Wine and Spirits Travel

I wanted a trip that would give me lots of stories for my Midwest Travel section on About.com. I managed to piece together and amazing adventure that spanned over six days, with my friend Lynn along for the ride the first four. I picked Lynn up at O’Hare Airport and we headed to our first stop, the Kohler Water Spa in Burr Ridge , Illinois. I had wanted to check out this spa ever since my trip to the Kohler Spa at the American Club in Wisconsin . I didn’t get a chance to spend as much time as I’d like at that spa, but I scheduled the whole afternoon here for us to enjoy. Lynn went in for the Bamboo Bliss, which used a warm bamboo to give the ultimate Swedish massage. It was said to improve circulation and help with muscle aches. Lynn fully agreed she felt great and the description of “bliss” was accurate. In the meantime, I went in for a Neat Feet Pedicure, a signature treatment at the Kohler Spa . My feet needed attention after all the travel and walking and this

It was the final day in Lake Geneva with my friends Cortney and Amy. We had been up late the previous night and slept in at Maxwell Mansion . We each had our own rooms and I loved my General Ulysses S. Grant suite. I took one final bath in my antique soaking tub before we headed back to the Baker House for a fun and delicious brunch. The Baker House keeps its 19 th century image with period dress for the employees and hats for all of the visitors to wear. We were greeted politely and, after we chose from the hats, were escorted us to our table overlooking the lake. We were told the brunch came with unlimited champagne. We each had a glass before I switched to tea and received a lovely pot with a glass of honey. Each downstairs room of the Baker House mansion contained different food items for one of the best brunches I’ve ever had. The bar was set up as an omelet and eggs benedict station and the bartender was happy to customize your eggs any

It was day two of my girls’ getaway in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I had brought two friends on this trip, Cortney and Amy, and we were having a blast. I let them sleep in at Maxwell Mansion and I met with Karen Arthur, Lake Geneva's Convention & Visitor's Bureau Marketing & Communications Manager, for breakfast at Simple Café. It was a bright and friendly spot with an inviting menu. We talked about everything there was to see in Lake Geneva and I knew this trip would only be the first of many. It was also probably going to be the first of more trips to Simple as their Pumpkin Pancakes were delicious. I went straight from breakfast back to the Lunt-Fontanne Project Center for a tour of the Ten Chimneys estate that had once belonged to the acting duo of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Maggie and Richard, dressed as Dolcet and the Shadow, were my guides. I received a private tour because I was working on a Midwest Living Magazine story, but publi

It wasn’t long after I moved to the Midwest before I started hearing about Lake Geneva. I honestly didn’t know much about the Wisconsin town before this, but when I met with a representative of their Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) at the Chicago Travel Show , I knew that I had to put it on my trip list. Finding a friend to come along was an easy task. In fact, my friends Cortney and Amy were both begging to come. I checked with the Lake Geneva CVB who was making all the arrangements, and they agreed that it sounded like the makings of a great girls’ getaway. They weren’t wrong. The drive to Lake Geneva only took a few hours. We arrived at Maxwell Mansion 1856 late afternoon and were immediately taken with the property. Chicago Surgeon Dr. Philip Maxwell built this property for him and his wife to move into in 1856. It joined the list of Lake Geneva properties that had become vacation homes for the wealthy in Chicago. Among those who have stayed at Maxwe