Who doesn’t love a little excitement in their lives?!
Looking for a short getaway in an affordable area with delectable dining, fantastic attractions, and a little adventure? Visit the Lake Geneva area to enjoy beautiful lakes, rich history, and small town charm.
To learn more about these area attractions and restaurants, please visit their websites. For more information on Walworth County and the Lake Geneva area, have a look at www.visitwalworthcounty.com.
Black Point Estate & Gardens / Lake Geneva Cruise Line
As some of you know, I’m relatively new to the Lake Geneva area. That said, every experience I have in Walworth County is a new one for me. I’ve been welcomed with open arms by so many local attractions and businesses that I’ve been able to cover a lot of ground in the area in just a short time, and for that I’m grateful.
One of my recent adventures in Walworth County was a visit to Lake Geneva Canopy Tours. I tried not to let it show, but deep down I was ridiculously excited to try zip lining. Most people in the area don’t know this about me, but I am a retired glazier. Believe it or not, that does not mean that I was at the donut shop bright and early glazing your favorite morning pastry. Rather, I was a Journeyman Glazier where I installed windows in high-rise, commercial buildings. I LOVE heights. And I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie, too. Zip lining was a chance to enjoy heights and get a bit of an adrenaline rush all at once, especially on the zip they call “The Beast.” On top of that, I also got an interesting eco-tour of the site and the guides were hilariously awesome, so I was in stitches throughout the entire tour!
When you first arrive for your canopy tour, you’ll meet your guides and the other people in your group. Once the introductions are through, you’ll move on to gearing up for your adventure. A harness, a helmet, gloves and a trolley are necessities, and your guides will make sure that everything is appropriately fitted to you before you head to the course. As soon as everyone is set, you’ll hop a short ride to the course where you get a quick lesson on the “Ground School” zip to learn everything you need to know to conquer the course.
Clearly I didn’t have any issues making the leap on the first of eight zips on the course, however; there were a couple hesitant participants in my group. I do believe that when this course was designed, the possible hesitation of some was taken into consideration because they start you off small. The first zip was short, sweet, and not too far off the ground. The “Butterfly,” which is about 100 feet long and 15 feet high, was a pleasant little teaser preparing you for what was yet to come. My only hitch was the “landing” at the end of the zip line. There are landing logs on the platforms, and admittedly, I wasn’t very good at landing on them. I always tell people that you’ll never hear my name and the word “graceful” in the same sentence. I proved that statement correct once again, because I seemed to be the only one consistently missing the block.
I won’t lie, the zips get longer, and some higher, as the course goes on, but by the time you reach “The Beast,” you’re pretty confident about making it across without any worry. “The Beast,” by the way, is only 841 feet long and about 70 feet high. You will certainly pick up a bit of speed on this one, but it’s nothing that a few pats from a gloved hand can’t slow down.
The zip lines alone make the canopy tour a blast. Add the sky bridges and spiral stairways, and your adventure level sky rockets to an even higher level of awesomeness…literally and figuratively! The longest sky bridge is a mere 240 feet long. There’s a bit of a shake as everyone treks their way across the bridge, but even for the fainthearted, the wobbliness is well worth it as you take in an incredible view from the treetops. The spiral stairways are a rush to climb, and offer an impressive view over the course and fellow zip liners.
Here’s a few fun eco facts about Lake Geneva Canopy Tours:
After two and a half hours of zipping and climbing, I was asked if I would do it again. My answer: Heck yea! I don’t know if fun like that would ever get old, no matter how many times I did it. And who knows, maybe if I did it enough I might find a little grace in my landings. Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?
For more information on the Lake Geneva Canopy Tours, or to schedule a tour, head over to their website and search them out on social media.
Father’s Day is right around the corner, so this year, give Dad a day to remember! Walworth County has plenty of fun activities to surprise Dad with, from adventurous activities to the intriguing history, to spending time on the lake. Here are three memorable ways to spend the day with Dad.
1. Aerial Adventures is a great way to celebrate Dad with the whole family. Dad can get his adrenaline pumping on the ziplines and the free fall descender, and test his agility on the aerial trek courses. Get the whole family together for gut-wrenching laughter with bubble soccer, and it is certain to be a day Dad won’t forget!
2. If Dad is more of a water guy, surprise him with a morning on the lake at the Fontana Paddle Company. With both stand up paddle board and kayak rentals, the whole family can join in the water fun! If Dad would rather kick back and relax on the lake, they also have pontoon and fishing boat rentals. After your time on the water, be sure to stop in their shop and buy Dad some sweet swag. Added bonus: they will even pay for your parking if you tell them the meter number.
3. Does Dad love a good brew? If so, then the Beer Barons of Geneva Lake tour is a perfect option for Father’s Day. Black Point Estate and the Lake Geneva Cruise Line are teaming up for a tour full of history and brews. Hear stories of the beer barons that vacationed and lived along the shores of Geneva Lake and, of course, have a taste or two. So go ahead, raise a pint with Dad, score a souvenir beer mug, and have memorable evening with Pops.
For details on these activities, and to find other adventurous and memorable Father’s Day ideas in the Lake Geneva area, go to www.VisitWalworthCounty.com.
Visit Walworth County Blog 