Ten Reasons You Should Go Window Shopping in Lake Geneva, WI This Christmas

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Lake Geneva, Wisconsin's Holiday Window Display Competition encourages shoppers young and old to take part in the age-old activity of window shopping. Located along Main St. (Hwy 50) and roads that branch off of the main downtown area, you will find the most beautiful, artfully designed windows.  In a world of online shopping, there's something magical and special about bundling up with your family and experiencing this enchanting pastime.  The best part about it is that window shopping is a free activity that can be done day or night, but I prefer doing it at night.  Parking in Lake Geneva is also free during the winter months, so that is an added bonus.  If you make it to Lake Geneva before December 16th, be sure to cast your vote for your favorite window display.  Let me take you on a journey of ten reasons why you should give window shopping in Lake Geneva a try.

Strawberry Fields located at 707 N. Main Street is a classy women's clothing store boutique.  They used a scooter in their display to give the idea that their clothing will look good on you as you are out and about traveling.  There is a picture of a lady in downtown Lake Geneva on the scooter.  White ornaments hang from the ceiling.  They filled a canning jar with miniature gold ornaments.  They have some of their clothing displayed on mannequins and the window is outlined with white Christmas lights.

1.  You Get New Decorating Inspiration

These downtown shops have some of the best interior designers working for them.  Their shops are always arranged very neatly, with lots of displays that draw you in.  When window shopping at  Christmas time, you might pick up a simple idea here and there that just might add a little brightness to your own home this holiday season.  For example, the canning jar filled with miniature gold ornaments would make an excellent addition to any tabletop display.

Fleming's Ltd. located at 711 North Main Street in Lake Geneva is a unique gift shop that focuses on Irish gifts and clothing for men, women, and children.  They used an antique go-kart in their stunning window display.  It is really beautiful.  They have a wooden toboggan nicely situated behind some of their outfits to give you the feeling that their clothes are warm enough for enjoying those winter sports.   A pair of gray ice skates makes an excellent mannequin for a gray winter hat.  They have a sweet baby doll with warm vintage clothing on sitting inside of a wooden doll bed.  There is an old vintage typewriter with a letter to Santa Claus coming out of it with an old vintage pair of fingerless gloves to remind this generation that we weren't the first to need fingerless gloves.  There is an old red vintage truck with some vintage town's people working around the truck.  The outside of the windows are bordered with pine garland intertwined with white Christmas lights with green wire.  There are also ceramic planter pots filled with lighted two-foot Christmas trees.

2.  It Connects the Generations

Window displays like the one above show much intentionality by the store owner in connecting this generation to past generations.  Take your grandchildren window shopping and explain to them the difference between toys back then and toys now.  We really aren't that much different from one another.  Kids still like sledding, go-karting, playing with dolls, writing letters to Santa, etc.  We just do it in different ways now and windows like this will help you make those connections with a different generation.  Do you have memories of window shopping when you were a kid?  Be sure to tell those stories too.  People have been enjoying this hobby since the 17th and 18th centuries, so it is good to teach kids about a time-honored tradition.

ShoShoo located at 719 W. Main Street is a shoe shop and they displayed some of their adorable selection of shoes in the window to tempt you to come inside and try a pair on.  They decorated a white Christmas tree to look like a snowman.  The tree is surrounded by fake snow and the windows are bordered in white Christmas lights not stretched out.  A simple winter wonderland that makes you dream of wearing a new pair of shoes.

3.  It helps you discover what is available downtown.

One can't possibly just do a drive-by in downtown Lake Geneva and get the full effect of all the great things this town has to offer you.  The reason these stores go to such great lengths to decorate so elaborately is to draw you in.  They are hoping you will notice them, by standing out.  So, take some time and see what all is available.  You may find that certain thing you've been wanting for a long time.

Marigold, located at 725 W. Main Street, is a gift shop in Lake Geneva and their window displays are very elegant.  Their decorations include giant silver poinsettia flowers, white and gold nutcracker soldiers, silver and gold ornaments with lots of white Christmas lights.  A few of their picture frames they have for sale are also on display.  I don't know about you, but whoever decorated these trees is welcome to come and do mine any day.   They are so pretty.

4.  Shop Local, Shop Small

We've heard it many times.  But why should you shop small businesses?

These small businesses tend to be involved in the community more and they give back to the community in numerous ways.

They usually specialize in a few choice products so you get better customer service because they know their stuff.  The shopping experience then becomes more of a personal experience as you make connections with small business owners.

It breaks my heart to drive through old towns that have died out.  Where people actually stopped shopping and whole towns had to close up shop.  Shopping small businesses is just another way you can love your neighbor, keep them in business, and boost the economic growth in that community.

Twelfth and Brown located at 729 Main Street has a little bit of everything, home decor, home furnishings, apparel, and accessories.  Their window display has a homemade, vintage-looking, pipe-smoking snowman, looking through spectacles that glow and buttons that glow,  He is holding an old fashioned lantern, along with Christmas trees, garland, and a wreath.  You sort of get the enchanting feeling that this snowman is peering into your soul.  Somehow they managed to get that warm, cozy, fire-like glow as if there were a fireplace behind this snowman that won't melt.  It's a clever set-up.

