When I want to meet my girlfriends somewhere in the United States that’s fun and relaxing, I’m looking for a few things before booking restaurant reservations or locking in hotels.
I always consider whether the destination is walkable, so we’re not all tied to the same schedule and can come and go as we please. I also look for locations where each of us, who are spread across the country, can easily fly in without having to spring for an expensive ticket or endure ridiculous layovers.
Then, the icing on the cake is finding somewhere with an eclectic dining scene and a variety of spas or easy hikes as we catch up, as girlfriends do.
Sure, there are the tried-and-true spots like Nashville, New Orleans, Scottsdale, or, yes, of course, Las Vegas. But those aren't always the right fit, especially in our post-bachelorette years.
Instead, try something more unexpected, not to mention less crowded and relaxing, with any of these six stellar cities.
In this article
Chicago, Illinois
It doesn’t get any more central than Chicago, a Midwestern city serviced with direct flights from most major airports.
With so many things to do in one place, there’s less to plan for a group, especially when you check into The St. Regis Chicago and zip right up to the 12,000-square-foot spa for a facial where walls of windows frame a view of the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Then, stay on-site and dine at the hotel’s Italian-inspired Tre Dita from chef Evan Funke, whose L.A. restaurants count the Obamas and Jay-Z and Beyonce as fans.
Outside of the hotel, pad the weekend with fun activities like a river cruise, such as those that run year-round along the Chicago River, for a unique view of world-class architecture, or you can also hop in a kayak for a DIY adventure on the water.
Back on dry land, The Art Institute of Chicago owns the largest collection of Claude Monet paintings outside of Paris. And when planning meals, know that many of the hottest restaurants and bars are in River North such as the tiki-inspired Three Dots and a Dash.
Healdsburg, California
Few Sonoma County and Napa Valley towns are as walkable as Healdsburg, thanks to a compact and thriving downtown. Even better, increased flights to nearby Santa Rosa make this destination a breeze to reach from cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle.
For a base, the new Duchamp Healdsburg is sleek but cozy with 20 rooms plus an outdoor pool and spa, while H2 Hotel features forest-bathing excursions and yoga classes, and the neighboring Hotel Healdsburg has a standout spa.
To taste a female winemaker’s natural wines, pop by Martha Stoumen’s first (and only) tasting room downtown, and for a fun night out, pair Dustin Vallette’s The Matheson and Valette, which nails farm-to-table cuisine, with Little Saint, which is a locals’ hangout with live music, wines by the glass, and plant-based dining.
To experience the countryside, the French-inspired Jordan Vineyard & Winery offers a walking tour with a wine tasting.
Sedona, Arizona
If anyone in the group is into woo-woo spirituality, Sedona is home to five vortexes among its red-rock formations, which are said to exude positive, healing energy.
Only a 90-minute drive from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, Sedona is utopian, but also extremely approachable. All you have to do is hike at designated sites, including Bell Rock, to experience the vortexes.
Most resorts and inns here focus on wellness—cue lavish spas—although Enchantment Resort is perhaps the most pampering, with a 24,000-square-foot spa.
Come nightfall, plan to stay up and stargaze. Sedona has been designated as an International Dark Sky Community since 2014, and Enchantment Resort hosts stargazing for guests.
Henderson, Nevada
If it’s ‘been there, done that’ for Vegas, or you’re no longer into all-night partying, but the desert is still calling, try this ‘burb 20 minutes from the Strip.
You can still enjoy a gaming-resort vibe, but with more chill laidback energy at Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino. The hotel has an actual vineyard, a sprawling outdoor pool area, and full-service spa, plus a steakhouse and pizzeria.
There are also many nearby culinary treasures tucked into shopping malls, like red-velvet lattes at Gabi Coffee & Bakery, or seafood towers at Boom Bang, ensuring you’ll never have to venture over to the Strip.
Nearby nature is also easily accessible; head to Red Rock Canyon, which offers a scenic drive as well as easy hikes.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is atmospheric, historic, and accessible from most places along the East Coast.
All along King Street you’ll find charming cafes and restaurants, plus boutiques selling adorable dresses, such as Cooper Penny and The Finicky Filly. Another shopping must is scooping up artisan-made, sweetgrass baskets at the historic 1807 Charleston City Market.
In recent years, the city has welcomed many new boutique hotels, with Zero George’s spacious residences and carriage houses appealing to small groups. There’s a fine-dining restaurant and caviar bar—so nobody has to drive—and cooking classes on-site, too. The hotel can also arrange sunset sails for a memorable group activity, and several beaches are within a few minutes’ drive for a day on the sand.
Finally, keep those relaxing vibes going on a horse-drawn carriage tour of downtown.
Tampa, Florida
For a Florida weekend that’s not Miami or Orlando, try Tampa for a nice mix of bustling city life and blissful beaches.
By picking a hotel downtown, restaurants, entertainment and bars are within reach—or maybe even upstairs if you choose The Tampa Edition with its rooftop pool and gorgeous plant-filled lobby. A short walk from the hotel are bars and restaurants within shipping containers at Sparkman Wharf, and a fun neighborhood to hang out in at night is Ybor City, which is a historic area dating back to the 1880s built by immigrants working in the cigar industry.
Today, you’ll find many historic bars and restaurants, such as Columbia Restaurant, which is Florida’s oldest eatery as it dates back to 1905, and La Segunda Bakery, established in 1915 and known for its Cuban bread and sandwiches. Beach day is also easy to squeeze in while in Tampa, including the white-sand Ben T. Davis Beach, just a 15-minute drive From The Tampa Edition.
The Shortcut
Planning a girls’ weekend is easy if you choose a location with convenient flight connections so nobody has having a horrific travel day.
The best destinations offer activities that provide built-in relaxation among nature or at spas.
Look for places with robust nightlife and dining options for a fun, low-key way to connect.
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