Jill and I had planned to take Kyle and Lindsey to Lake Geneva Wisconsin for the day. We were kind of bummed that the weather forecast was for 92 or 93 degrees with high humidity but we decided we might as well go ahead and just make the best of it.
We picked the kids up and left Amy’s house around 9:45. We took the “scenic” route rather than expressways and it seemed like it took forever to get there. We didn’t roll into Lake Geneva until 11:45. There was literally no parking anywhere so I dropped Jill and the kids off by the main pier and started driving around looking for a parking place. No luck so I pulled into the lot next to Popeye’s where we planned to have lunch. The attendant was friendly but firm about “no parking after lunch”. I parked and scooted down to the pier to meet Jill and the kids and buy boat cruise tickets. We booked the 1 hour cruise at 3:00 and then went over to Popeye’s for lunch.
We got a nice table by the window and had a great lunch. Jill and I both had the bluegill sandwich. I’ve hat it before and it’s terrific. After lunch we got in the car and looked for parking. We scored a spot right on the main street and went into a few stores. Also checked out their public art exhibit of unicorns
We went in a shop called Main Street Memories that carries all of the old candies and gums that Jill and I knew from the 50’s and 60’s. We used to call them penny candies. Today they cost 10 cents each. Kyle and Lindsey picked some out and thought they were pretty good.
Before long we were in front of Kilwin’s Ice Cream Shop so in we went. Kyle had a chocolate ice cream cone but Lindsey chose to go with a frosted pretzel with sprinkles.
Next on our walk – the toy store, the park and the beach and we worked our way back to the pier for the boat ride.
We boarded the Lady of the Lake
and had nice 1 hour ride around part of the lake. 
The guide pointed out a lot old summer homes that were once owned by famous people.
Said to be the largest mansion ever built on Geneva Lake, Wisconsin. Stone Manor (officially Younglands), the 18,000 sq’ magnificent Italianate palace with a 250′ veranda and an expansive lawn visible from downtown Lake Geneva. The estate was built in 1900-1901 by Otto Young, a man who made his fortune buying real estate along State Street in Chicago following the great fire of 1871. It was constructed for over $1,000,000 and features such as gold-plated fixtures, a basement bowling alley, and a third floor miniature golf course astounded even the wealthiest resident. The property was a single family home until 1939 when it was presented to the order of St. Anne to be used as an Episcopalian private school for girls. The school was discontinued after only a few years. Later the mansion housed an elegant French restaurant Around the 1980’s the mansion and remaining property were purchased for back taxes, reportedly for $74,000. It has recently been restored and converted to 6 condominiums ranging in price up to $1.6 million.
After the boat tour we walked up to the toy store, bought some rackets and birdies and went over to the park to teach the kids how to hit the birdies. It was really windy so it was a little tough. After that we walked back to the car and drove out to the golf course where Keir and Lori and Scarlett were waiting for us to drop off Lindsey.
We headed home after that and dropped Kyle at his house around 7:10.
We didn’t let the heat beat us. I was just a wonderful day.
They’ve done a wonderful job on their back yard and added a screened in porch.
