Om and I went to visit Lake Geneva on Feb 1st, 2020. We started from our downtown Chicago home at 9:30 am. Om fell asleep in the car as he was feeling tired. The total distance of 85 miles took us two hours. Downtown Geneva appeared to be very crowded. Many people were walking around and almost all parking spots were full.
We decided to go directly to our hotel to get a glimpse of it. Check-in time was 4 pm but to our surprise, the receptionist stated that our room was ready and we could check-in at 11:30 am. The hotel building was standing on a hill with the main entrance on the second floor. Our room was on the first floor and required either the stairs or the elevator to go there. The room had a beautiful patio attached to it. We saw igloos and Lake Cuomo from our room. It was spectacular to see the frozen lake and snow covered grass, plants, flowers, and trees. We glanced at the gym room, swimming pool, and spa. The lobby of the Ridge hotel was very nice and big. There were many chairs, sitting areas, fireplaces, televisions, and a food and wine shop.
We went back to downtown but did not find any parking for more than an hour. Disappointed and tired, we came back to the hotel for a shuttle service. As per Om's wish, we ate lunch at Potbelly. He ate a sandwich, macaroni cheese, and an ice cream shake. I had half a sandwich and a salad made of chickpeas, almonds, cranberries, grapes, apples, greens, etc. Potbelly was so crowded that we had to share a table with one other family.
We went to the winter fest and saw ice sculptures from different states. Then, we went to the main street to see more ice sculptures and explore some shops. People were walking, playing, and running on frozen Lake Geneva. Hovercrafts were also in action.We came back to the hotel to participate in s'mores activity. There were numerous varieties of marsh mellows, crackers, cookies, and chocolates. It was an outdoor activity, near a fire pit and some heaters. We roasted our marshmallows and simultaneously got the warmth of the fire. Then, we took the shuttle back to the town to see the Laser Light show at the Rivera and to eat dinner at Lake Aire restaurant. We had to wait in line for almost an hour for the table and then another half an hour for food. Om preferred a chicken burger with fries and onion rings and my vegetarian option was pita chips with hummus. Om's craving for smoothie took us to the Cold Stone ice cream shop. Afterward, we sat down near a fire pit on one of the restaurants' patio. We talked about various topics while warming our hands. Om learned to pass his hand halfway through the flame. At 8:45 pm we called for the shuttle only to find out that the shuttle driver was busy somewhere else. Therefore, we had to call a taxi to take us back to the hotel. The next day, I woke up early to write my journal. For breakfast, we went to Egg Harbor Cafe. Om ordered a veggie omelet with potatoes, orange juice, and a French toast. I opted for veggies, fruits, and a toasted biscuit. Now, it was time to explore some shops. We saw a bike café, olive oil shop, teashop, home and mortar shop, candle making shop, gift shops, and clothing shops. I brought many dresses for myself. Om found a sweater and a pair of woolen socks. We selected a sweater for Munish and a T-shirt for Nannu. It was a unique experience to see melting ice sculptures. Our next destination was ice castles. The shuttle went through long, winding roads showcasing beautiful sceneries before dropping us at Geneva National Resort. It was fun to take a walk through the ice castles. There were many walkways and big lobby like areas. Surprisingly, there were fire pits inside the ice castles and a shop selling hot chocolate and snacks. Some areas of the ice castles were melting. We saw three workers demolishing weaker areas of ice for public safety. After exiting the castle, we saw two golf courses. Then, the shuttle brought us back to the hotel. Dinner destination was Oak Fire restaurant located on the shores of Lake Geneva. That was the perfect time to see the sunset. A beautiful reflection of the sun was visible in the clear and still waters. Om ordered a chicken with pasta and bread and I ate bruschetta made of bread pieces topped with onion, tomatoes, and spices. We discussed numerous topics on our return journey to Chicago. It became a memorable trip.
Bharti Raizada