As we've noted in the past, a Corvette is the ultimate conveyance for taking extended driving trips and visiting scenic locations throughout the country. Wisconsin in summertime is a perfect place to take such a trip, thanks to its thousands of impressive lakes and scores of quaint towns that beg to be explored.
1 Caravanning along the 21-mile...
1 Caravanning along the 21-mile shore of Geneva Lake with local Corvette owners Pat and Bill Palicka was a great way to see the sights.
2 At 152 feet deep, the lake...
2 At 152 feet deep, the lake is the second deepest in Wisconsin. In addition to fishing and boating opportunities, it offers plenty of picturesque spots to photograph your Corvette.
3 Magnificent houses like...
3 Magnificent houses like this one are a common sight on the mail-boat tour. These docks and boats are removed during the winter and reinstalled in the spring. For those who prefer touring on terra firma, Lake Geneva is encircled by a 21-mile walking path.
Recently, Team VETTE had a chance to visit the City of Lake Geneva in a Supersonic Blue six-speed Grand Sport convertible. The popular vacation destination is nestled on the shores of Geneva Lake in the southeastern part of the Badger State.
During our stay we were guests of Pat and Bill Palicka. The couple owns two Corvettes, an Inca Silver '57 and a '10 Machine Silver convertible. The Palickas have lived in Lake Geneva for years, so they were able to and provide us with some historical details about this beautiful city and its surroundings.
Geneva Lake is 21 miles around, three miles wide, and the second-deepest (152 feet) lake in the state. It's well-stocked with fish, making it popular with anglers and recreational boaters alike. The city of Lake Geneva is a summer resort that was established after the Civil War. Wealthy Chicago residents began building waterfront mansions here after the Great Fire of 1871 consumed much of that city.
A great way to view these impressive homes--and enjoy your Corvette's handling in the process--is to take a drive on the curvy roads that encircle the lake. Another way is to hop a ride on the Walworth II, a 75-foot mail-delivery boat. This service began in 1870, and it continues to be a popular tourist attraction from April to November each year. The two-and-a-half-hour cruise takes you to various docks in front of many of the lake's mansions. At each stop, the mail carrier jumps off the boat, delivers the mail, then leaps back onboard. The Walworth II never stops, so athleticism and timing are key.
As an added bonus, when not delivering mail, the carriers provide visitors with a history of the area. One of the highlights is the famous Stone Manor. This is the largest mansion on the lake, and it was built by Otto Young during 1900 and 1901. Young made his money in real estate along State Street in Chicago after the Great Fire. Today the mansion is divided into six 4,000-plus-square-foot residences, each with a prominent view of the lake.
4 One of the best ways to...
4 One of the best ways to see the sights in Lake Geneva is to take a ride on the U.S. Postal Service boat, the Walworth II. The tour takes two-and-a-half hours and provides an up-close view of the lake's many beautiful homes.
5 College students typically...
5 College students typically handle the mail-delivery duties aboard the Walworth II. The boat never stops, so the students must leap off the boat, deliver the mail, and quickly jump back on. Fortunately, no one fell in during our trip.
6 We posed our Grand Sport...
6 We posed our Grand Sport in front of the historic Riviera community center and docks, which first opened in 1932. The site was completely renovated in the 1980s and is now a summer gathering spot.
7 The Stone Manor is one...
7 The Stone Manor is one of the more spectacular homes we saw during our boat tour. Built in 1901, it remains one of the largest homes in Lake Geneva.
8 The 17,000-square-foot,...
8 The 17,000-square-foot, 30-room Baker House was built in 1885. Today it's fully restored and serves as both a luxury inn and a private residence.
9 Longtime Corvette owners...
9 Longtime Corvette owners Bill and Pat Palicka hosted us during our stay in Lake Geneva. Here, they pose in front of our Grand Sport and their '10 convertible.
The families behind Wrigley, Montgomery Ward, Sears, Pinkerton, and other business empires also built beautiful estates on the lake. The historic pedigree of these mansions has earned them a designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Hugh Hefner even chose Lake Geneva as the home for the nationally acclaimed Playboy Club & Resort, now known as the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.
10 Wisconsin leads the nation...
10 Wisconsin leads the nation in cheese production, at 26 percent of the U.S. total. Many area restaurants, including the Cheese Box (www.cheese box.com), serve a wide variety of authentic Wisconsin
The Walworth II departs from the Riviera, a major landmark in downtown Lake Geneva. It was built in 1932 and was the summer home of many famous Swing Era bands such as Louis Armstrong and Tommy Dorsey. The site was completely restored in the '80s and now houses many shops and businesses on the lower level. A civic center and ballroom are located on the second floor. Another famous downtown landmark is the Baker House, a 17,000-square-foot, 30-room Queen Anne Mansion built in 1885. Over the years, it has served as a summer home, a school dormitory, a sanitarium, a speakeasy (during Prohibition), a lakeside hotel, and the St. Moritz restaurant. Today it is once again a private residence as well as a luxury inn.
The city of Lake Geneva features many fine shops and restaurants. One of our favorites was Simple, a café that serves food made with locally grown ingredients. It's just one of the many highlights that make this picturesque region an ideal summer travel destination. Thanks again to Pat and Bill Palicka for showing us their hometown, where cool summer breezes are a way of life.