It’s no secret that I love wineries. When the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake and Lake Erie Canopy Tours reached out to see if I’d like to come visit this spring, I jumped at the opportunity! I live on the west-side of Cleveland, so Geneva-on-the-Lake is about an hour drive away from my home. Since Mother’s Day was this past weekend, I asked my middle sister, Bekah, and my mother, Theresa, to join me. Despite the weather being unseasonably cold, we still had a lovely time. Here’s what we did for our weekend getaway to Geneva-on-the-Lake.
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L-R: Bekah, my middle sister, me, and my mom, Theresa
Please note: While some of the below opportunities were complimentary, all of my opinions are 100% my own.
Weekend Getaway to Geneva-on-the-Lake
Where We Stayed:
The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is located on Lake Erie, right next to Geneva State Park. It is the perfect location to visit the strip, tour multiple wineries, hike through the state park or have a lake-side retreat. The Lodge offers over 100 rooms and over 20 small cottages. We stayed in cottage 26 which had a small kitchenette, two bedrooms (one King bed and one queen bed), a sitting area and a bathroom. The welcoming front porch featured two rocking chairs and beautiful views of Lake Erie. #LakeErieLove The cottage was decorated in a beach and wine themed decor. It’s the perfect size for a family, two couples or a girls weekend getaway!
Where We Ate:
Horizons Restaurant is located inside the Lodge and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ate there on Friday night and started our meal with local wines and calamari. I enjoyed the steak and cheese curd salad while my mom and sister both got burgers. Everything was delicious and the cozy setting was perfect for an early Mother’s Day celebration.
We actually ate at Horizons the next morning too because they have a hearty breakfast buffet complete with an omelette station. Don’t sleep in and miss this brunch!
What We Did:
While we were set to soar through the air via the zip-line at Lake Erie Canopy Tours located onsite at the Lodge, unfortunately unpredictable Ohio weather cancelled our adventure. If you have never zip-lined or done a high ropes adventure course, I highly recommend it! Even if you are afraid of heights, it’s good to push through your comfort zone and do something that scares you. DO IT!
The Lodge at Geneva offers many other nearby adventures. You can rent bikes, visit wine country via their shuttle, hike through Geneva State Park and swim in their pool. Book now because it fills up fast during the summer months!
Since my mom and sister also love wine and the rainy weather forced us inside, we decided to visit a few of the local Ohio wineries! Our first stop was at South River Vineyards. This has to be one of the most gorgeous wineries I’ve ever visited. Grab a flight of wine and head outside to take in the sights! Since it was damp and cold when we visited, we stayed inside which is also a lovely setting as South River Vineyards use to be a church! This winery allows you to bring a picnic, so this is one of my favorite places to visit during the warm weather months.
Our second stop was at Debonne Vineyards. Grab yourself a tasting, pay $.75 for a huge basket of popcorn and indulge in some down-time. While we were there, family and friends were celebrating birthdays, we saw a limo pull up with a bachelorette party and everyone there just seemed to be enjoying themselves. Go here to celebrate life!
Our last stop was at Kosicek Vineyards. I had never been to this winery, so I was extra happy to stop here. If you like your bubbly, be sure to try the Rhapsody. It’s a champagne style blend of Pinot Noir and Riesling that’s not too sweet. I LOVED it and regret not buying a bottle. While the inside is relatively small, it has an inviting and cozy feel.
To view more local Ohio wineries, click here.
In summary, our Mother’s Day weekend getaway to Geneva-on-the-Lake was full of good food, a comfy cottage and plenty of delicious Ohio wine. If you’re looking for a Cleveland getaway, a place to host a girl’s weekend, or a romantic retreat, I highly encourage you to check out the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake and take advantage of all it’s offerings!
Have you ever visited Geneva-on-the-Lake? Where have you stayed? What wineries did you visit? Tell me in the comments below!
Those coftages look adorable and so cozy. What a Fun trip!!
They were very cute and comfy! Thanks for reading, Jaclyn!
I love everything about this post! GOTL is my favorite place in Ohio, and I have loved The Lodge for years. I’ve been to all three of those wineries and they are all great! My boyfriend and I have done the wine shuttle tour twice – one in fall and one at the end of winter – and it was excellent both times. Have you ever been to Hundley Cellars? That winery is for sure my favorite! I’m glad you had a great time with your family.
Thanks for reading! I have never been to Hundley Cellars, but I actually just read about them in the “Sip” Magazine! I will have to check them out next time I’m in the area.
LOVE this post! We go to Geneva every year at least once to visit the wineries. It’s a must do for sure! south river is my favorite. The church used to be very close to my hometown so it has a special connection for me. If you want me to pick up a bottle of Rhapsody for you, just let me know.
Looks like fun!!! Hubs and I are planning a trip here soon.. so this was helpful for me! XO
Katie | http://www.meshkomoments.com
Katie: So glad to hear it was helpful to you! Enjoy your time at Geneva-on-the-Lake!