, reserved seating, in-seat service and other upscale amenities that will make any rainy day afternoon a true experience.
Magic and Music
Once your family needs a break from all that sun bring them to a musical, magical or theatrical performance around Lake Geneva and the surrounding areas.
Most notably Lake Geneva's Tristan Crist's Magic Theater, voted the #1 thing to do by TripAdvisor, is something you don't want to miss. If your family prefers music over magic tryout the Belfry Music Theater for their renditions and cover shows of different musical groups. From Abba to Michael Jackson impersonators, you will surely be impressed by their performers. For a truly unique experience head over to the Dancing Horses theater for some amazing feats of equine pageantry. If you would rather spend a night outdoors then catch a summer Concert in The Park and relax by the lake after a fun-filled day with your family. For an entire list of Lake Geneva entertainment to keep your family occupied this summer, click here.
Enjoy Tours and Museums
Start one of your vacation days with a leisurely tour of the lake and hop aboard a turn of the century boat for a unique experience. Choose from a wide variety of boat tours including narrated scenic tours; brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises; or a kid friendly ice cream social cruise. Basque in the beautiful sunsets along Geneva Lake while you hear about the history of the homes along the shore, creating a unique and unforgettable trip for your entire family to enjoy.
For a great way to learn a little, take the Black Point Estate cruise where you will be taken to a historic home on the shores of Geneva Lake. Once you arrive you are invited to tour the home and gardens and learn what summers on the lake were like in the 1800's. Once the cruise is done and your boat docks back at Riviera Pier, visit one or all the museums that call the Lake Geneva area home. Yerkes Observatory, birthplace of modern astrophysics and home of the world's largest lens telescope, is located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin only fifteen minutes from downtown Lake Geneva. Lake Geneva is also the birthplace of Dungeons and Dragons and your vacation wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum. Don't forget to venture downtown before you leave, for a step back in time at the Geneva Lake Museum.
Hit the Links!
Lake Geneva is home to several legendary golf courses. It's one of the premier destinations holding true to famous names like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Pete Dye, Dick Nugent and Lee Trevino, the architects behind the beautiful courses available today.
With more golf courses within 20 minutes than most people have vacation days, Lake Geneva continues to be one of the premier golf destinations in the Midwest. So why not enjoy all that Lake Geneva golf has to offer? Bring your children out for a family fun summer vacation filled with lots of midday golf. Click here for a full list of area courses along Geneva Lake's expansive countryside.
Fly High Above Lake Geneva in a Hot Air Balloon
Not only is Lake Geneva beautiful on land and water, make sure your entire family views it from the sky before you leave!
You will be completely captivated for the first time by flight! Yes, that's right flying high above Geneva Lake. Peer at all the lakeside mansions, resorts, scenic Shore Path, parks, and beautiful sunsets as your balloon gently drifts home after a whirlwind, relaxing and adventurous stay in Lake Geneva. Book your personal air tour by hot air balloon here.