13 Things to Do in Lake Geneva with Kids

Shila:  This wildlife preservation outside Lake Geneva features a drive thru viewing experience to observe many unique animals from all over the world. Meet alpacas, wild buffalo, zebras and more. Purchase a bucket of grain to feed some animals from your car window, too!

Kristy Pepping:  Timber Ridge Lodge is the best indoor water park in Lake Geneva! It's conveniently located right off the highway before you hit downtown, too. This is most helpful for families arriving for a quick weekend getaway from Chicago. I love the room options for families! They offer many two-bedrooms with a kitchen. When you stay overnight, you get passes to the water park. They offer day passes, too. Enjoy so many kid friendly activities geared for all day indoor and outdoor fun. The Grand Geneva Resort, located on the same property, offers some of the best restaurants in Lake Geneva to dine, golf, and relax too.

Kristy Pepping:  We always make it a point to visit the resort at Grand Geneva. This premium retreat features world-class golfing, spa and fitness opportunities, skiing and snow sports, seasonal festivals, and some of the best restaurants in Lake Geneva! You can stay overnight, or visit during the day as a guest.

Kristy Pepping:  Dan Patch Stables offers a handful of kid friendly things to do in Lake Geneva. Just located off town a bit, stop in for pony or trail rides, check out their free petting farm, and experience some of their awesome attractions around the holidays like haunted hayrides and horse-drawn sleigh rides! The stables are near the property of The Grand Geneva and Timber Ridge Resort.

Kristy Pepping:  Family activities in Lake Geneva go beyond water recreation. Check out Tristan Crist Magic Theatre for some indoor fun! These stunning magic show performances run about an hour with new tricks added to keep you coming back year after year. Tristan Crist invites audience members on stage, too, so your child might even be part of the show - or inspired to start learning some easy magic tricks themselves!

Kristy Pepping:  The Baker House is a historic hotel located in downtown Lake Geneva. Its elegant restaurant with a view attracts visitors to come dine for brunch and dinner. Our kids love this place for dinner because they have several hats located around the restaurant. You can pick one up and wear it during dinner. Or you can swap them out throughout dinner and try several. There is no dedicated kid's menu, however, they offer small plates and crowd-pleasing desserts. We love the chocolate fondue! Also, Baker House has a nice outdoor area that is great to walk around while you wait for your food.

Kristy Pepping:  If your kids enjoy souvenirs from family trips, then check out Allison Wonderland in Lake Geneva. It's a great toy shop located downtown featuring puzzles, games, baby toys, books, arts and crafts and more. My kids save up their allowance money to pick out a special toy from this shop! The store staff is very friendly and even have tables and displays set up to test out some toys.

Kristy Pepping:  Lake Geneva has a family-friendly public beach located just a couple blocks from downtown. The beach offers plenty of sandcastle-worthy fine sand and the water is shallow enough to wade out quite a bit. There is also a diving platform located just off the shoreline. Plus, there is a bathhouse with restrooms on the premises.

Kristy Pepping:  One of the most unique things to do in Lake Geneva! How about delivering the mail on a boat as you pull up to the houses along the lake? For over 100 years, that's how it has been done on Lake Geneva and continues today. US Mailboat Tours last about two and half hours and make a full circle back to Riviera Docks. Lake Geneva Cruise Line offers a variety of other kid-friendly tours, too.

Kristy Pepping:  For some of the best ice cream in Lake Geneva, check out Kilwins! Located 1 block in from the lake, they also have candy, popcorn and fudge for sale. We always make it a point to stop at this shop when we are in town. The line gets long, but it does move fast! There are a couple of tables located just outside the restaurant in the inside mall.

Vanessa M.:  Popeye's Galley and Grog is one of the best kid friendly restaurants Lake Geneva has to offer. This spot is family run and has been a local staple since 1971. Situated just off the beach, the view of the lake is a major plus! Outdoor seating is a nice option in warmer months. Popeye's is a true family restaurant, and they just "get" kids. The kids menu has options like buttered noodles, chicken tenders, burgers, and more, while the regular menu is great for steaks, seafood, and their signature rotisserie chicken.

Kristy Pepping:  Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures offers zipline and ropes courses and a climbing tower for some outdoor thrills while you're visiting with kids. You can see Lake Como from some areas located at 1,200 feet in the air, too! They offer family hiking and mountain biking trails as well.

Kristy Pepping:  There are many fun things to do in Lake Geneva for kids, as well as around the area within a short drive. Located in Lake Delavan, The Dancing Horses Theatre features an energetic show with promenading, dancing horses. There is much more, too! They also have a petting zoo and an exotic bird show that was once featured on "America's Got Talent."