Everything for everybody
By Vital Staff
Let’s face it; this is the time of year when most peoples’ energy ebbs low while commitments proceed at their regularly-scheduled breakneck speed. There was that mental break from the day-to-day world over the holidays (often taking the form of surreal flashes of family, food and lots of driving), immediately followed by a fiery re-entry to work and school life. Yuck. Just thinking about it makes you want to crawl under the covers and not come out until spring.
Sadly, that’s not an option for most of us, and if we’re truthful few of us could stay buried for very long before we got real twitchy from lack of stimulus. So what’s a hard-working person to do? We at VITAL decided to hit the road for a weekend, with the following guidelines: must be within reasonable driving distance, yet far enough away so that you won’t run back home for a forgotten item; must be comfortable and, above all, must be a place where you can hear yourself think. Even breathe. Six of us went out and six came back with stories to tell about… mostly nothing, unless relaxation still counts for something in this crazy world. We recommend you try it soon.
The Whistling Swan
4192 Main Stret, Door County
920-868-3442
www.whistlingswan.com
September 2001 was the last time I took a vacation from work. I had almost forgotten how it feels not to work for a couple of days; to take a break from the daily drudgery. Having too long ignored a need for at least a break from it all, I ventured off to Fish Creek in Door County for a weekend. After a peaceful two and a half hour drive I arrived at The Whistling Swan Inn, Door Peninsula’s oldest operating inn, on a balmy Saturday afternoon. Interesting historic footnote: this beautiful late 19th century Victorian inn was moved across frozen Green Bay in 1907 to its current location.
I landed at a local pub to enjoy a nice glass of good scotch and engage in the great activity of people watching. I found a mix of locals and outside visitors, with conversations varying from local gossip to tourists planning their next day’s activities. If you make the trek yourself, you will meet interesting people who are not bashful to make new acquaintances.
You can set out on route 42, which spans all the way to Gill’s Head and Car Ferry, the tip of Door County. A ferry will take you and your car to the legendary and beautiful Washington Island. No trip up that road would be complete without at least one visit to Door County’s popular wineries. The award-winning Orchard Country Winery, a quarter mile south of Fish Creek, offers year round wine tasting. A friendly and knowledgeable staff is always ready to have you try the myriad variety of wines they produce. Bottles are reasonably priced and make good souvenirs as well.
The Whistling Swan also houses the area’s best restaurant, featuring professional chefs and a menu to please a variety of palates. Reservations are a must during busy seasons. For my purposes, I was happy to be there in a quiet time. Both the staff and the accommodations were excellent, and I returned home more relaxed than I’ve felt in a long time.
—By Mehrdad J. Dalamie
The Grand Geneva Resort and Spa
7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva
262-248-8811
www.grandgeneva.com
A quick 45 minute jaunt from downtown Milwaukee, The Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, one of only three AAA Four-Diamond resorts in Wisconsin, stands supreme in the getaway town of getaway towns. Sprawling over 1,300 acres of pastoral southern Wisconsin hills, The Grand Geneva is a city in itself. The resort boasts a spa, sports center, water park, indoor and outdoor pools, private lake, two championship golf courses, seven restaurants and a 17-run ski hill, which despite global warming (I’m sorry, I mean el niño) was fully operational.
My friend Nat and I arrived in the early evening and after quickly dropping off our bags we headed to the Ristorante Brissago. Our pre-trip research warned us about the difficulty of getting a table at this Wine Spectator Award of Excellence-winning restaurant, so we were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves being escorted to a table a mere 45 minutes after arriving at the resort, having just made a reservation from our room phone.
The menu was full of southern Italian influence, relying heavily on rustic tomato sauces and seafood. I tried the cavatelli pasta with roasted tomato marinara and sautéed garlic shrimp, while Nat enjoyed angel hair pasta with jumbo lump crab, spicy herb sauce and white truffle oil. Both were light, flavorful and fresh. After tiramisu and sorbet, we stopped at Evolve, one of the resort’s bars, for some drinks before turning in early.
As morning came to Lake Geneva and the fog scuttled across the lake just outside our room, Nat and I awoke and followed the scent of hot coffee to the Grand Café breakfast buffet. While the image of my paternal grandparents dancing the hora in their graves haunted me as I rummaged through a stack of blueberry and cinnamon raisin bagels at the lox and bagel station, the omelet was rich, the bacon was perfectly crisp and, well, the coffee was strong.
After some swimming, reading and meandering around the picturesque grounds, it was time for our appointments at The Well Spa, a 44,000 square-foot shrine to health that offers everything from an Olympic size lap pool and Pilates to massage and rock climbing. Accented with natural wood and light colors, the spa utilizes the elements of life – air, fire, earth and water – as the foundation of their care. Both being massage neophytes, Nat and I opted for basic massages, which, beginner or not, were transcendent experiences. After being called from the steam room, we were led down a darkened hallway, to the faint sounds of running water and birds chirping in the distance. Candles, soft new age music and scented oils accented 50 minutes of total body work, each untied knot expelling a week’s worth of holiday stress.
