Lake Geneva is a cool town. I know this, and you know this too. The Chicago Tribune knows it, but they choose to ignore it. Crain’s most obviously knows it, but they are loyal to their Michigan roots and choose to banish the appeal of our vacation utopia. On a national level, many people and publications know that Lake Geneva really is the place to be, but every once in a while even we need a little pat on the back. Sort of like how cool kids still like to be told they’re cool, even if they already know it. Yes, it is good to be king, but even better when the bow of a stranger reminds you on days when you might have forgotten. Barron’s, we’re appreciative of the attention you foisted upon our capable shoulders, even if we know it’s well deserved.
On Saturday, Barron’s published their Best Places for Second Homes article, listing “15 stunning locations”. Some place in Georgia was number one. A bunch of usual suspects filled in the rest of the spots- Aspen, Hamptons, Palm Beach, blah, blah, blah. And then, without hesitation, like a shining beacon in the middle of a page of ho-hum writing, Lake Geneva rose from the page to greet me. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, my/our Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, made the list of the top 15 places in these United States to own a vacation home. I assume we were placed at number 14, just ahead of somewhere in North Carolina and just behind Sun Valley, to cater to the other location’s giant egos.
There’s more to this list than you might originally surmise. There’s one attribute that makes Lake Geneva stand head and shoulders above its peers. As with many things Lake Geneva, it involves geography. The 15 heralded destinations are diverse, but not so much when you view them on a map. Sea Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Hamptons, Kiawah Island, Palm Beach, Brays Island- all presumably wonderful locations. All clinging tight to the east coast. Aspen, Deer Valley, Sun Valley, Lake Tahoe- all skiing destinations in what would be considered western locations. Pebble Beach, west coast. Maui, obvious. So draw a longitudinal line just East of Aspen, and another just West of Palm Beach. You’ll have what amounts to the vast majority of the United States in between those lines, and you’ll have just one city that made Barron’s list. One Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Noticeably absent from Barron’s list is anything in Michigan. Michigan, a land that I’ve been told flows with so much milk and honey, and all that shore line and yet not a single town made the list? Perhaps Michigan will hire Tim Allen away from Campbells and Chevy and plead with him to do a commercial where he’ll weave a few words that might convince the public that Barron’s is wrong. That Lake Geneva as a singular destination isn’t better than every destination in Michigan combined.
What Barron’s discovered on Saturday is what most of us already knew. Lake Geneva is a destination of national significance, and if you’re reading this from Chicago or parts near, well then it has something that Sun Valley and Palm Beach cannot offer you. Proximity. I agree that Lake Tahoe is magnificent. I have stood on its prodigious shores and felt awe. And as soon as I can drive 90 minutes to stand on those shores, I very well may visit it again. For now, forever, Lake Geneva is the destination, and I’m grateful that Barron’s recognized the obvious. If Barron’s can recognize the vacation home splendor of Lake Geneva from their desks in New York, there is no reason for you to ignore us from your desk in Chicago. Michigan, better luck next year.