Tucked away in the rolling hills of southeastern Wisconsin, you will find a gorgeous resort called the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Hugh Hefner chose Lake Geneva as the home for the nationally-acclaimed Playboy Club & Resort, which became the Grand Geneva in 1981. If Hugh Hefner chose the lake, I knew it had to be good.
This past July, my husband and I escaped to the resort, a 7.5-hour drive from Evansville, for a long weekend.
Upon arriving to the sprawling facility, I immediately fell in love with the property. There was a horse farm immediately to the right as we entered the drive. As the road continued, we approached the rolling hills of a golf course, expansive views, and the resort’s Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture.
From our room, which included a built-in TV in the bathroom mirror, we were within a short walk to the spa, salon, and dining amenities.
Dining at Ristorante Brissago, we started with a delicious bruschette con mozzarella e prosciutto appetizer. For dinner, I ordered the quattro formaggi pizza — a blend of mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmigiano, and pecorino cheeses — which came large enough for two and full of flavor. My husband, Josh, ordered the filetto di manzo al gorgonzola, which translates as gorgonzola and Barolo sauce poured over a beef tenderloin. It was as easy to slice as butter.
After dinner, we saw David Seebach’s Wonders of Magic Show. An interactive show, the quick-witted magician caused volunteer audience members to either lose their heads or vanish from wooden boxes.
With a water park, climbing wall, ski slopes, and golf courses, this all-in-one retreat is just as accommodating for relaxing, slow weekends as it is for family fun and excitement.
On the morning we left — after a buffet-style breakfast at the resort’s Grand Café — we took a long hike on one of the many trails winding through the property. We walked through the rolling hills and wooded areas of the resort. It was peaceful and romantic.
The Facts
The resort offers 355 guest rooms, 62,000 square feet of event space, and three restaurants. Other year-round attributes include two championship golf courses, indoor/outdoor tennis courts, a luxury spa, a kids’ recreational center, horseback riding, hiking paths, and The Mountain Top ski and snowboard park. The resort is just an hour’s drive from two major U.S. cities: 63 miles northwest of Chicago and 56 miles southwest of Milwaukee.
About Lake Geneva, Wis.
Located in southeastern Wisconsin, Lake Geneva is one of the Midwest’s most beautiful natural wonders. Recreational activities are abundant, including boating, fishing, hiking, water skiing, biking, horseback riding, and a round at one of the 20 golf courses in the area. Lake Geneva plays host to annual town parades, fairs, and festivals throughout the year. The historic downtown area boasts an array of shops where rare antiques and delicious Wisconsin-made confections can be found.
Did You Know?
Producers/creators William Bell and Lee Phillips developed the soap opera “The Young and the Restless” while living in Lake Geneva, and set the popular daytime drama in the nearby town of Genoa City, Wis. Also, the famed “Dungeons & Dragons” role-playing fantasy game was created by the late Gary Gygax in Lake Geneva. It’s a registered trademark of American game publishing company TSR, Inc.
When You Go
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
7036 Grand Geneva Way,
Lake Geneva, Wis. 53147
262-248-8811 • www.grandgeneva.com