Freshly loosened, Nat and I took a seat at The Geneva Chophouse for dinner where we treated ourselves to a rich, if slightly thin, clam chowder, blue cheese-bathed wedge salad and steaks – an 8oz. filet for myself, a bone-in New York strip for Nat. After we polished off some carrot cake with rum raisin ice cream and crème brûlée we melted into our beds, completely exhausted from two days of being pampered.
While Lake Geneva may be the perfect destination for a weekend getaway, two days was not enough time to experience everything The Grand Geneva Resort and Spa had to offer – there was simply too much to do. But I guess that can hardly be considered a bad thing.
—By Evan Solochek
Church Hill Inn
425 Gateway Drive, Sister Bay
920-854-4885
www.churchhillinn.com
Roughly 13 miles southwest of Death’s Door Passage in northeastern Wisconsin rests the sleepy little Door County resort town of Sister Bay. My wife Carrie and I had come to stay at the Church Hill Inn – Sister Bay’s English-themed bed and breakfast. Run by a charming British gentleman named Mike Goldstone and his American wife Wendy, the Church Hill Inn feels authentic enough for northeastern Wisconsin. We were given room 204, The “Ships Room,” adorned in a mild nautical theme with images of British ships and suchlike. Waiting for us in the room were the six complimentary bottles of Leinenkugel’s Original Beer that came with the special. We had come for the “Laverne and Shirley” Winter Package that included food and bowling at the nearby Sister Bay Bowl.
The Sister Bay Bowl is an utterly nondescript little building near the Inn. Seeing as how neither of us is a day over 31, Carrie and I were both substantially younger than most of the people at the supper club. The rest of the patrons were locals. Since it was Friday, we ordered the fish fry. It was miraculous. One gets the feeling that perch from all over the Great Lakes flock to the shores of Door County aspiring to make their exit lightly breaded on a plate at the Sister Bay Bowl. Only the leanest, most sumptuous perch make it.
After dinner, I went native and ordered a whiskey old fashioned. At the bar, we found ourselves on the other end of the age demographic. Not having many other options, indigenous high school kids hang out at the bowling alley. They’re good, too – my wife and I looked suitably ridiculous next to them. We went back to the hotel and enjoyed a couple of beers before crashing into bed.
The next morning we pried ourselves out of the dangerously comfortable bed and enjoyed an absurdly hearty breakfast downstairs before heading out into the landscape. The silence of an unseasonably warm, snowless early January in Door County amplified the deliciously desolate solitude of a rural resort area in the off-season. We were wonderfully alone in the parks of Door County, enjoying the romance of a weekend away from everything.
—By Russ Bickerstaff
Victorian Village Resort
Elkhart Lake, WI
www.vicvill.com
Our lives have changed so much in the last year. Career changes, moves and a new baby on the way have all conspired to irrevocably transform our lifestyle from the relative simplicity of professional singles to the much more serious one of expecting family. It’s been exciting but stressful, and we needed a break, a chance to reconnect and relax together; we decided to grab the camera, get in the car and take a little trip.
We drove to Victorian Village Resort, located at the northern tip of the Kettle Moraine Forest, about 70 miles north of Milwaukee in The Village of Elkhart Lake. We arrived to find a contemporary establishment with old world style. The resort offers lakeside amenities and seclusion within walking distance to Elkhart Lake shops and businesses. The desk service was friendly and accommodating, making us feel well cared for. We checked into our comfortable room, made our way down to the large indoor pool with an impressive view of the courtyard and finally headed to the resort’s Back Porch Bistro for dinner.
The Bistro is warm and spacious with a grand fireplace and spectacular view of the lake. The service was excellent, and the menu focused on locally-produced, artisan foods that reflect a country sensibility with a European flavor, featuring entrees for both the hearty and light appetite. The menu choices were impressive, embodying first class dining with homage to both classic and local fare. The wine list was extensive; however, being pregnant we opted for Sprecher ginger ale. After our butternut squash and pear crostata appetizer, I enjoyed a New York Strip steak with a white root vegetable mash, while Beth had a Walleye filet with fresh Brussels sprouts and turnips. We split homemade chocolate cake with mousse for dessert.
In love with a good road trip, we took a country drive the next day and relaxed in the subtle beauty of Mother Nature’s off season. With lakes, hills and trees in every direction, we easily had our fill of photo ops. The deer, however, proved elusive, allowing only a picture of their white tails! We returned from the road hungry and devoured a vegetarian wood-fired pizza at the excellent Lake Street Café (21 S. Lake St., Elkhart Lake), finishing the evening over drinks and conversation with some friendly locals.
Before returning to the hustle and bustle of big city life, we soaked up a final opportunity for tranquility the next day, dining again at the Back Porch Bistro. Filling our bellies while enjoying the lake view and country charm of the restaurant, we left Victorian Village with a warm ending to our winter weekend get away.
