Weekend in Lake Geneva, Wis.

Eat: Loyal patrons love Egg Harbor, a country-style cafe serving up high quality breakfasts that range from bagels and croissants ($1.95) to a variety of Benedicts and egg tacos, burritos and rosti. Menu items to $8.95; www.eggharborcafe.com, 477 S. 3rd St., 630-208-8940.

Experience: The Yerkes Observatory, built in 1898 on Williams Bay, holds one of the world's largest refracting telescopes and offers free 45-minute public tours on Saturdays ($5 suggested donation). Visitors to the 90-foot dome see the 40-inch refractor and its impressive 73-foot-diameter elevator floor; www.astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes, 373 W. Geneva St., 262-245-5555.

MODERATE:

Getting there: One-way, walk-up economy-class rates of $199 to Milwaukee are valid seven days a week on trips finished on or before Sept. 30; nonstop AirTran, Delta, Midwest.

Stay: Seven Oaks is an adults-only (21-plus) cottage resort in a quiet neighborhood just a short stroll to downtown, the lakefront, shops and dining. Cottage suites feature a porch with rocking chairs, a living area with a stone fireplace, and a bedroom with a luxury king bed and a romantic bathroom with a two-person spa tub. One-bedroom cottages are $259 on summer weekends and $209 Sundays, including continental breakfast; www.sevenoakslakegeneva.com, 682 Wells St., 262-248-4006.

Eat: Go Greek at the Medusa Grill and Bistro with saganaki (flaming cheese), gyros, skordalia, dolmates and surf-and-turf items. Menu items range from $16.50-$29.50; chef's choice menu from $34.50; www.medusagrillandbistro.com, 501 Broad St., 262-249-8644.

Experience: The Walworth is a unique U.S. Mailboat that has been delivering mail to dozens of homes for nearly 90 years. The summer service, running through Sept. 15, takes along about 150 passengers each day for the 2.5-hour lake-shore delivery route past elegant estates built in the late 1800s by wealthy barons such as Morton (salt), Wrigley (chewing gum) and Schwinn (bicycle). Besides the scenery, the mail deliverer puts on quite show. Adults $29; $21 ages 13 -- 17; $16 ages 4-12. Many other themed cruises offered; www.cruiselakegeneva.com, 800-558-5911.

SPLURGE:

Getting there: One-way, walk-up business-class rates to Milwaukee or Chicago (90-minute drive) start from $398; nonstop AirTran, Delta, Midwest.

Stay: Admire Lake Geneva and Button's Bay from your private balcony at the luxurious Geneva Inn. Spacious accommodations feature an oversized vintage or whirlpool bath, bathrobes and amenities including bedtime chocolates and continental buffet breakfast. A lakeview deluxe room starts at $290 per night; a lakeview suite from $390. A historic 21-mile walking path circling Geneva Lake is at the inn's doorstep, and a complimentary shuttle takes guests into town to browse boutiques, shops and galleries; www.genevainn.com, N2009 S. Lake Shore Dr., 800-441-5881.

Eat: The urban Geneva ChopHouse is noted for fine steaks ($24-$45) and the ChopHouse seafood sampler of king crab legs, lobster, shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare and oysters on ice ($45). Other fish specialties are from $26-$49. A three-course market menu for $39 is served Sunday-Thursday through Sept. 30. Enjoy after desserts, after-dinner cocktails and coffee at the outdoor terrace fireplace; www.chophouse411.com, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, 800-558-3417.

Experience: From Aug. 18-22, the Venetian Festival takes place in the picturesque downtown -- drawing more than 50,000 visitors from around the nation. The festival features a carnival, craft fair, water ski show, musical entertainment, local cuisine, beer tent and a finale of fireworks and a lighted boat parade on the lake; www.lakegenevajaycees.org. The 4th annual Lake Geneva Wine Festival, Sept. 10 and 11, takes place on the grounds of the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa showcasing nationally recognized vintners and chefs with tastings and culinary demonstrations. Seminars tickets about $35; www.lakegenevawinefestival.com.