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A Magical Adventure to Santa’s Hideaway By Jermaine Pigee, assistant managing editor
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ou can easily rub elbows with Santa Claus at a restaurant or the mall, but how much more fun would it be to visit him in the middle of a lake? It sounds like a dream, especially this time of year, but a ride on Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s Santa Cruise makes it possible. This winter, the cruise line – long famous for its summertime boat tours around Geneva Lake – will run its Santa Cruise through Jan. 4. See shining light displays along the shoreline and enjoy plenty of Christmas cheer along the way. “We want people to enjoy the lake this time of year and find a new way to enjoy the holiday season,” says Jack Lothian, general manager of Lake Geneva Cruise Line. Tours embark daily (except Dec. 24 and Dec. 25), departing every hour
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Smart Living Weekly
beginning at 4:30 p.m. from Gage Marine, in Williams Bay, Wis., near the Pier 290 restaurant. Before boarding, be sure to walk through the Charities of Christmas Tree Festival with its eight decorated trees. “That’s the place to be before the cruise begins,” Lothian says. “People can also sign up to win prizes while they’re waiting to board the boat.” Leading up to the pier, you’ll walk through a polar vortex of swirling fog near the end of the pier. As you pass through, it magically transports you into your journey to see Santa. The boat is hard to miss, decked out in bright lights and Christmas decorations. These boats provide a comfortable, climate-controlled ride. “While people are walking to the boat, we try to keep them as warm as
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possible, as opposed to standing on a pier and getting cold,” Lothian says. “The boat is comfortable, so people can come on and take off their jackets.” The 40-minute boat ride passes 25 shimmering displays assembled on the edge of the lake. A friendly narrator talks about each one. “The homeowners are great, and we give them free trips on the boat and gift cards to Pier 290,” says Lothian. “We try taking care of them because they’re helping us out as well.” The displays are owned by Santa Cause, a nonprofit organization that supports charities in Walworth County. “They take care of the displays and pay for the installation and removal,” Lothian says. “We work hand-in-hand with them.” Displays change from year to year.