—By Merritt Steinbach
Country Springs Hotel
2810 Golf Road, Waukesha
262-547-0201
www.countryinnhotel.com
The trip down I-94 to the Country Springs Hotel only took about 20 minutes, startling the kids. “I thought it would take a long time to get there,” my youngest said excitedly, “but we’re here already!” And that is the first big draw to this recently renovated hotel sitting on the Waukesha / Pewaukee border. As we checked in, the kids were eager to get to the water park, but we needed to take care of a few things in our room first. The staff was helpful and kid-friendly, answering my family’s questions about our room and the hotel layout.
Not knowing what to expect and feeling indulgent, we booked two suites, a true luxury for our little family. We had a governor’s suite and an executive suite, each with a microwave and mini-fridge filled with sodas and bottled water. For the adults, the two-person whirlpool tub in each large bathroom sent a thrill of delight over the promise that even if we didn’t get to soak while we had the kids at the water park, we’d have the chance later. The rooms were nicely decorated, but not so “executive” that any of us felt uncomfortable or worried about breaking things. We had a peek into the standard rooms as well, and found them to be similarly comfortable and more than suitable for a family.
Our first trip down to the water park did not disappoint. I’ve been to several hotel-affiliated water parks in the Dells and other places, and this one was by far the biggest and the most fun for family members of various ages. A large play area for the littlest water-babies, with water maxing out at 4” deep and play equipment designed for toddlers and preschoolers greeted us first. The kids ran into it, exclaiming, “This water is soooo warm!”
As we looked around, the kids noticed the swimming pool, the lazy river, the small water slide, the three large water slides and the hot tub (with both indoor and outdoor seating). What I noticed was the number of lifeguards on duty; they were everywhere, and they were pleasantly interacting with the guests. When I asked the water park supervisor, I was told that there were never less than 10 guards on duty. On a fairly busy Saturday night, they had more like 15 and at peak times (like Christmas break weekend) they staffed up to 19 guards. I was impressed and felt more relaxed about letting the kids buddy up and go on adventures, as long as I could see them.
With competitively priced birthday parties, family-ready rooms and waterpark packages starting at $149 for a family of four, a getaway to the Country Springs makes for a fun escape that’s close enough to the city to be convenient, too.
—By Lucky Tomaszek
The American Club
419 Highland Drive, Kohler
www.destinationkohler.com
Generally, I like the good things in life – who doesn’t? You know…wine flights, stinky cheese, the rare trip to a warm place with undrinkable water. However, as a busy single mother with constant ‘to dos,’ I have never known the real meaning of personal care. Admittedly, I was a stubborn member of that quickly dying breed of women that still haven’t jumped on the new-age personal pampering bandwagon. But after a strong recommendation from my fed-up girlfriends/therapists, I decided to head out to the American Club with my boyfriend Guy for a weekend of true relaxation at the award-winning Kohler Waters Spa, just an hour north of the city. I was excited and yet strangely anxious about my upcoming spa initiation rites.
Guy and I checked into the Carriage House of the American Club, the section of the resort specifically for spa-focused guests. The friendly and unobtrusive staff whisked away our baggage and seamlessly had us checked in and resting in plush robes in a matter of minutes. The room was beautifully appointed with all the Kohler finery that has made the company a world class leader – artistic fixtures, a marble multi-jet shower and whirlpool centered in the room. A light color scheme and open layout lent a luxury beach home atmosphere. In truth, a guest could hide in the room all weekend and thoroughly enjoy herself. We were tempted.
As a happy coincidence, we arrived in time for the daily English style tea service in the front lobby area next to a roaring fireplace. Guy, who happens to be English, was impressed by the authenticity of the display. Silver plates with moist scones, chocolate-dipped strawberries and gourmet teas were in abundance. The fun part was that the guests lounge, eat and socialize in their robes, so there is never pressure to dress properly as one would expect in AAA Five Diamond resort. As a result, I never felt forced into the manufactured state of relaxation I had originally expected.
After the treatments, we cleaned up in the spa locker rooms, which are so full of amenities that you could spend all day there. Before taking off again we indulged in pre-dinner Carriage House goodies including artisan cheeses, spreads, fruit, crackers and wine. Then we dressed for our 8 p.m. reservation at the Black Wolf Run Restaurant down the road from the Club.
During the off season, the restaurant is sometimes quiet on a Friday night and I wasn’t disappointed to have a more intimate, romantic evening in the rustic atmosphere. The menu had an impressive variety of meat and seafood options. Guy opted for the House-Smoked Babyback Ribs while I tried the Cedar-Planked Sesame King Salmon
with lemon and honey glaze. Both were delectable. We left relaxed and full-bellied, ready to pass out in our plush twice-sized king bed.
Even though the American Club is a luxury resort, special packages can make it quite affordable, and some of the package prices rival the standard rates at most generic corporate hotels. Guy and I promised we would put aside the chaos of daily life and treat ourselves again to the American Club.
—By Jaime Flynn
