There are fewer things in life more enjoyable than a getaway with your girlfriends. A time to just catch up with friends is always good for the soul, and it’s even better when it’s somewhere new. Here are some of the best places in the United States and around the world that are perfect for a girlfriend getaway.
Girlfriend Getaways for Women Over 50 in the United States
Sedona
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Known for its towering red rock formations and natural wellness culture, Sedona makes an excellent destination for a girlfriend getaway for women over 50. From outdoor activities to wine tasting and culinary adventures, Sedona is packed with opportunities for girlfriends to spend time together while doing things everyone is sure to enjoy.
For active women in their 50s and beyond, Sedona is packed with hiking, biking, and walking trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Many of these trails offer impressive views of Sedona’s red rock formations, making all that effort on the trails worth it.
In addition to the abundance of outdoor adventure opportunities, girlfriends traveling together can also enjoy an afternoon sampling central Arizona’s best wine.
The nearby Verde Valley Wine Trail features over two dozen wineries and tasting rooms to choose from. There are even several wine bars and tasting rooms right in Sedona for those who prefer to stay in town.
After a long day spent hiking and wine tasting, visitors can head out to enjoy some of Sedona’s many highly-rated restaurants. Sedona is known for its high-quality, fresh Southwestern-inspired cuisine. One of the city’s most popular restaurants is Elote Cafe, which is the perfect spot for a girl’s night out. Their Asada tacos and prickly pear margarita are both fantastic.
Nashville, Tennessee[TAG1]
There is no better place for a girlfriend getaway than Music City in Nashville, Tennessee. Broadway Avenue, Honky Tonk Highway, is filled with bright neon lights and many genres of musical entertainment that will keep you and your girls occupied until all hours of the night.
The honky-tonk bars line each side of Honky Tonk Highway and have free entertainment all night long while serving up some good food. Since there aren’t any cover charges, you will have more to spend on the drinks during your all-night party with your girlfriends!
While you are waiting for the sun to go down and the night lights to start twinkling, there are a lot of other cheap activities in Nashville. Your daytime Nashville itinerary can consist of parks and gardens, wall murals and art galleries, boutique shopping, and of course, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame with all the great music legends’ stars lining the pavement.
There is so much to do in Music City that there will never be a dull moment during a getaway to Nashville, Tennessee!
Orlando, Florida
Lake Eola Park, Orlando Florida
Orlando is known for its amusement parks; however, not all of these amusement parks are geared towards kids.
Epcot is located at Disney World. One of the best things about Epcot is the World Showcase. There are many areas that highlight different countries, and you can eat and enjoy the cultural experiences in each area. Eating and drinking “around the world” is one of the best things to do with girlfriends in Orlando.
Discovery Cove is another wonderful escape. Discovery Cove is owned by SeaWorld, and it is an all-inclusive resort. The park is designed for relaxation and experiences, and you can swim with dolphins, snorkel, and relax on the beach.
The best part of Orlando is all the resorts located in the area. There are so many to choose from. Marriott has many vacation club locations that are phenomenal, The Gaylord is unbelievable, and you can even find Airbnb’s with fantastic amenities. Enjoying a nice resort is an excellent option for a girlfriend getaway.
If you love the beach, Orlando is a great starting point, and it is a little over an hour’s drive to some of the best beaches in Florida. Clearwater is highly rated and located on the Gulf of Mexico side, while Cocoa and Vero Beach are great options on the Atlantic side. Either way, you decide to go, a beach day is very accessible from Orlando.
Pawhuska, Oklahoma[TAG3]
A unique girlfriend’s getaway is visiting the Pioneer Woman’s hometown of Pawhuska, Ok. It is located about an hour away from Tulsa, where she has created an empire. One of the first stops you need to make is a visit to the Pioneer Woman Mercantile. The Mercantile includes her store, her restaurant, and her bakery. You will want to make a reservation for the restaurant as it usually is at least a 2-3 hour wait to get in. The wait is no big deal because there is plenty to do while you wait.
After you shop and eat a bakery item, you can head out to her ranch and visit The Lodge. The Lodge is where the Pioneer Woman Food Channel show is filmed. The tour includes an inside look at the set and multi kitchens, including an industrial kitchen. There are also hotel rooms for the crew that comes to film. The ranch is beautiful, and there are 675 square miles of rolling hills and cattle.
