Stay and Play for a Fun Family Getaway at Geneva on the Lake, Ohio

Finding a great spot for a family reunion can be a huge challenge, but the Lodge at Geneva in Geneva on the Lake, Ohio on Lake Erie checked all the boxes we needed for a fun and memorable gathering that appealed to all ages– pools, access to Lake Erie with kayaks and paddleboards, a zipline course, and fire pits for making s’mores.

Each year, a group of families, who all adopted children from the same Vietnamese orphanage, get together. Our challenge is usually location as we are spread out all over  – from New York to Florida to Indiana to Kansas. We headed south in 2018 to an awesome retreat, Fontana Village in North Carolina’s Smokey Mountains, so this year, we decided to head a little farther north to accommodate our friends in New York

The Lodge itself is very family-friendly – the rooms were clean and spacious enough to store our pool noodles and floaties (lots of water near the property – Lake Erie and two pools). We requested a room with a refrigerator which was great so that we could stock drinks and snacks that needed to be cold. Free bicycles are available in racks so that you can ride around the property, along the trail into the adjacent Geneva State Park, or into the town of Geneva on the Lake. I took one for a quick ride one morning and raced back to beat an oncoming thunderstorm. Nearby lightning is quite the motivator. The cruisers, or perhaps my fear of getting caught in the rain, made sure that I didn’t get wet. 

There is a restaurant on-site with a fantastic breakfast buffet with kid faves like pancakes, bacon, eggs and several types of cereals, and a lovely waitstaff that kept the parents’ coffee cups filled. Although it was tough to pry the kids out of the pools to eat lunch, their poolside dining included luncheon favorites like salads, pizza and sandwiches. 

Lodge at Geneva Activities

Next door to the lodge is Lake Erie Canopy Tours with zip line and aerial adventure courses for people over 70 lbs. But, for kids 10 and under or ones who don’t want to do a 2+-hour excursion, they also have a kids’ adventure course where they can show off their balance and bravery. They can use it for 60-minutes and do the course as many times as they want in that time frame. Many of our kiddos completed the course (which has a zipline at the end, the best part, I’m told) six or seven times. 

And since the highest points are only five or six feet off the ground, even the more nervous or timid kiddos can master the ropes with ease. It was really cool to see their confidence levels increase as they tackled each obstacle. Parents can hang out with them to cheer them on and snap pics. In the summer months, bring bug spray!

A dip in the Lodge’s pool is the perfect activity after sweating through the adventure courses. The hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool and a splash pad for the littles. The pool had plenty of water shallow enough for kids under 5’  tall to be able to stand in and play – it really was the perfect size for our crew and dozens of other swimmers. They spent hours splashing around.

The lodge also has a playground area with picnic tables. Even better, there are two huge fire pits on the property which they light each night, so bring along s’mores-making materials

While the pool was the favored spot for hanging out, the adjacent (walkable via a paved trail at from the Lodge) Geneva State Park has very easy access if you would like to swim and play in Lake Erie.

The Great Lakes are the Midwest version of an ocean – minus the saltwater and sharks. On a windy day, plenty of waves can lap up on the shore, and mimic an ocean scene. One thing to note is that the “beach” area here is limited – it’s not very large, super rocky (water shoes are a must, but there are some really cool rocks and minerals for collecting), and is really not conducive to building sandcastles (even though my small ones tried). That being said, the water is great for swimming and playing. An outfitter is on-site who rents paddleboards and kayaks by the hour. The kids loved racing each other and taking turns paddling.

The Park also has an archery area, hiking trails, swan paddle boats, fishing, and cross country skiing and snow mobile trails in the winter.

Geneva on the Lake Town

Geneva on the Lake’s town reminds me of a giant state fair midway with a 2-lane road running through it. What kid wouldn’t love that? 

The main part of the town is less than a mile long, but teeming with arcades, restaurants (both walk-up and sit down), and souvenir shops. It has a very nostalgic feel, like you’ve traveled back in time six or seven decades to neon signs and drive-in movies. Many of the restaurants even offer state fair-type food like lemon shake-ups, corn dogs and gyros. 

We loved lunch at Eddie’s Grill, a true 1950’s diner known for its hot dogs, burgers, and shakes. There are jukeboxes at every table and the family who started the restaurant, still owns and operates it  — you can tell from the fun atmosphere and friendly vibe. One night we ate at a kid-friendly biker bar (who knew such a thing existed?) – Sporterz, which had tons of outdoor seating and burgers, sandwiches, and excellent salads! 

Geneva on the Lake, Ohio and the Lodge at Geneva were the perfect spots for our reunion – a great combination of fun activities, “beach” time, and a unique town that made memories that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend it for a family getaway or reunion or if you just want to step back in time for a weekend.

CLICK HERE to be connected to the Lodge at Geneva web site.