Not far from the bustling cities of Wisconsin, Illinois is Lake Geneva, WI. This place is quiet and peaceful and offers a great place to run for a respite from the city. A boat rental will give you the opportunity of the many locations that line the shores of this gorgeous Wisconsin Lake.

Running east to west, Lake Geneva is seven and a half miles long and a little shy of two miles across at its widest point. The lake's average depth is 61 feet, and the deepest part reaches down to 135 feet.

By Lake Standards, it is neither real large nor deep. Still, the homes that line its shore, with Lake Geneva and Fontana, like sentinels at both ends, it's the area's heritage that makes it unique and a top boating destination.

Lake Geneva has a surface area of 5,400 acres, which offers plenty of room to play on the water, and your rental boat can get you to every location on the lake. From downtown Lake Geneva to Fontana on Lake Geneva and all points in between, the waterfront is fabulous no matter your route.

• Downtown Lake Geneva (42.5915, -88.4410)

Hugging the shoreline of Geneva Bay, on its northeastern shore, sits Downtown Lake Geneva. This gorgeous city is the perfect point of departure for a boat trip on the lake. With a permanent population of less than 10,000, Lake Geneva is a small town with a small-town flavor. Yet, it offers every imaginable luxury, on the water and off.

Here you will find Elm Park, Lake Geneva public beach, Riviera Beach, and Flat Iron Park. You will also find eateries from the plain to the divine, as well as shopping and lodging in Downtown Lake Geneva.

As you leave downtown Lake Geneva in your rental boat, you and your group will enjoy the view of the mansions that line the shore of Lake Geneva. However, suppose the view from the water is not enough to fulfill your tastes for viewing luxurious opulence. In that case, you can take a tour of the Lake Geneva Mansions once you come off the water.

As you continue your trip to the west along the shore of Lake Geneva, you will eventually find yourself in Williams Bay.

• Williams Bay (42.5802, -88.5348)

Settled by and named for Captain Israel Williams, this area of Lake Geneva was settled by him and his sons in 1837. Late in the 1800s, Lake Geneva became the vacation spot for the rich from Chicago. Many of the estates that line the shores of Lake Geneva are from that the golden era. It was an age when the wealthy lined the shores of Lake Geneva with their mansions and spared no expense doing so.

Offering you and your crew another beach, Williams Bay also offers dining, shopping, lodging, and ample dockage for your excursion ashore. So whether you brought along a catered lunch or want something shoreside, you have a choice when sailing the waters in your boat rental. The ability to pull over wherever you like to dine is excellent. 

The home of the Kishwauketoe wildlife conservancy, which is the largest watershed on Lake Geneva, the park covers over 230 acres of ground. It is open to the public and offers four miles of trails that cross over creeks and through the deciduous forest of the park. Once off the water, this is a great place to stretch your legs and enjoy the peace of nature.

• Fontana on Lake Geneva (42.5470, -88.5738)

Quaint would be one way to describe Fontana on Lake Geneva. A perfect boating destination would be another. Sitting on the edge of the western end of the lake, this small town of around 1500 has been a summer getaway for boaters, campers, and nature lovers for decades. It may be the smallest hamlet in size but not the smallest in style.

The crowning glory of Fontana on Lake Geneva is the Abbey Resort. Here you will find lakeside dining and opulent lodging. The daily activities, protected boat harbor, and first-class dining offer a different kind of Lake Geneva experience. When renting a boat on Lake Geneva or Lake Como, the Abbey Resort is worth considering as lodging while enjoying everything the area offers.

There is a public boat launch here, just as there are in Williams Bay and Downtown Lake Geneva. The varied locations make it easy for locals and visitors alike to launch their boats. All three cities on Lake Geneva have a beach, dining, and shopping. These are luxuries not always available at lake venues, and another reason that Lake Geneva is a top boating destination.

• Big Foot Beach State Park (42.5664, -88.4345)

The return trip to Downtown Lake Geneva will follow the southern shore, lined with more private estates. These are not tiny ranch homes; they are magnificent homes on manicured lawns with water views and docks. They are perched on the shoreline of Lake Geneva for miles as you near the next destination on your tour of Lake Geneva, Big Foot Beach State Park.

Every lake needs a state park for those who love nature and want to rough it instead of living in the lap of luxury. That is possible at Big Foot Beach State Park, where you will find another of Lake Geneva's beaches and 100 campsites. Many of the campsites are primitive, but over 30 offer power hookups, and all sites have fire rings. In addition, there is a dump station for RV's, restrooms, and showers.

A few days of camping, along with a trip down the lake and back in a boat rental, will give you an authentic feel for Lake Geneva.

• Ice Castles (42.6030, -88.5193)

Lake Geneva offers a lot to do in the summer, but a visit in the winter will show you a different side of life in this area of Wisconsin. Ice castles are an event that can only happen in the cold months of winter. The one-of-a-kind frozen attraction is fun for kids and adults.

The Ice Castles of Lake Geneva are built from thousands of hand-placed icicles; the resulting winter wonderland is fantastic. Add this event to your winter calendar for a visit to Lake Geneva's world-acclaimed winter wonderland of Ice Castles.

• Lake Como (42.6040, -88.4909)

Not far from Lake Geneva is Lake Como, another top boating destination. With a length of three miles and less than half a mile wide, it is much smaller than Lake Geneva, and most of the property surrounding the lake is residential.

Although Lake Como is much smaller than Lake Geneva, it offers two public boat ramps and beaches. One is on the north side of the lake, and one is on the south, which gives boaters and sunbathers easy access from either shore.

Not only smaller, but Lake Como is also much shallower than Lake Geneva, with an average depth of only four feet and a maximum of nine. However, even though it is shallow, anglers can find panfish here, as well as small and largemouth bass.

• Fishing on Lake Geneva

If you are spending the day on the lake, you might want to wet a hook because the waters of Geneva can yield a variety of fish. Here anglers can catch walleye, large and smallmouth bass, perch, white bass, bluegill, perch, northern pike, brown, lake, and rainbow trout, as well as crappie. As a veritable smorgasbord of fish species, the variety should satisfy the angler in your group.