As you head back into town, there is a buffalo preserve with over 2500 buffalo. This is a fun stop if you have time. Back in town, you can choose to eat at the main restaurant, or she also owns a pizzeria, ice cream, and candy store. The food is delicious no matter where you decide to go.
If possible, stay at the Pioneer Woman Boarding House.
International Girlfriend Getaways for Women Over 50
Go on a Cruise[TAG4]
With ports all around the world, there’s a high chance that there is a cruise near you. Going on a cruise saves a lot of the planning because they’ve done it for you. You can try out the different restaurants, see shows, gamble, bar hop, enjoy live music, and hit the spa, all without ever leaving the ship. We recommend picking a cruise line with newer ships like the Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas because they are loaded with many amenities. On the Odyssey of the Seas, there’s indoor sky diving, whimsical restaurants, and visits to Royal Caribbean’s private island, Coco Cay. When picking out an itinerary, make sure there is at least one destination everyone wants to see.
Northern Ireland[TAG5]
Although Northern Ireland is a small country, it has a broad range of fun activities for groups of friends holidaying together.
The capital Belfast is brilliant for eating and drinking – it would be easy to spend a whole weekend enjoying Belfast’s many bars and restaurants without finding time to explore the city’s history. However, visitors should definitely visit the Titanic Museum and perhaps take a black cab tour to learn more about the Troubles.
For road-trip fans, the Antrim Coast is one of the most scenic drives in the world – the road hugs the ever-changing coastline, which is packed with incredible beaches. There are some fabulous pubs along the way, and a stop at the Giant’s Causeway is a must. Game of Thrones fans will enjoy discovering the various filming locations in this part of Northern Ireland.
For women looking to get away from it all, the Mourne Mountains are a fantastic destination for hiking. There are challenging peaks to conquer as well as leisurely walks depending on everyone’s fitness levels. The mountains are close to the coast, so a day out in the mountains can finish with cocktails at the beach!
Antwerp, Belgium[TAG6]
Although situated in a tiny country, Antwerp boasts that typical city vibe that draws people in. It’s easy to spend a weekend or longer in Belgium’s second-largest city without getting bored.
When you’re on a getaway with your girlfriends, you might have a hard time choosing between the many things there are to do in Antwerp.
A must-do is the museums. With plenty of great options such as the MAS (don’t forget to go all the way up for a great view over the city – that part of the museum is free by the way!), the early printing museum Plantin-Moretus and the Rubenshuis, dedicated to the master painter Pieter Paul Rubens.
Antwerp became known for its group of designers who graduated in the 80ies, amongst whom Dirk Bikkembergs and Dries van Noten. It doesn’t come as a surprise that the city offers some great shopping with large brands and smaller, unique shops only a stone’s throw apart.
Other city hotspots include the stunning Central Station (elected as one of the most beautiful in the world!) and the charming historical center. Don’t forget to just wander around and get lost in the small cobblestone streets.
Milos
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If you and your girlfriends enjoy adventure and beautiful scenery in an off-beaten track setup, the Cycladic island of Milos is the perfect choice for a getaway. Milos doesn’t get anywhere near as many visitors as its more famous sister islands of Santorini and Mykonos but also has a lot to offer.
The best thing to do on the island is to rent an ATV or a car to explore the island. The most famous place is Serakiniko Beach, with a moon-like landscape dominated by white rock formations and turquoise water. For an excellent seafood sunset dinner, head to the traditional fishing village of Klima. And if you feel like even more adventure, go on a boat trip to Kleftiko caves that are only accessible from the sea.
For a relaxing day on the beach, choose either Fyriplaka or Paleochori, both situated on the south coast and are easy to get with a nice stretch of golden sand and calm waters washing up the shore.
The best time to visit Milos is between May and June and September when the weather is mild, and crowds ease off. October, although still warm, tends to bring strong winds to the island. One of the best places to stay on Milos is the lively port town of Adamas. Adamas has a good range of restaurants and is well-connected to the rest of the island.
