Ask Gigi
Spring/Summer 2009 Girlfriend Getaways> Subscribe Now
Q: My sister-in-law, two cousins, and I like to go away for Memorial Day weekend. This year, we're heading to Denver. We want to work a little adventure into the trip—maybe some white-water rafting and horseback riding. Any suggestions? Kisha Borden, San Diego, Calif.
A: Memorial Day weekend kicks off the season for white-water rafting on Clear Creek, about 30 minutes west of Denver in Idaho Springs, Colo. Raft Masters leads two-hour trips over Class III rapids—don't worry, your guide will tell you everything you need to know about navigating the waters and, most important, staying in the boat (800/568-7238, raftmasters.com, from $49). For horseback riding, head to Estes Park, a scenic 90-minute drive northwest of Denver. Sombrero Ranches has 90-minute rides that include an alfresco feast: a "cowboy" breakfast of all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, and coffee; or a dinner of steak grilled over an open fire, served with potatoes and baked beans (970/586-4577, sombrero.com, rides from $35).
Q: Ten of us are trying to plan a weekend in Napa Valley, Calif. We want to stay in a B&B, get massages, and tour the wineries. We read about one that's underground. That might be fun! Sharon Markley, Ojai, Calif.
A: At the Silverado resort in Napa Valley, each of the 281 suites has a kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace, giving you the privacy of a B&B with the amenities of a hotel. The two-bedroom suites sleep up to four, and the spa has 16 private treatment rooms, so there's plenty of space for everyone (800/532-0500, silveradoresort.com, from $445 for a two-bedroom suite). The hotel is a 25-minute drive from the Del Dotto Estate Winery and Caves in St. Helena. Of the 15 or so underground wine caves in the area, it has one of the most generous tastings: An hourlong session in its chandelier-lined cave includes five to eight wine samples, a charcuterie and cheese platter, and a dark-chocolate and port pairing (707/963-2134, deldottovineyards.com, tasting $50).
Q: I'm organizing a bachelorette party in South Beach, Fla., for 10 women, all in our late 20s and early 30s. We're looking for a mix of sun and fun, nice dinners, and a couple of nights at a club. Lindsay Sobel, New York, N.Y.
A: The W South Beach opens in May and would make a great home base. The $450-per-person price tag for the Girls Gone W bachelorette package may seem steep—until you consider everything that's included: a night in four connecting rooms, dinner for 10 people at the hotel's upscale Italian restaurant, a magnum of chilled champagne, and VIP passes to the Wall, the on-site lounge. If you'd rather skip the extras, you can book rooms from $369 and hit the strip of hip clubs along Washington Avenue (305/938-3000, whotels.com/southbeach).
Q: My daughter and I are going to Paris for a week. We'll take on several of the museums and monuments, of course, but we're also interested in finding the best places to shop, especially for great secondhand clothes. Christine Heinrich, Reedsport, Ore.
A: In Paris, thrift stores tend to be either high-end consignment shops or flea markets that require a little digging. SoPi (south of Pigalle) is an up-and-coming area near Montmartre that's loaded with fun boutiques. On rue Condorcet, you'll find Anna Rivka, which sells vintage-inspired jewelry set with semiprecious stones (57 rue Condorcet, 011-33/1-40-23-92-84), and Woch Dom, a great vintage-clothing store (72 rue Condorcet, 011-33/1-53-21-09-72). There are several secondhand shops just south of Centre Pompidou, along rue St.-Merri and rue de la Verrerie. Be sure to check out Free'P'Star for its ever-changing selection of '70s and '80s clothes (61 rue de la Verrerie, 011-33/1-42-78-00-76). In the Marais, rue des Blancs-Manteaux and rue Vieille du Temple are both lined with boutiques. Don't miss Abou d'Abi Bazar, which carries emerging designers at affordable prices (125 rue Vieille du Temple, 011-33/1-42-71-13-26). For true bargains, flea markets like the one near Porte de Montreuil can yield treasures like a 1960s Celine wool felt cap buried in a box of $2.50 hats.
