Insider’s Guide: Explore Lake Geneva in the Winter

Kortnee Hass

December 15, 2021

Lake Geneva is obviously a beautiful destination to visit all year long, but there is no comparison for the beauty you will witness in the winter time. From dining in igloos, to roaming through ice castles, to visiting Winterfest, you truly can’t go wrong with a retreat in the Lake Geneva area! We are going to dive right into how you can make the most of your experience while visiting Lake Geneva all winter long.

Grand Geneva Resort and Spa

Photo Credit: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa // Visit Lake Geneva

You’ll want to start off any trip to Lake Geneva with some pampering and a retreat at the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa. This resort is nestled on 1,300 acres of rolling hills and woodlands right in Lake Geneva. Whether you’re in the mood for a spa day at their award winning spa or want to dine in one of their outdoor igloos, the Grand Geneva is a perfect place for a winter getaway in Lake Geneva!
We recommend planning a day at the spa in the resort for a personal ‘you’ day, girl’s trip, or even a couples retreat — however you’re ‘treating yourself’ this winter! At the spa, you can find something perfectly suited for you. They offer some of the highest quality massages, signature facials, and even have a salon to go along with it. This is the perfect way to enjoy your stay in Lake Geneva and prepare for some outdoor fun while visiting!
Don’t forget to check out the private igloos at the Grand Geneva Resort. These igloos are fun for girls nights out, private date nights, or a work meet up in the comfort of your own little space. You can even order food and drinks while enjoying your time in the igloo!

Maxwell Mansion

Photo Credit: Maxwell Mansion Igloo via Maxwell Mansion

 If you’re looking for a little more space, head to the historic Maxwell Mansion to visit the largest igloo in Lake Geneva! Comfortably, you can fit up to 50 people inside of their igloo.
While the igloos provide a fun outdoor experience, there is much more to be seen at the Maxwell Mansion! The mansion was built in 1856 by Philip Maxwell right along the shores of Geneva Lake. The building has tall windows, broad entrances, beautiful ornamental wood moldings, outstanding marble fireplaces, and a grand staircase. But, you have to step inside the mansion and experience it for yourself to see truly why it is so historic and important to the Lake Geneva area!

Lake Geneva’s Winterfest

Photo Credit: Lake Geneva Winterfest // Visit Lake Geneva

Planning a trip to Lake Geneva around Winterfest is always a great idea! Winterfest will be held February 2nd – 6th, 2022 and will feature the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championship. There you can see 15-state champion teams work during this epic competition to create larger-than-life snow sculptures! 
Other fun activities at Winterfest include a downtown ice sculpture tour, and trust us when we say you don’t want to miss that! You can head out shopping through the gorgeous downtown, enjoy s’mores and bonfires on the beach, and so much more during Lake Geneva’s winterfest! 

From the Producer

Photo Credit: Snowshoeing along the Kishwauketoe Trails // Discover Mediaworks

Andy Meddaugh, producer of ‘A Winter Destination Like No Other: Lake Geneva’ shares his insider’s take of what the entire episode production was like from beginning to end:
“The Lake Geneva production was an incredible experience. We wanted to showcase all that the Lake Geneva area has to offer in the winter, but what I didn’t expect was just how much there is to do there when the temperature drops and how welcoming the entire community was going to be during our visit! Whether it was a warm place to store gear, or thaw out during Winterfest, or an amazing mixed drink in a beautiful apothecary, or a complimentary spa day (that I have yet to capitalize on), everyone associated with the Lake Geneva winter episode was incredibly accommodating. 
This was my first time working with Discover Wisconsin icon (and current VISIT Lake Geneva President and CEO) Stephanie Klett and she was able to bring together the best of the best for interviews and locations to highlight throughout the episode. We got to visit some of Wisconsin’s finest restaurants and resorts, but this episode was about more than luxury, between the annual National Snowsculpting Championship, a day on the ski slopes, and sending our camera operator down a winter ziplining course, this episode of Discover Wisconsin brings plenty of thrills as well as elegance into your home, and shows why Lake Geneva during the winter is a must see destination.”

Now we know that the spa, igloos, Winterfest, and the Maxwell Mansion are all exceptional things that you can do in Lake Geneva but there is definitely more exciting fun to be had all winter long! Watch ‘A Winter Destination Like No Other: Lake Geneva’ now to find out more winter hot spots you need to check out while visiting Lake Geneva now:

Or hear how former Discover Wisconsin Host, and current CEO of Visit Lake Geneva, Stephanie Klett, would spend a day in Lake Geneva on The Cabin Podcast: 


Kortnee Hass: Digital Media Associate for Discover Mediaworks. A Wisconsin ‘now & forever’ transplant with a soft spot for squeaky cheese curds, craft breweries, and all things Wisconsin tourism.

You May Also Like…