Santorini, Greece[TAG8]
Thinking of Santorini, one immediately imagines fiery sunsets, volcanic slopes overlooking the sea dotted with blue-roofed white houses, and lots of romance. All the perfect prerequisites for a couple on their honeymoon; however, although the technicalities of your dream do correspond to reality, the romanticism that should accompany them is not always present. A victim of its own fame, Santorini is much more the perfect destination for a little getaway with your girlfriends than with your other half.
This volcanic island offers countless points of interest; you can rent a car or join a tour and visit Ancient Thera, the Red Beach, or stop in one of the vineyards that produce excellent wine that is difficult to find abroad. You can go out by boat and visit the crater that emerged in the caldera and bathe in the spring water.
The sea and the beaches are certainly not the strong points of Santorini; much better to choose a hotel or villa with a private pool in Oia, where you can spend the hottest hours chatting with your friends and keeping away from the island’s daily tourists before heading out when the crowd has dissipated, or not yet arrived, enjoying the wonders of a place that still knows how to enchant if you have the right expectations and understand how to get the best out of it.
Holbox[TAG9]
Holbox is a beautiful little island located in Yucatan, Mexico. It’s far less popular than crowded areas like Cancun or Playa del Carmen. It presents the perfect girlfriend getaway for those looking to enjoy beaches, delicious food, and cocktails by the water. There are plenty of things to do in Holbox, including swimming with whale sharks and seeing bioluminescent plankton. Girls’ trips should be all about relaxation, so spending days by beautiful beaches like Punta Cocos is an absolute must-do, of course. There are no cars allowed on Holbox, so the main form of transport is golf carts. Rent a cart for around US $40 per day and explore the island with your best friends.
When you love nature and enjoy hiking, visiting a nature park is the perfect next destination. Picos de Europa is located in the north of Spain and is one of the most beautiful natural parks you can find in Europe. The remarkable thing is that this park is not known among other travelers; this park is mainly known for national tourism. The big benefit is that it isn’t crowded and you can immerse yourself in the Spanish culture.
Picos de Europa[TAG10]
Whether you are traveling with the family, alone, or with a friend, this natural park has something to offer for everyone, regardless of age or fitness. You can do different hikes that vary greatly in difficulty. There are many hikes where you walk for hours through a beautiful natural landscape without encountering others. Therefore you can enjoy this breathtaking park with your travel companion undisturbed. Are you curious about the best Picos de Europa hikes? Read it via the link. You will also find out the best places to stay to discover Picos de Europa because there are many options. A lot can be said about Picos de Europa, but this is a great example when pictures speak for themselves; get inspired to visit it too!
Victoria, BC, Canada[TAG11]
With a warm climate, plenty of sandy beaches, a rich cultural history, and all kinds of outdoor adventures, Victoria, BC, Canada, is the perfect place for a 50+ girlfriend getaway trip. Known as ‘the City of Gardens,’ Victoria is an absolutely beautiful city with flowers at any time of the year, and it even has one of the world’s most beautiful gardens – the Butchart Gardens. The city also has gorgeous coastlines with incredible, breathtaking views of the Salish Sea and the distant Olympic mountains! You both will be constantly in awe at the beauty of this city and won’t want to leave!
Victoria isn’t just a popular travel destination for its beauty, though. This city has many things to offer, from adventurous outdoor activities to relaxing spa days. Together, you can taste wine at a local vineyard, whale watch along the coast of Vancouver Island, walk around the Inner Harbour, swim in gorgeous lakes, relax on warm sandy beaches, and so much more! Stay at the famous Empress Hotel and enjoy their afternoon tea, or soak in the oceanside mineral pools and get pampered at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Later, you can have a girl’s night out at one of the fantastic restaurants in the city overlooking the Inner Harbour and taste fresh, locally caught seafood! You won’t be disappointed on your trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada!
What to Pack
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These cozy socks will take you on many adventures without wearing out.
Ridge is a medium-weight denim with an Old Rose Indigo color for that perfect slightly-worn-in look. They have 23% elasticity added for comfort and a flattering fit, and they actually call them their “travel jean.”
Have you gone on a recent getaway with your girlfriends? Where did you go? Tell us about it in the comments below.
Read Next:
How to Plan the Perfect Girlfriend Getaway
13 Fun Things to Do with Friends
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