5.  It's as Romantic as a Hallmark Christmas Movie

Let's be real, predictable Hallmark Christmas Movies and Christmas go hand in hand.  Many, if not most, Hallmark Christmas movies have window shopping because window shopping is romantic. They even have an entire movie called, Window Wonderland, about two people competing with their holiday window displays, and sorry if I blow the ending, but...they fall in love!   No surprise there.  If you are looking for a romantic evening, there must be a reason why almost every Christmas Hallmark movie has a scene with the romantic couple walking in a small town looking at the displays.  It just evokes a cozy feeling.  A word to the guys.  This may not bring about the same sense of romance to you as to her but do it anyway.  Teach your sons to take their future wives too and keep the predictable romance alive and well.

Edie Boutique located at 737 W. Main Street is a clothing and fashion store where the employees are eager to help you find the right style for your next event. They went with the red buffalo plaid style throughout their display including a buffalo plaid reindeer and presents wrapped in buffalo plaid wrapping paper.

6.  It's like walking through an outdoor art museum.

We all live in a society that is fast-paced, especially at Christmas time.  Taking intentional time to stroll the streets of a small town or large city and appreciate the art on display shows respect for the artists who spend much time planning, dreaming, purchasing, designing, and rearranging until it looks artistically perfect.  As an artist myself, I take photographs because it brings me much joy.  However, when my photos bring delight to another person, that is just another level of meaning.  We all have a desire to make the world a brighter, happier place and window artists do just that.  Stop at each window, take it all in and if you feel so compelled, enter inside and tell them what you like about their display.  I'm sure they'd be happy to hear that their artistic endeavors brought joy to you this season.

Evr Dry Gds located at 741 W. Main Street is a women's clothing store in Lake Geneva that creatively turned their mannequins into snowmen, and put an inflatable snowman with some faux snow and some white Christmas lights to help showcase their mannequins wearing clothing they have for sale.

7.  It builds a sense of community.

People want to feel a sense of belonging.  When we support a small, local business, they often will use their profits to support someone else in the community and that is how communities stay alive.  The community's health depends on the strength of its small businesses.  These are the places that make donations to kid's events and fundraisers.  It's almost like the gift that keeps on giving and in the spirit of the season, isn't that what we're all after anyhow?  Plus, your vote really does count.  Get window shopping before the deadline for voting ends.  Trust me when I say that this is way more fun than casting a vote for someone in politics.  Your vote matters.

Bloomingbyrds located at 755 West Main Street offers fun women's fashion as you can clearly see from their creative window display.

8.  It's a fun thing to do after the parade.

Lake Geneva holds its annual Electric Christmas Parade on the first Saturday in December.  Window shopping before or after the parade is a great thing to do.  Some stores even offer some treats or cocoa.

9.  It helps you burn those extra holiday calories.  

It's a no-brainer that it's hard not to gain weight over the holidays.  This will burn more calories than online shopping.  Plus you can have a special meal dining at one of Lake Geneva's finest restaurants and then extend the evening by window shopping and work off some of that dinner.

The Cornerstone Shop and Gallery located on the corner of 214 Broad Street and Main Street has long been one of my favorites.  The whole entire store is so artfully arranged that it's a real pleasure to visit.  It is a really big store with lots of little rooms to explore.  I think it's impossible to leave this store without getting inspired in one way or another.

Galerie Matisse located inside of  Fancy Fair Mall at 830 West Main Street has this window and the window I used for the cover of this post.  Art lovers of all kinds will find something that they like inside of this gallery.  Their windows proudly display that they are celebrating being in business for forty years.  Come find out why this store has been in Lake Geneva for so long.

10.  You can watch real people making real chocolate fudge.

Kilwins located at 772 Main Street has beautifully decorated windows, but the real beauty is peering through the undecorated parts and watching them melt and pour the fudge, cool it and shape it into the absolutely most delicious, tempting dessert.   Whether you decide to go in and indulge or not, watching the fudge be made from beginning to end is a real delight.  My children were very engaged in the process.

There you have it.  My very best reasons that hopefully inspire you to choose the scenic life this Christmas by window shopping.  This is just a small sampling of the many great things you will discover and find in downtown Lake Geneva, WI this holiday season.  You'll just have to go see for yourself all the windows I did not include in this post.  If you go, let me know how your time was.

Have you ever gone window shopping before?   Do you have an interesting story about window shopping?   Where's your favorite place to window shop?  Leave me a comment below and tell me all about it.  I love to hear from my readers.

Until next time, always choose the scenic life!

Hannah Babiak is a stock photographer and travel blogger.  For writing assignments or ideas for future posts, please contact her at alwayschoosethesceniclife@gmail.com or leave a comment below.