Sometimes, you just have to take a long weekend and getaway. Summer speedily coming to an end, an 18-year-old about to head off to start at university, an 8-year-old about to start 3rd grade and return to the classroom after more than a year of remote schooling…if ever there was a time, this was it. Even better if you can make that getaway less than an hour’s drive!
So Jill began the search and secured a relatively obscure destination to an Airbnb on Cross Lake, which spans the Illinois and Wisconsin borders, just north of Antioch, Illinois.
Affordable, quick & easy to get to, and a great basecamp for day excursions to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and the outlets in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
The Cozy Lake Coach House on Cross Lake was just what we were looking for…a cozy, quaint, guesthouse with lake access.
Cozy Lake Coach House…serenity just a flight of steps away. 
Sun rising over the Cozy Lake Coach House. 
Interior of the Cozy Coach House on Cross Lake. 
Sunrise view over Cross Lake after a morning run.
We made a number of trips into Antioch, Illinois, for a little walking, shopping, and dining. Sadly, we discovered that David’s Bistro, which catered our backyard wedding several years ago, may have fallen victim to the challenges of the past year, as it is no longer there. However, we enjoyed a lovely al fresco lunch at another restaurant we had been wanting to try, Oliverii North. We also found our way just across the street to the Little Bean Coffee Company for a local caffeine fix.
Of course, walking around the lovely downtown Main Street of Antioch and stopping in the many, many shops, along the way requires sustenance of another kind from Something Sweet…which we might have also stopped in after lunch as well.
Village of Antioch. 
Shops along Main Street in Antioch, IL. 
Tree-lined Main Street in Antioch, IL. 
Something Sweet…may have been visited for ice cream more than once. 
Lovely outdoor dining area of Oliverii North. 
Delicious penne with shrimp in red sauce at Oliverii North. 
Little Bean Coffee Company…don’t let the minimal exterior fool you. 
When an 8 and an 18-year-old want to do the same thing…you stop. 
Massive wooden playground at Centennial Park in Antioch, IL.
One added bonus was shaving off a nice chunk of time to pop over to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Of course, a Sunday in Lake Geneva in the summer wasn’t exactly quiet solitude. Busy as it was, it still presented that laid-back vibe that was in order.
While we didn’t make it into the Geneva Lake Museum, parking there around lunchtime did result in a nice stop off at The Bottle Shop, enjoying some craftwork, live music, and make-your-own bloody marys out in their lovely side courtyard.
The Bottle Shop does have various cheeses, crackers, olives, and other snacks to pair with their wines, but entree-type food choices are absent. Fortunately, they encourage a trip around the side to the Lake Life Market, and allow that food to be brought in…or in this case, delivered tasty pizza right to our table.
Speaking of pizza…if you’ve ever wanted great alfredo pizza, but like I, have often found this to be a disappointing pursuit, then you really must try the chicken alfredo pizza from the Lake Life Market! It truly is everything you’ve wanted in an alfredo pizza.
It might have been a bit windy, but just about any day is a good day to get out on the water. Yes, it’s “touristy,” but taking one of the Lake Geneva boat tours is a great way to take in the sights and just enjoy being on the water. And in case you’ve never been, and even if you have, talk about some amazing sights to take in! I can only imagine what one of these tours is like once the leaves start turning in the fall!
The Bottle Shop in Lake Geneva, WI…lovely courtyard, delicious make your own bloody marys, and pairs well with Lake Life Market. 
Lake Life Market in Lake Geneva, WI. 
Amazing chicken alfredo pizza from Lake Life Market in Lake Geneva, WI. 
Riviera Shops and Boat House, Lake Geneva, WI. 
Grand Belle of Geneva tour boat. 
Hillcroft on the Wrigley Estate, Lake Geneva, WI. 
Harris Mansion, Lake Geneva, WI. 
Aloha Lodge, Lake Geneva, WI. 
Stone Manor, Lake Geneva, WI. 
A little rain may dampen the daylilies, but not the outlet shopping. 
Pleasant Prairie Prime Outlets.
What to do on a rainy Monday? Outlet shopping at the Pleasant Prairie Prime Outlets for those last-minute “heading off to university” items!
Vacation doesn’t always have to be to far-off lands or even swanky destinations…sometimes a peaceful retreat that serves as a jumping-off point to other destinations is all you need.
Every town has some treasure to be found, whether it is an interesting shop, a quaint little restaurant or cafe, a park with an amazing playground, or just a dock on which to sit on to contemplate the day. At that heart, that’s a bit of what McHenry Life is all about.
Truly a wonderful 3+ days and one you might want to consider. And turns out, it was definitely in order as we spent nearly as much time without power once we returned!
President and Founder of Identity Developments, LLC, the parent company of the McHenry Life website. My hope for McHenry Life is to create a resource and destination for the residents and businesses of McHenry County alike. A place where residents can discover new places to explore, fun events and ways to spend time, and then share those experiences with others. A place where businesses can connect with existing and potential customers, and not simply market their businesses, but share their own unique stories.
