Winter Getaway at The Abbey Resort near Lake Geneva

Some of my fondest memories in Lake Geneva happen to be when we stay at The Abbey Resort & Spa in Fontana. Located in a much quieter area but still close enough to Geneva Lake, it was exactly what we wanted and needed.It’s been quite awhile since we’ve been back, but I was more than happy to return this winter. The Abbey Resort has completed renovations and now it’s even better than I remember. And, at just 90 minutes from downtown Chicago, this is a quick winter getaway when those winter doldrums hit. Read on to find out why you should stay this winter at The Abbey Resort.

Disclosure: A huge thank you to The Abbey Resort for providing a complimentary hotel stay and meals. Read full disclosure policy here.

ABOUT The Abbey RESORT

For 60 years, The Abbey Resort is the only full-service resort on the shores of Geneva Lake. Located on over 90 acres by the lake, The Abbey Resort has plenty of room for families and couples to wander about.

Rooms at The Abbey RESORT

We stayed in a connecting double queen room on the first floor. The seafoam greens and nautical decor fit perfectly with the lakehouse vibe. One of the highlights of staying in our room was walking out to our back patio and seeing the marina.

Relax at the Spa

If you’re able to sneak away from the kids, I highly, highly recommend spending some “me” time at The Abbey Resort’s Avani Spa. I was in desperate need of a massage and my Deep Tissue Massage did wonders. While here, I’d also take advantage of the spa facilities. Recently renovated, the spa focused on the holistic well-being of the mind, body, and spirit. With that in mind, there is a salt therapy room, steam room, and sauna. Without a doubt, the highlight is the private adults-only sunlit Atrium pool and whirlpool. Even if you don’t swim, a dip in the hot tub or relaxing with a good book in hand does wonders for your soul. Grab yourself a coffee, water, or tea while you are there.

Looking for more things to do with your significant other? Check out this post on recommendations for a romantic stay in the area!

Grab a bite to eat

One of the great things about staying at the resort is that we never needed to leave if we didn’t have to. They have coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even room service if you feel like it.

Caffe Late

The very first thing I look for when I am on vacation is coffee. Thankfully, they have a onsite cafe. Serving Starbucks Coffee, Caffe Latte was exactly what we needed when we needed a cup of coffee, or in my case a latte. I liked that they had grab-and-go options too. My kids were more than happy to pick out yummy breakfast treats like a cinnamon roll, danishes, and a chocolate croissant.

240 West

240 West may have changed their name, it still has its ideal location sporting the gorgeous panoramic harbor views. contemporary, Midwestern vibe that ranges from sharable small plates packed with flavor, to expected entrees served with a twist. In the morning, we had a chance to try their breakfast buffet. Try to grab a window by the window overlooking the harbor.

Tip: If you are here on a Saturday evening, they have an amazing Prime Rib spread.

Waterfront

The casual restaurant is perfect anytime but truly shines on Fridays when they have their Friday Night Fish Everything we had was great! Some of favorites were the cheese curds (of course), the fish tacos, and fish fry! The kids were happy with their special sodas.

Splash around at the pool

It’s not a vacation without swimming and The Abbey Resort has a great spacious pool and a hot tub for the adults. I love that they provide balls and pool noodles. If you have younger tikes, there’s also a small zero-depth entry pool with sprinkers. On select days, they even have Flick n Float movies to add to the fun. The Abbey also has outdoor pools perfect for when the warmer weather hits.

S’mores fun

Love s’mores? Well, you’re in luck! During the weekend, bonfires are up and running with s’mores kits available. If you need to warm up even more, they offer hot cider as well. I don’t know about you, but having s’mores by the crackling fire is the best way to end the night!

Work out

Unlike most hotel fitness centers, this one was pretty large and had a lot of equipment to choose from. Plenty of cardio equipment with treadmills, bikes, weights, and more!

Located through the doors of Avani Spa. Guests need to check in to work out.

Admire the architecture

Exploring the hotel is a delight because there are so many things to see. In my opinion, the iconic A-frame architecture cannot be missed! In fact, The Abbey’s namesake comes from Europe’s well-known abbeys. Also the adults-only atrium by the pool is quite a sight! Head to the pool area and find my other favorite area, the sunlight atrium walkway.

Tip: Check to see if there is a scavenger hunt that way you can explore and search at the same time.

Other Things To Do

One of my things I love the most about The Abbey is that there are so many things to do for families. Make sure to grab the activity schedule to see what fun they have planned. Sit back in the theater-style seats and catch a flick at the Immersion Entertainment Center. They have a few showings a day and we were thrilled to catch Guardians of the Galaxy 2 with our popcorn we got from our downtown Lake Geneva shopping excursion. During the winter, they also have an ice rink under twinkling lights. Unfortunately on our visit it wasn’t open because it was too warm . Love playing games? The kids will have fun at the arcade. The activity center lets you borrow board games, too.

TIPS TO ENJOY Winter at THE ABBEY RESORT

Make a weekend out of it. Check their website for more fun packages during holidays. They always have something fun brewing!
Hit up the Downtown Lake Geneva area. Stay tuned for a new post on our winter favs!