Mister Coke
Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:04:24 -0800
Lake Geneva has 'awe' factor (http://www.post-trib.com/lifestyles/1881456,iqgetaway1115.article)
November 15, 2009
BY MIKE MICHAELSON, mmike...@aol.com
*A* long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a glitzy resort tucked into the
northern woodland of southeast Wisconsin was home to under-dressed
"bunnies." It was a fiefdom ruled by a man called "Hef" who had an affinity
for round beds and lounging pajamas.
That temple of excess -- known as the Playboy Resort -- has long since been
supplanted by the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Opened in 1994, it is popular
with families, especially over the holiday season. It blends the strong
horizontal lines of Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture and comfortable
amenities as it showcases 21st-century technology. Television screens appear
in wall space that seemingly is occupied by mirrors, while deals and special
guest promotions are incorporated into such trendy social media as Facebook,
Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.
Grand Geneva also is known for holiday attractions ranging from a display
incorporating more than a half-million lights and brand-new mechanical and
animated scenes to traditional afternoon teas served daily 1:30-3:30 p.m.,
Nov. 28 through Dec. 30. They are part of the 15th annual Christmas in the
Country, a six-week-long celebration featuring lights, music, theater, food
and daily activities.
Highlights include Sunday Brunch with Santa, smooth jazz in the lobby lounge
featuring a six-piece band and a gingerbread-house contest and display (with
adult and child categories). Vegas-style entertainment includes equine
performances and hundreds of jets of water choreographed to music and
presented as the "Dancing Waters."
Don't miss a special show by F.B. Fogg, recognized nationally for producing
unique creations of hand-made paper. Fairy-tale scenes include Cinderella,
Alice in Wonderland, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White, Hansel and
Gretel, the Three Little Pigs and the Wizard of Oz.
The Grand Geneva sprawls over 1,300 acres, with woodlands and water creating
a challenge for golfer and skiers alike, as well as providing trails for
equestrians. To enjoy this pretty terrain during winter, arrange a ride in a
horse-drawn sleigh. Dress warmly and get yourself tucked into a blanket.
Gliding through the quiet forest, where snow-laden bows bend under a new
snowfall may seem like a scene from Doctor Zhivago. Weather permitting,
sleigh rides are available seven days a week, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Reservation are
required, with space filling quickly. Cost is $50. An extra-large sleigh is
available to accommodate larger groups.
Dan Patch Stables, close to the entrance of the resort, will make
arrangements for sleigh rides based on the whims and wiles of the weather.
It also offers trail rides. Cost for these is $30 per person for trail
riders of all levels ages 7 and up. For a dramatic photo-op, watch for a
file of riders silhouetted atop a snow-covered ridge.
Foodies will want to travel to Mukwonago for a stop at the Elegant Farmer,
where specialties are cider-baked ham and nationally acclaimed apple pie
baked in a brown bag. Travel a bit northwest to catch dinner and a show
(both are first rate) at the Fireside Dinner Theater at Fort Atkinson.
"Here's Love" is a big, brassy Broadway musical that plays for the holiday
season and runs through Dec. 27.
For shopping recommendations in the busy little town of Lake Geneva, talk to
concierge Sandra ("Sandy") Farwell. She worked at the Playboy resort from
its debut in 1968, retiring her Playboy ears when the resort closed in 1982.
Of course, you need not venture beyond the resort to be adequately
entertained by music and holiday traditions and to enjoy the great outdoors
(and a warm indoors -- where the temperature is always in the balmy 70s).
The latter is Timber Ridge Lodge, home to a 50,000-square-foot indoor water
park, with all-suite accommodations ideal for extended families and dining
in a downhome-style rib restaurant.
Mountain Top, Grand Geneva's own ski center offers 18 challenging runs
served by three chair lifts. It has a vertical drop of 211 feet, elevations
up to 1,086 feet and runs up to one-quarter-mile long. It offers instruction
and rentals. Snowboarders can tackle a specially designed half-pipe and
snowboarder Fun Park. Beginners gather confidence on two nonintimidating
practice hills. The Wonder Carpet "escalator" transports beginning skiers
back uphill, providing an easy-to-use substitute for the sometimes
formidable rope tow.
Slip into robe and slippers and devote time to revitalizing mind and body at
WELL Spa + Salon (recently remodeled with earthy Scandinavian themes).
Choose from a wide range of treatments and services. At the Fitness Center
at Grand Geneva, take on the challenge of a 35-foot-tall climbing wall.
You'll also find a basketball court, indoor tennis and indoor lap pool, as
well as sauna and steam rooms.
For dining in, you'll find that Geneva Chophouse delivers hefty cuts of
prime meat and has the look and feel of a big-city steakhouse. It has
recently added a terrace with a 14-foot-tall outdoor fireplace.
In contrast, Ristorante Brissago is an intimate, upscale Italian eatery
dedicated to providing authentic traditional Italian-style meals.
Everything, from the sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes to cheeses and
pastas, is imported directly from Italy. Bufala mozzarella, for example,
contains 100 percent buffalo milk and arrives weekly from Campania, where
they've been making the cheese for centuries.
Never content to rest on its laurels, Grand Geneva constantly refreshes and
refurbishes its top-rated amenities (as a AAA Four Diamond hotel).
Last July marked the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation, the
most ambitious to date.
Enhanced guest rooms received new carpeting, drapery, bedding, bathroom
fixtures and refrigerators, as well at 37- and 42-inch flat-screen
televisions. Seura television mirrors are embedded within the mirrors of all
guest bathrooms and are activated by the flick of a switch.
Let it snow Winter scenes show the spirit of Christmas at Lake Geneva -
photos provided
--
Mister Coke
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