Family-Friendly Resort Minutes from Quaint Downtown Shops

Inside The Cove Of Lake Geneva's Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub, brewmasters are hard at work, crafting more than a dozen varieties of beer using Old-World methods. Their hefe weiss and black bavarian brews complement hearty burgers forged from locally-sourced ingredients. They also create housemade root beer, flavoring it with pure vanilla, aromatic botanicals, and honey from Wisconsin honeycombs.

Upstairs, in each of The Cove's private units, there’s a spacious living room that houses a sleeper sofa next to a fireplace and a flat-screen TV. The suite is rounded out by a whirlpool tub and a full kitchen, which sets the stage for do-it-yourself dinners and science-project volcanoes with a toaster, a microwave, a dishwasher, pots and pans, and utensils. On the first floor, windows reminiscent of a small-town church surround an indoor pool flanked by high ceilings and wooden beams. After a swim, sample wine and cheese at The Cove’s nightly reception, held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: Cozy Northern Town with an Adventurous Side

Located right across from The Cove of Lake Geneva is its namesake, a gaping gulf of crystal-clear lake. The footpaths that surround it pass by opulent mansions, expansive English-style gardens and estates, and a Buddhist temple. The winter unlocks another side of this dynamic town: take to the low mountains for skiing and snowboarding, or snowmobile, ice fish, or construct an outdoor ice sculpture.

Just a short walk from The Cove is the charming downtown area, which overflows with both casual and upscale restaurants, shopping, and homemade beers and ice cream. The neighboring rustic storefronts brandish hand-thrown pottery and kaleidoscopic glass-art pieces.