Looking for a quick getaway to a beautiful, quaint, lakefront destination with lots to do for the kids? Look no further than Lake Geneva, Wisconsin! Just a short drive from Milwaukee and under 2 hours from downtown Chicago, Lake Geneva is the perfect spot to spend the day at the beach or stay active with so many fun things to do. These are the best kid-friendly things to do in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin:
Safari
Yes, you read that correctly. Safari Lake Geneva is hands-down one of the best kid-friendly things to do in Lake Geneva! Just a short five miles from downtown Lake Geneva, is this exciting wildlife preserve that allows you to engage with and feed exotic animals all from your car window! Each car cruises slowly through this (roughly) hour-long adventure, allowing ample time to interact with the animals. You can go through the drive-through safari adventure as many times as youâd like, or come back later that same day. The kids will love seeing alpacas, llamas, bison and so many other exotic animals. My kids loved hanging their heads out the car window with buckets of feed for the miniature donkeys, and laughed so hard racing to close the windows as the wild ostriches approached. Pro-tip: follow my kidsâ lead and donât feed the emus or ostriches!
Strawberry and Blueberry Picking
Just a few minutes up the road from downtown Lake Geneva, in nearby Delavan, is the perfect spot to pick some delicious berries at Blue Clay Berry Farm. The orchard offers strawberries in June and Blueberries in mid-July. My kids always talk about how berry picking is one of their absolute favorite things to do in the summer. And who wouldnât love it? Running through the orchard, filling up baskets with freshly ripened fruit that you picked yourself, sneaking a taste or two along the way- itâs the perfect activity for all ages!
The Beach
With a gorgeous lakeshore and stunning scenic views across the lake, the beaches of Lake Geneva are the places to be on a hot, sunny day.
Riviera Beach is a designated kid-friendly, sandy beach, where kids under 6 years old can swim for free. Alcoholic-beverages are prohibited, which keeps the environment low-key and perfect for families. Located on Wrigley Drive in downtown Lake Geneva.
Williams Bay Beach is a great sandy beach if youâre looking for for more seclusion and a place to avoid the bigger crowds of downtown. Williams Bay Beach is another kid-friendly designated beach, with shady areas perfect for families with babies in tow. Children under 5 years old can swim for free. Itâs about a 10 minute drive from downtown Lake Geneva.
Paddleboarding and Kayaking
What better way to experience the beautiful Lake Geneva shoreline than by paddleboarding or kayaking! At Clear Water Outdoor you can rent tandem kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to use with young kids, or if the kids are old enough they can rent their own. Paddleboarding and kayaking are some of the best active and kid-friendly things to do in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin!
Boat Tour
Lake Geneva Cruise Line offers a special âIce Cream Socialâ boat tour designed specifically to be kid-friendly. The boat tour goes around half of the lake in a 1.25 hour ride, where kids 3 years old and younger ride free! Even though this is a narrated tour, you wonât feel embarrassed if your little ones canât keep quiet, as the website description specifically recommends other boat rides if guests actually want to hear every word of the tour. A relaxing boat tour on the stunning Geneva Lake, no parental pressure, and ice cream? Perfect.
Lakeshore Walking Path
One of the best active and FREE kid-friendly things to do in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is to take a stroll on the Shore Path around Geneva Lake. The path itself reaches about 26 miles, but has numerous points of entry where you can hop on with the kids for a stroll. The kids will love walking by the waterâs edge looking for fish and frogs, and scoping out sailboats, while parents will love the scenic views of the lakeâs clear blue waters and the stunning historic estates and gardens that are the backdrop of the Shore Path.
Horseback Riding
Located at the entrance to The Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, Dan Patch Stables offers horseback riding year round. Kids will love riding horses through the gorgeous Wisconsin countryside. For kids that are too young to ride horses, pony rides and a petting farm are fun, hands-on entertainment at Dan Patch Stables. Pro tip: avoid horseback riding in the extreme heat- itâs way more fun in the early morning or cooler days.
Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures
Honestly, not my cup of tea AT ALL, but for those adrenaline-seeking kids be sure to check out Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures for ziplining, high ropes challenge courses and climbing towers. Climbers as young as 4 years old can participate in the climbing walls and vertical obstacle course, while the older kids can zipline, flying through the 100-acre property. As a tamer option, they also offer hiking and biking trails! This will be the last place youâll hear your tween say âIâm boredâ. An adventurous, adrenaline-rushing, kid-friendly thing to do in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for a wide range of ages = a WIN. (Be sure to check age, height, and weight requirements beforehand).
Raining? Indoor Waterpark!
With looping waterslides, a lazy river and heated indoor pool, Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark is the perfect escape on a rainy day (or any day!). The Timber Ridge Waterpark was even named one of USA Todayâs Best 10 Waterparks! This 50,000 square foot waterpark is the perfect spot to spend the day with the family. Hands down, a trip to Timber Ridge Waterpark is one of the BEST kid-friendly things to do in Lake Geneva!
Where To Eat
Oakfire: For great Neapolitan style pizza in a casual lakefront bistro in the heart of downtown Lake Geneva. Yes, please. (Ask for a spot outside and upstairs to have a great view of the beach!)
Pier 290: If youâre willing to make the 10 minute drive up to Williams Bay, Pier 290 offers American/Seafood cuisine at their beautiful lakeside location. Pro-tip: Ask for a table next to the sandy area where the kids can play in the sand while parents can relax at the table.
Simple Café: A fan favorite for breakfast and lunch, Simple Café is committed to using locally grown, seasonal ingredients, and their bakery offers artisan baked goods hand-crafted from scratch. Simple Café offers a good selection of menu options that are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free. Located a few blocks north of Riviera Beach.
Egg Harbor Café: A chain restaurant in Chicago and its suburbs (as well as a few suburbs of Atlanta), Egg Harbor is always a great option for breakfast or lunch with the kids! With cage free eggs from small Midwestern farms, many gluten free options, and serving award-winning coffee, Egg Harbor Café is a top quality choice for a great meal. Also located in the heart of downtown Lake Geneva.
Daddy Maxwellâs: Okay, a little quirky here⊠no credit cards accepted, closed on Tuesdays, and they refer to themselves as an âAntarctic Circle Dinerâ in an igloo⊠but if you decide to venture up to Williams Bay, take a look at this extensive and delicious menu for breakfast and lunch and decide for yourself!
Where To Stay
If you are staying in Lake Geneva for longer than a day and need some recommendations of where to stay, these tend to be the favorite lodging options for families:
Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark: If you have little ones and you know youâll make good use of their indoor waterpark, do yourself a favor and lodge on-site!
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa: With outdoor and indoor pools, bike rentals, an adventure center, horseback riding, great dining options, and villa lodging options, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa is always a fan favorite.
The Abbey Resort: As one of the only resorts on the shore of Lake Geneva, they offer onsite boat rentals in the marina, as well as fireside sâmores, live entertainment, indoor and outdoor pools, and bike rentals. The Abbey Resort also offers two-bedroom villas.
Now get packing, grab the kids, and enjoy your trip to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin!
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