The lake is lined with impressive contemporary and historical Mansions.

The Drake Mansion taken from the Duchess on the Geneva Bay Tour photo by Nicki Hurd

One of the oldest is the Black Point Mansion, dating back to 1888, by architect Adolph Cudell for Conrad Seipp from Germany.    He was in the brewery business in the south side of Chicago, which was not in the Chicago fire that burned down so many other breweries.  Grateful were many I’m sure, to have a brewery still standing.  Peering at the Drake Mansion was a treat for me after slumbering at the Drake Hotel in Chicago the night before.

As my eyes followed the white piers all along the lake, I only saw a few sprinkles of people around.   Some in boats, others floating in the lake, and children bouncing on a water trampoline.   It was a very picturesque, like a movie scene.  July, 2012

A quaint town located on Geneva Lake, approximately ten miles north of the Illinois state line,  was named by the founder John Brink’s after his home town in Geneva, New York.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin photo by Nicki Hurd

It has green rolling hills, with possibly 70 species of evergreen trees planted at Black Point.  Parking near the lake on Wrigley Drive was limited on Thursday afternoon in July, but spaces were available within 2 blocks if you drove around.  At Popeye’s casual dinning (not the fast food chain), seating for lunch at 1:00 was available without a wait.  July, 2012

  The lake is  taking up 5,262 acres, spring fed, 152 feet at the deepest point,  varies from 1/2 mile to 3 miles wide,  9 miles long and 21 around.

Geneva Lake Cruise Photo by Nicki Hurd

The cruises of Geneva Lake leave from the Riviera Docks on Wrigley Drive. The lake is reported to be generally calm but on a rare day waves can be as high as 5 feet or more.  It was a peaceful day but steamy.  There was some breeze generated from the boat moving, but the Duchess, the Geneva Bay Tour at 3:00pm had several available seats, and I expect being in the water was preferred.  July, 2012