I don't have much to add, but I couldn't help but remark how funny that statement is to someone from Wisconsin... to most Wisconsinites Lake Geneva is anything but rural

Anyhow, yes it is a very nice area (my family is from there) and if you go during the off-season (anytime between October and April) it can be relatively inexpensive.

There are also some very nice places in Milwaukee... the Domes (a few bio-sphere like domes where they have different climates and a fancy-shmancy hall), several of the hotels, etc. And, as Kevlar mentioned, many breweries