Rev Up: 3 Must-Do Summer Road Trips
by Rebecca Little
Legend has it that Dante’s Inferno originally mentioned a 10th circle — being on a long airplane ride with young children — but it didn’t make the final edit. Family vacations can get crazy, but we’re here to restore your faith in them. The big idea? Take a good old-fashioned road trip. Here are a few great destinations, depending on whether you’re up for a quick trip or long haul.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
(1 1/2 hours away)
Lake Geneva was once the vacation playground of Chicago millionaires (Wrigley, Schwinn, Hefner) but it’s just as welcoming to the huddled masses. The charming little downtown is replete with family-friendly eateries and shops, and Geneva Lake is quite warm, especially by frigid Lake Michigan standards, topping out at 82 degrees in August.
Back in the sun at Riviera Beach, one of the lake’s loveliest, or rent a boat or jet ski to fully take advantage of the calm waters. There are plenty of public charters available, too, if you’d rather sit back and enjoy the ride.
Round up your little co-pilots in bikes or strollers, however you roll, to enjoy the 21-mile Geneva Lake Shore Path, which offers lakeside views and a peek into the town’s historic mansions. (Thank the early settlers who deemed the lakefront to be public domain, which means that latter-day visitors like us can glimpse how the other half lives.)
Wind down at Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark, an indoor/outdoor water park that is one of the few geared toward smaller kids with a lazy river, splash pad and tame waterslides alongside a few more daring ones for mom and dad. Stay on-site in family suites with fully stocked kitchens, which is part of the Grand Geneva Resort with golf courses and a spa for grownups to enjoy.
For information, call the Lake Geneva Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-345-1020 or go to www.lakegenevawi.com