Q: My friends and I are going to New York City to celebrate turning 40. No kids, no husbands! When's the best time to go? Any restaurant or hotel favorites? Also, we definitely want to take in as much Broadway (on or off) as we can. Jennifer Ehlers, Cincinnati, Ohio
A: June is an ideal month to visit New York because you get warm weather without the humidity of July and August. That said, if you're willing to face the furnace-like subway later in the summer, you could plan your trip during Restaurant Week. It usually takes place the last two weeks of July, and you'll find special prix fixe deals at posh spots like Nobu and Spice Market (nycgo.com/restaurantweek, two-course lunch $24, three-course dinner $35). No matter when you visit, you must go to Nougatine. The casual Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant across from Central Park offers the best deal in town: a prix fixe lunch menu year-round (jean-georges.com, three-course lunch $24). The Maritime Hotel is just east of the Meatpacking District, perfect if you plan to check out New York's nightlife (363 W. 16th St., 212/242-4300, themaritimehotel.com, from $245). The rooms at Kimpton's 70 Park Avenue Hotel have LCD flat-screen TVs, iHome docking stations, L'Occitane bath products, and a full bedding menu with Frette linens. Mention Girlfriend Getaways when you book your room to get a 20 percent discount and two Cosmos on the house (70 Park Ave., 877/707-2752, 70parkave.com, rooms from $279). The hotel is four blocks south of Grand Central Station, and about a 15-minute walk from Times Square, where the new TKTS booth accepts credit cards for half-price Broadway tickets. FYI: The new Dolly Parton show, 9 to 5: The Musical, opens April 30 at the Marquis Theatre (tdf.org).
Q: My best friend is turning 50 and we want to take a long weekend to celebrate, but we don't know where to go. We're hoping for something slow-paced but with character and unusual things to do—and, of course, good food! Kristie Wright, Texarkana, Tex.
A: Santa Fe, N.M., is only a short flight from Dallas, but, thanks to its distinct Southwestern vibe, it feels a world away. The adobe-walled Inn on the Alameda, two blocks from the city's main square, has a fun three-night package called Tasting the City Different. You start by meeting four chefs at their restaurants and tasting their signature cuisines (Mexican, Native American, Italian, and Spanish), and then you'll take part in a two-and-a-half-hour class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, followed by a lunch with regional dishes like duck tamales and heritage pinto beans. The afternoon ends with a wine and cheese reception at the inn (888/984-2122, innonthealameda.com, from $143 per person per night). Get your culture fix at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. The "Beyond Our Shores" exhibit opens May 22 and showcases the artist's work from Hawaii, Bermuda, Peru, Japan, and China (217 Johnson St., 505/946-1000, okeeffemuseum.org, $8). The Ten Thousand Waves spa, in the foothills of Santa Fe, is modeled after a Japanese onsen, or hot springs. It has outdoor teak soaking tubs, hot-stone massages, and facials using traditional Japanese ingredients such as bamboo powder and green and white teas (505/982-9304, tenthousandwaves.com, massages from $99).
Q: My best friend and I are planning a 10-day trip to Ireland, starting in Dublin and then driving around the countryside. We don't want to spend the entire time in the car, so we're thinking we'll pick three locations where we can stay for at least two or three nights each and still see a lot of interesting sights. Darlene Hirschhorn, Las Vegas, Nev.
A: Ireland is about the size of West Virginia, so you can cover a lot of ground in 10 days. Driving southwest from Dublin to Kilkenny, then on to Cork, and north to Galway forms a triangle. Between each city, you'll drive through two to three hours' worth of scenic countryside dotted with old stone farmhouses. The town of Kilkenny has a castle that dates back to the 12th century and many art, music, and comedy festivals in the summer. In the seaport of Cork, footbridges span the river Lee, and Blarney Castle—with its famous Blarney Stone—is only a 20-minute drive away. On the road to Galway, brake for a magnificent pit stop: the 700-foot-tall sandstone Cliffs of Moher on the west coast. Several tour operators offer self-drive itineraries that include hotels (they plan your route but don't send a guide). Brian Moore International Tours bundles a five-day car rental with two nights in Dublin, four nights of vouchers valid at 1,400 B&Bs, and one night at the 18th-century Cabra Castle Hotel in Kingscourt (800/982-2299, bmit.com, from $629 per person).
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