You may have never heard of the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In fact, you might know it better as the original Playboy Club, opened in 1968. However, this 1300-acre, AAA Four-Diamond resort is one of the best weekend getaways in the Midwest. Grand Geneva hasn't played up its Playboy connection, since it hopes to be seen as family-friendly, but this summer they will unveil a new historical exhibit showcasing the resort's history including an original Playboy Bunny costume on display.

This weekend, I enjoyed a relaxing getaway and catching up with my high school track girlfriend, Shelly. The drive up from Chicago wasn't bad at all, about 90 minutes, and we gabbed the entire way so it went by in a blur. Our GPS was a little wonky as we get close, but luckily signs pointed us in the right direction and suddenly we found ourselves totally surrounded by lush greenery.

Upon checking in, a lovely lady promptly offered us   either pink lemonade with mint or champagne. I was indecisive, so she gladly acquiesced to my request to mix the two for a sweet and bubbly welcome. Minutes after setting our bags down and checking out our balcony view of the Grand Geneva's golf course, we heard a knock on our door and opened it to a dapper gentleman bringing us a selection of chocolate truffles. We're both chocoholics, so we happily indulged, and were thankful he didn't bring us more and ruin our dinner.

Our room is decorated in warm browns and mahoganies, matching the rustic stone and wooden themes of the resort. I was impressed by the mirror in the bathroom, which doubles as a TV, allowing me to tune in to the morning news while applying mascara. Previously, I'd only seen this in Vegas, and Wisconsin is a far cry from the Strip.

The Grand Geneva has two upscale restaurants located in the main building, the Italian-themed Ristorante Brissago and Geneva Chophouse for steak and seafood. On our first night, we enjoyed a multi-course Italian meal at the former, with the highlight being the succulent and flaky branzino served with diced brandade potatoes and a creamy lobster stock sauce. As good as dinner was, the tiramisu and apricot chocolate cake on the dessert platter were my favorites.

Our next morning began with breakfast in bed - a fresh fruit platter, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, oatmeal and a yogurt and granola berry parfait. Then, we relaxed and awakened our bodies with an hour of hatha yoga. Jeanne, our instructor, created a calming environment for yogis of all levels to challenge ourselves. The Grand Geneva has a new three-day wellness retreat that incorporates nutrition, fitness and mind/body activities. Activities are customized to each person's needs so participants of all levels are encouraged to attend. Some sample activities including personal cooking lessons with the resort chef, yoga and pilates classes, spa treatments, scavenger hunts and walks around the lake.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbDslOOkeb8 

After yoga, we headed to a private villa where Executive Banquet Chef Mark Gaylord treated us to a healthy cooking demonstration. He showed us how simple it is to cook tiger shrimp on a slab of Pink Himalayan sea salt and used the shrimp to garnish a spicy gazpacho. Our entrée was a grilled salmon fillet with balsamic marinated veggies, including an impossibly sweet squash.

Now, it was spa time, so Shelly and I headed to get facials. The WELL Spa incorporates the same Pink Himalayan sea salt that Chef Mark was cooking with in its whirlpool, sauna and steam room for detoxifying properties. Himalayan sea salt lamps are even sprinkled throughout the resort. My esthetician, Dawn Kimball, was great, addressing my concerns about hyperpigmentation and moisture, while giving me such a soothing facial, complete with arm and shoulder massage that I did not want to get up at the end.

Later that afternoon, we had a tasty pastry class where we made coconut cream pie tartlets, a cheesecake and chocolate ganache parfait, and a chocolate covered strawberry. It was tough eating all those desserts right before heading to the steakhouse for dinner, but somehow we managed. Dinner at Geneva Chophouse was standard steakhouse fare, although the carrot cake stood out. The waiter calls it a "petite" carrot cake, maybe because it is slightly smaller than I am. It's very good, incredibly moist and generously studded with raisins and walnuts, so do save room for dessert.

Perhaps the best part of the entire day though was bonding with some of the women we had just met at the Embers Terrace fireside lounge after dinner. Chatting about boyfriends, favorite restaurants, yoga and puppies while sipping wine in sundresses and heels is the perfect way to end the night. And even after the sun had set and the cool of the night set in, the smokeless fire pit filled with glittering glass crystals kept us toasty and didn't leave our hair smelling like smoke.

With the short drive from Chicago, I have the feeling that I'll be back this summer to go horseback riding, rock wall climbing and maybe even golfing. And, of course, another spa treatment and star gazing.   

Author Amber Gibson is a Food/Travel Writer, Model & Actress from Chicago. To find out more about Amber, visit www.ambergibson.me.