Glaciation left Wisconsin with many lovely parting gifts – lakes, lakes and more lakes. So if you are looking to sightsee on the water, there’s no better way to celebrate the return of warm weather than a scenic tour on Lake Geneva.
With so many boat tours offered by Lake Geneva Cruise Line, from the popular U.S. Mail Boat tour to the Black Point Estate and Boat tour to the Beer Barons of Lake Geneva tour, selecting the cruise that’s best for you is easy with these tips.
- Plan your time accordingly. There is a lot to see and do in Lake Geneva so pick the boat cruise with the duration that fits your schedule best. Will you be in Lake Geneva for the day the weekend or longer? Lake Geneva Cruise Line tours range from the most popular one-hour Best of the Lake Cruise to the two-hour Full Lake Cruise or the longer historical three-and-a-half-hour Black Point Estate tour. Decide on your tour duration and how much of the lake you want to see, then pick your tour.
- Consider who’s cruising. Adults only or will kids be joining in on the fun? A family-friendly favorite is the Ice Cream Social Cruise for a tour of half the lake while enjoying an ice cream sundae.
- Determine if you want just the sights or a meal as well. If you are planning on dining while in Lake Geneva, consider doing so with the best view in town. Lake Geneva Cruise Line offers a variety of cruises that feature drinks and top-notch cuisine. Options include the Sunday Brunch buffet, themed luncheons and dinner cruises with live music.
- See something unique. What began in 1916 as a service born out of necessity has evolved into a popular tourist attraction in Lake Geneva, the U.S. Mail Boat tour. Delivering fun for passengers again this summer as its mail jumpers leap into action from a moving vessel, delivering letters, packages and newspapers to waterfront homes, the U.S. Mail Boat runs June 15 through September 15.
- Make it historical. If you enjoy history, don’t miss out on the chance to look inside Black Point Estate, built for Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp in 1888. You will travel to the home by boat just like they did in the Golden Age, all while learning the history of the lake. Lake Geneva Cruise Line and Black Point Estate also offer themed events including a popular Poe at the Point tour that includes a dramatic reading of Edgar Allen Poe during the Halloween season.
What’s New & Fun at Pier 290
PIER 290 serves up the Lake Life year-round as the only waterfront restaurant on Lake Geneva. While they keep it fun during the fall with vibrant lake views, and in the winter with cozy, crystal-clear lakeside igloos, the summer is when PIER 290 turns up the heat. With multiple outdoor dining spaces including a lakeside patio, sandy beach with lounge chairs, open-air canopies, an outdoor bar, and sandy palm beach, you will have ample space to enjoy the amazing lake views.
Executive Chef Ken Hnilo, now in his second summer at PIER 290, continues to share his culinary expertise by launching a new summer menu. From fresh and flavorful seafood dishes to perfectly cooked steaks and ribs, you will delight in every bite. Make sure to try a refreshing signature cocktail from their summer drinks menu, which features rare, high-end bourbons and tequilas you may not find anywhere else in Wisconsin.
Also new this summer at PIER 290 will be weekend live music acts. Local artists enhance the fun vibe in the palm beach and outdoor bar where they play live music Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer. Dine, drink and dance all while enjoying a day at the lake.
There’s always something happening at PIER 290 this summer. Open seven days a week, enjoy Ladies Night on Wednesdays with 50% off drinks at the bar; seafood specials on Thursdays; Wisconsin Fish Fry on Fridays; and weekend boozy brunch.
PIER 290 also has three private event spaces and an on-site catering team, Lake Life Catering, for hosting luxe lakeside parties, weddings and corporate events. You can also pair the party with a lake cruise with Lake Geneva Cruise Line, to make your event even more unforgettable.
Don’t miss a lakeside dining experience like no other, by stopping at PIER 290 on beautiful Lake Geneva in Williams Bay this summer.
