At the intersection of luxury and convenience, group travelers will find resorts.
Often set amid gorgeous landscapes and featuring top-notch spas, resorts provide a place to rest, relax and enjoy nature. But they are also hubs of activity, offering everything from golf on a championship course to lake cruises and live music. And, at mealtimes, groups can choose from fine dining to fast-casual cuisine.
Resorts let groups easily enjoy activities together, but these destinations also allow group members to break away take advantage of the amenities on their own. For a full-service, streamlined experience, affinity travel groups should head to these hospitable Midwest resorts.
French Lick Resort
French Lick, Indiana
A stay at Southern Indiana’s French Lick Resort gives travelers access to two stunning properties on 3,200 acres for one price. The resort is home to French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel, two historic properties located about a mile apart. French Lick Springs Hotel has 442 guest rooms and was first established in 1845, while West Baden Springs Hotel, famous for its large central dome and atrium, has 232 guest rooms and was built in 1902. The newest addition to the resort, Valley Tower, has 71 rooms. All three spaces have their own distinct charms, and with the resort’s trolley service, guests have 24/7 access to every hotel on the property.
French Lick Resort’s amenities are designed to impress. In addition to a conference center and casino, the resort offers bowling, archery, horseback riding, indoor and outdoor pools and five golf courses, one of which opened in May. One of its courses is a short course, perfect for golfing newbies. Two spas — one at each historic hotel — ensure groups have plenty of opportunities to be pampered. Mealtimes at the resort include fine-dining options, such as 1875: The Steakhouse and Sinclair’s Restaurant, both of which offer hand-cut steaks paired with rich wines. For a casual meal, guests can select from a wide range of lunch spots and eateries, such as Power Plant Bar and Grill, Ballard’s in the Atrium and Pluto’s Pizzeria in the hotel bowling alley, which is a great option for group buyouts.
“We have large groups that have continued to come to the resort for over 50 years,” said Adina Cloud, director of sales at French Lick Resort. “It’s a location where you can create memories.”
Big Cedar Lodge
Ridgedale, Missouri
Consistently ranked as one of the country’s top resorts, Big Cedar Lodge is located in Ridgedale, Missouri, just outside of Branson. The 4,600-acre property features stunning views of Table Rock Lake and the surrounding Ozark Mountains. Originally designed to be getaway for a few Missouri businessmen in 1920, it was eventually converted to a guest ranch before becoming Big Cedar Lodge in 1988.
“It has evolved into America’s premier wilderness resort,” said Madison Horner, public relations manager at Big Cedar Lodge. “We see 7 million guests annually, and there’s so much for guests of all ages to do and see and explore.”
The resort has 362 guest rooms across an assortment of lodges, private cabins and lakeside cottages. True to its name, many of the resort’s rooms feature cabin-style interiors with plenty of warm wood tones and rustic décor. Big Cedar Lodge also has 11 dining options. Devil’s Pool restaurant is known for its Southern comfort food and delicacies like prime rib. For lighter fare, Buzzard Bar serves sandwiches and salads. Truman Café and Custard is the perfect place for coffee, breakfast, lunch and signature desserts, from apple pie to custard.
Big Cedar Lodge is especially famous for the amenities throughout the property. At the top of the list are its five golf courses, which were designed by golf legends like Tiger Woods and Gary Player and feature spectacular views of the resort and the surrounding mountains. The resort is also home to an 18,000-square-foot spa, which is attached to a cottage for overnight stays. Additional offerings include water activities like canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing and even enjoying a cruise aboard Lady Liberty, a 65-foot yacht that takes passengers on two-hour cruises around Table Rock Lake. Brunch, dinner and private cruises are available.
Gervasi Vineyard Resort and Spa
Canton, Ohio
Travelers can find a slice of verdant Italian countryside in the Midwest, if they know where to look. In northeast Ohio, Gervasi Vineyard Resort and Spa is a 55-acre estate where guests can unwind and enjoy an array of gustatory delights. What began with one family’s dream to honor their Italian heritage through hospitality has blossomed into a scenic campus featuring a luxury resort, vineyard, spa and several restaurants, all of which are imbued with an authentic Italian feel.
“It feels like you’ve been transported out of Canton, Ohio, and into Tuscany, Italy,” said director of marketing Andrea Hartman. “The attention to detail on the property is immaculate. You can come here to escape your everyday life.”
Groups are welcome to lodge in the property’s 48 guest rooms, which include villas and suites at the resort’s boutique hotel overlooking a spring-fed lake. There are also several dining opportunities at the resort for groups to enjoy scratch-made Italian fare and wines and spirits made on property. The estate’s original barn was refurbished into a rustic setting to create the resort’s flagship restaurant, the Bistro, which features upscale cuisine, from brick-fired pizzas to hand-selected steaks and flavorful seafood. Guests can also try The Piazza for al fresco dining from May through October; The Crush House, a wine bar and eatery; and The Still House, which operates as a coffeehouse by day and a cocktail lounge at night.
Groups can tour the resort’s vineyard or its distillery and enjoy a tasting of house-made wines and spirits. Cooking classes, cocktail classes and wine-pairing dinners are popular activities for groups. Seasonal events are held at Gervasi Vineyard, including a summer concert series. The spa offers a range of services, from mani-pedis to rejuvenating body treatments. Guests can round out their trip with a visit to the on-site boutique gift shop, where they can purchase goods like wine and spirits, marinara sauce and home goods.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Acme, Michigan
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is a luxury 900-acre resort near Traverse City, right on the Grand Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan. This Northern Michigan resort lets groups enjoy the appealing region year-round, thanks to its long list of amenities, from a private beach in the summer to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. The resort has two indoor and two outdoor pools, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, and an indoor water playground to enjoy in all seasons. There’s also a full-service spa and salon, a gaming center with axe-throwing, an arcade and an escape room, indoor and outdoor tennis and pickleball courts, and three championship golf courses, complete with a year-round golf academy for those looking to take a few strokes off their game.
The resort has more than 500 accommodations for guests, from 240 hotel rooms in the attached six-story hotel to accommodations in the 17-story tower, which provides sweeping views of the property. Condos at the Shores deliver great views of the bay. With eight restaurants, there’s plenty of variety for groups to enjoy throughout their stay. For a meal with a view, they can head to Aerie Restaurant and Lounge on the 16th floor of the tower, or they can keep it casual with some pub fare and craft beer at Jack’s Taproom.
Grand Geneva Resort and Spa
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is known for its serene lakefront and historic mansions, along with its laid-back way of life. It’s just an hour outside of Milwaukee, making it an easily accessible spot for a getaway. And there are few better spots for rest and relaxation in this waterfront community than the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa. This AAA four-diamond, 358-room hotel has received much acclaim for its aesthetic property and its activities.
The resort’s guest rooms feature offer private patios or balconies to overlook the rolling hills, two golf courses and the lakefront community. The Well Spa offers packages of salon and spa services. And no matter what they’re craving for their next meal, the resort offers it, from steaks cooked on an open-hearth grill at the Geneva ChopHouse to casual options great for light bites, including the Grand Café, featuring stunning views and outdoor seating.
Groups can also spend their days at the resort swimming, playing pickleball, horseback riding and hiking. During cooler months, groups can check out the resort’s indoor waterpark, arcade, rock-climbing wall or mini bowling. In winter, they can travel to the Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, a resort for skiing, snowboarding, sledding and other winter sports and activities
