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Chicagoans may wonder why they should leave Lake Michigan for Lake Geneva, but the two experiences are worlds apart. Lake Geneva is a Wisconsin resort city on the shores of a small lake by the same name. It’s where wealthy Chicagoans came to build their mansions during the Gilded Age. You can walk or bike the 21-mile shoreline along the Lake Geneva Shore Path for an up-close view, or see them from the water with the Lake Geneva Cruise Line. This year-round getaway offers an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, nightlife, outdoor activities, and points of interest.
Milwaukee (1 hour 35 minutes)
Holland, Michigan (2 hours 30 minutes)
Kettle Moraine State Forest (2 hours 40 minutes)
Lake Geneva (1 hour 40 minutes)
Naperville (40 minutes)
Village of Oak Park (15 minutes)
Six Flags Great America (1 hour)
North Utica (1 hour 45 minutes)
Chicago Botanic Garden (35 minutes)
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (1 hour)
Old State Capitol State Historic Site (3 hours)
Apple River Canyon State Park (2 hours 30 minutes)
Starved Rock State Park (1 hour 35 min)
Brookfield Zoo (25 minutes)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (3 hours)
Anderson Japanese Gardens (1 hour 40 minutes)
The Morton Arboretum (35 minutes)
Cantigny Park (40 minutes)
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (20 minutes)
Huron-Manistee National Forests (4 hours)
Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens (2 hours)
Oglesby (1 hour 40 minutes)
White River State Park (3 hours)
Peoria (2 hours 40 minutes)
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