In late fall, I had another opportunity
for a quick getaway to a favorite Midwestern destination of mine, Lake Geneva, WI. My overnight
stay was at the Abbey Resort & Avani
Spa. I finally had the
opportunity to briefly check out the Grand
Geneva Resort & WELL Spa; in all the years I’ve been visiting this
area, I’ve never had the opportunity to check this resort out or its spa out. At both spas, I’d also experience a
treatment. The evening brought a
surprise dining experience at the fully restored Baker House. Obviously with such a short amount of time in
my schedule, I wasn’t able to fully take advantage of a special gathering of
area journalists to explore the variety of activities, accommodations and
eateries for singles, couples and families.
Of course, my hosts graciously extended a standing invitation for me to
return to experience what I wasn’t able to experience this time around. For me, the travel time from my home to this
popular tourist destination is approximately two and one-half hours. I’m already thinking about doing a return
visit next spring.
The allure of this destination may
vary depending on what has drawn someone to its shores, but one thing is
certain, each time a person returns, they discover new things about picturesque
Lake Geneva and its beautiful Geneva Lake. That newfound information always beckons
their return!
An
Historical Snapshot of The Newport of the West ~
“…The
Lake Geneva area is unique for many reasons, including its incredible number of
beautiful historic and contemporary mansions. The community began earning is
nickname "The Newport of the West", almost from its official
inception in 1836. The great Chicago fire brought increasing number of
Chicagoans into the Lake Geneva area. Many had lost their homes and businesses
in the fire and simply moved to Lake Geneva as a "temporary solution"
while their homes and places of business were being rebuilt. Often, they
elected to stay, lured by the expansive natural surroundings and solid job
market that offered numerous farming and manufacturing opportunities. Others
elected to stay, drawn by the new found quality of life they had discovered,
and commute via rail to their businesses in Chicago. Over the years, many
lovely homes, estates and cottages were built. Today, many of these homes still
exist and can be seen along the Geneva Lake shoreline. The Lake Geneva area is
unique for many reasons, including its incredible number of beautiful historic
and contemporary mansions. The community began earning is nickname "The
Newport of the West", almost from its official inception in 1836. The
great Chicago fire brought increasing number of Chicagoans into the Lake Geneva
area. Many had lost their homes and businesses in the fire and simply moved to
Lake Geneva as a "temporary solution" while their homes and places of
business were being rebuilt. Often, they elected to stay, lured by the
expansive natural surroundings and solid job market that offered numerous
farming and manufacturing opportunities. Others elected to stay, drawn by the
new found quality of life they had discovered, and commute via rail to their
businesses in Chicago. Over the years, many lovely homes, estates and cottages
were built. Today, many of these homes still exist and can be seen along the
Geneva Lake shoreline…”
My Brief Encounters ~
Abbey Resort & Avani Spa ~ A new addition to the
Avani Spa’s impressive treatment menu
is the Reflexology Treatment. My therapist, Amanda, meticulously worked all of the major organ regions that run
throughout my body, converging within the hands and feet. One of the better such treatments I’ve
received over the years. It was both
therapeutic and restorative. My only
disappointment was that lunch around the gorgeous Spa Pool was eerily quiet, because my timing was during the federal
government mandate for all pool drains to be retrofitted for safety
reasons. http://www.theabbeyresort.com/
Grand Geneva Resort & WELL Spa ~ This resort was the
former Playboy Club Mansion, which catered to golf and tennis, and the gawkers
of the bunny-tail types. The WELL Spa is housed in a separate building
that also contains tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. Although the walk from the main resort isn’t
that great of a distance, I wouldn’t want to traipse from the lobby outdoor in
frigid wintery weather to get from the resort to the WELL Spa. Because my schedule
was limited, I opted for the Signature
Pedicure minus the color; Wendy,
my technician, did a wonderful job of exfoliating, grooming and buffing; I also
enjoyed the foot and leg massage. http://www.grandgeneva.com
Baker House ~ A restored Victorian
manor house that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Baker House transports its guests to
an era of fun and frivolity. Upon entering, period dressed staff greet guests
and extend an invitation for them to select a vintage hat, which they’re
encouraged to wear for the duration of their visit. At sunset, all guests go to the picturesque front
yard and after the bugler plays a flourish, a toast is made by all on the
history of the manor house and the glorious setting sun amidst Geneva Lake as its backdrop. Following the Sunset Toast, a tasting dinner of delicious cuisine was served on antique
china followed by period costumed staff; guests were encouraged to sit in one
of the restored rooms that harken to a bygone day where the stresses of life
were inconsequential. The food was as
delicious as the visuals were tantalizing and unique experience.
Before
leaving, my group was given tours of the exquisitely decorated guest suites; each
room was decorated differently with distinctive details reminiscent of the
Victorian era. http://www.bakerhouse1885.com
Lake Geneva is closer
than you think and is waiting to be discovered.
The destination offers an abundance of activities for singles, couples
or families; it’s an ideal destination for friend’s getaway weekends, class
reunions, meetings, etc. Seasonal and
year round activities include ziplining, hiking, boating, skiing, golf, themed lake
cruises, antiquing, arts and crafts, wine and cheese tastings, guided
historical tours, museums, special attractions and of course, dining to please
every palate and pocket-book. It’s also a
preferred wedding destination, with close proximity for fly-in guests from
either Chicago O’Hare International
Airport, or Milwaukee Mitchell
International Airport. To discover
more about this wonderful year round destination, visit Lake Geneva ~ It’s always been the place. http://www.lakegenevawi.com
That’s it for this edition. Until the next one, remember to take care of
yourself and those you love.
By Terry Herman
Terry Herman is a recognized expert in the industry, and
regularly covers issues that include business, management, operations, customer
care, treatments, products, and trends. In addition to writing and reviewing,
she is also a management consultant and motivational speaker. She also serves on EXPERIENCE
| PREMCHIT Journeys In Retreat To Wellness Advisory Board, which is comprised of ten international
experts in various fields of wellness and spa.
She also serves as a Group Manager for the popular LinkedIn group, The
Spa Buzz. You can email her at
terrysspabeautywellness@gmail.com.
ALL MATERIALS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
(Opening photo credit from The Baker House website; all others as represented by the specific brand.)
N.B. Google’s blog platform is incompatible with my
Mac OS X and Firefox browser latest software versions, which is why some web
links appear in different colors and why when attempting to have embedded
images their sizing is consistent and/or can’t be sized.
