
Lake Geneva Sunset
Lake Geneva is a resort city on Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin. Take a long deep breath and kiss your stresses good-bye: this lovely, year-round resort town offers a laid-back atmosphere that lets you slowly unwind. The lakeside Shore Path is dotted with Gilded Age mansions, many built by wealthy Chicagoans. Nearby, the 19th-century Black Point Estate and Gardens was the summer home of Chicago beer magnate Conrad Seipp. The Queen Anne-style house has Victorian furnishings. Replicas of paddle wheel steamers carry passengers past stately lakefront summer mansions, including some Victorian estates. Join us for this very relaxing and enjoyable tour.
Day 1
Today we travel through Illinois, into Wisconsin to our destination, beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We will check into our deluxe accommodations for the next four nights, The Abbey Resort, in Fontana, WI. Discover this beautiful upscale 90-acre resort with numerous amenities located right on the shores of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. As the only full-service resort on the shores of Lake Geneva, The Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wisconsin, offers unique activities from lakeside dining to special events, along with resort amenities such as indoor and outdoor pools, live music, and of course, a full-service Avani Spa. Walk a section of the Geneva Lake Shore Path or stay in and watch a movie in the Immersion Cinema. Dinner will be included tonight at the Resort. (D)
Day 2
This morning, you will receive a voucher to use toward breakfast at 240 West or something a little lighter at Café Latte Coffee Shop. We will then depart late morning for time to visit the unique shops in downtown Lake Geneva and have some lunch on your own. This afternoon, we will visit Black Point Estate and Gardens, built for Chicago Beer Baron Conrad Seipp in 1888 as a retreat, and in that spirit the home remains a place to relax, refresh and explore. Just like the Victorian VIPs who established the estate, you’ll enjoy stunning Geneva Lake views at this magnificent mansion, considered one of the finest examples of period architecture and furniture in the Midwest and one of the oldest homes in Lake Geneva. We will then return to the resort for a short time before departing for Dancing Horses, home of the most amazing Vegas-style show in the area—a horse show in Lake Geneva! The show was created from one vision and an infinite love for horses.The show is meant to evoke memories that many of us have from childhood. A talented team of creative, artistic and technical professionals have come together to create a magical experience for you. We will enjoy a delicious dinner at the theatre, as well! (B, D)
Day 3
Enjoy another delicious breakfast this morning. We’ll then take a tour of Yerkes Observatory, operated by the University of Chicago Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from its founding in 1897 until 2018. If astronomers had a walk of fame, it would be here. In 1892, a brilliant, young professor of astrophysics at the then-new University of Chicago learned of two 40-inch telescope lens blanks collecting dust in a warehouse. They were just what George Ellery Hale was looking for to build the observatory of his dreams. He convinced the university’s president to acquire the lenses and get what was essentially a blank check from Chicago tycoon Charles Tyson Yerkes to build a different kind of observatory. Yerkes Observatory, housing not only a telescope but also laboratories, workshops, and libraries, first opened its dome to the night sky in 1897, and soon attracted the brightest lights of astronomical science. For nearly a century, a virtual who’s who of astronomy surveyed outer space through the Yerkes Great Refractor. Sherburne W. Burnham cataloged 13,665 star systems. Edward Barnard discovered the large dark clouds of the Milky Way. Optician Frank Ross introduced the wide-angle lens to astronomy. Edwin Hubble photographed the first evidence of the expansion of the universe.
Later this morning, we depart for Lake Geneva for an included lunch at Popeyes. Following lunch, we will board the Lake Geneva Cruise Line for a relaxing lake cruise. We will enjoy all the scenic beauty of the lake with a fully narrated tour as we cruise completely around lovely Geneva Lake. Experience the sight of this enchanting historical glacier-made spring fed lake. A leisurely cruise past the estates, many built between 1870 and 1920, will serve to remind you of past elegance. A snack bar and cash bar provide refreshments while on board. There will be time for shopping downtown before returning to the hotel, where you can enjoy dinner on your own at the Resort’s Waterfront Restaurant for mouthwatering BBQ, fish fry or the hand-crafted cuisine of farm-to-table food at 240º West. (B, L)
Day 4
Following breakfast today, we travel to Racine, a city nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan. Racine is a treasure trove of iconic landmarks that showcase its rich history and vibrant culture. Our first stop is to the global headquarters of SC Johnson, a global leader in household and professional products. The tour will feature the two Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings on campus, The Research Tower and Administration Building, as well as the Foster & Partners Fortaleza Hall. After an included lunch, we visit Hot Shop Glass, a creative center for glass art on the shore of Lake Michigan. We will watch artists turn molten glass into beautiful art and have some time to shop the artist gallery. Next, we will visit O&H Bakery, the home of the award winning Kringle! Since 1949, this Danish bakery has been serving happiness in a pastry. Now the fourth generation of family and bakers, the Olesen Family still use their time-honored scratch baking techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. Next, we depart for Marr’s Cheese Castle that was featured on Zagat’s Top Spots in Wisconsin. This family-owned Wisconsin cheese staple and attraction, offers 700 cheeses, wines and specialty items from Wisconsin and around the world. Shop the most popular item: the farm-fresh cheese curds and indulge in cheese fudge. Their bakery features Kringles and fresh cheese bread. If you are still hungry, dinner this evening is on your own at Waterfront Restaurant or 240º West. (B, L)
Day 5
This morning, we depart for home, stopping for an included lunch along the way. (B, L)
INCLUDES:
- 4 nights’ accommodations at The Abbey Resort and Spa in Fontana-On-Geneva Lake/luggage handling
- 9 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Dancing Horses Dinner Show
- Tour of Black Pointe Estate and Gardens
- Yerkes Observatory
- Lake Geneva Cruise
- Racine
- Free time in Lake Geneva
- Hot Shop Glass, Glass-blowing demonstration
- O&H Bakery
- Marr’s Cheese Castle
- Deluxe motorcoach transportation/driver’s gratuity
- Fully escorted by Jane’s Journeys
PRICE PER PERSON:
Double: $1,755
Triple: $1,674
Quad: $1,546
Single: $2,330
$300 deposit with reservation.
Final payment due by May 6, 2025.
Optional cancellation insurance due to illness of person traveling or immediate family member, is recommended and available for purchase. Price per person: $80 per person double; $76 per person triple; $70 per person quad; $106 per person single. Insurance payment due with deposit. Insurance price subject to change.

Lake Geneva waterfront furniture