Escape Chicago's Busy City Life On A Scenic Road Trip To This Stunning Little Lake Town

Chicago is one of the United States' most beautiful cities, sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan and home to museums, awe-inspiring architecture, and not one but two baseball teams. The Windy City also a great departure point for a road trip, and one highly recommended destination that's easily reachable from Chicago is Lake Geneva. Whether you want to enjoy a boat cruise in the height of summer, seek outdoor adventure in the winter, or chase vibrant fall colors, there are tons of fun activities to enjoy on the shores of this underrated lake in Wisconsin.

So it's time to lower the windows and let the wind blow through your hair while you hit the open roads of the Midwest. If you aren't tasked with driving (lucky you!) and your friends are distracted fighting over control over the aux cord, sit back, relax, and get ready for a trip full of scenic views, quirky pit-stops, and unforgettable memories.

A great place to start your trip is Oz Park an underrated tourist attraction for your Chicago bucket list that you can visit on your way north out of the city. It was officially named in 1976 in honor of Lyman Frank Baum, who wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and lived in Chicago. Exploring the free public park, you can spot statues of Dorthy, Toto, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow, and enjoy the Emerald City Garden filled with roses and lilies. Driving up the coast of Lake Michigan, you also stop at the Chicago Botanic Gardens half an hour north. The 385-acre space has an array of local and international flora on display and is a great American birdwatching destination.

Road trips sometimes take you to the weirdest places, places you never even thought existed. On the road from Chicago to Lake Geneva, that strange place is the Gold Pyramid in Illinois. A five-story replica of the Egyptian pyramids, the bizarre venue also hosts events — from car shows to cigar experiences — and offers its own brand of vodka. From here it's just another 35 miles to your destination.

A bit further north is Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, where you can visit the stunning Prairie Springs Park, where Lake Andrea invites swimmers, anglers, and those keen on watersports to its shores. The town also hosts a golf course and some stunning hiking and biking trails if you want to extend your stay. North of Pleasant Prairie at the intersection of Highways 41 and 142, you'll find Mars Cheese Castle, which is exactly what it sounds like — a "castle" dedicated to cheese. It's a great place to have lunch, with its menu of delicious sandwiches, and you can purchase a ridiculous array of meats, cheeses, spreads, and other essentials for a picnic.

Once you reach Lake Geneva, drop off your bags and get ready to hit the eponymous lake. Depending on the time of day, you can hangout with some snacks along the Geneva Lake Shore Path or book a tour on the Lake Geneva Cruise Line. The cruise line boasts eight historic boats that you can climb aboard as it meanders around the lake for a unique perspective of the town.

At Lake Geneva, don't forget to visit the Riviera Ballroom. From its opening in the 1930s, until the 1980s, it was a ballroom that hosted iconic performers such as Doris Day, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole. There's a lot to do on a road trip from Chicago to Lake Geneva, so make sure to book a few days off work to make the most of it!