Girlfriend Getaways

GG Editors: Greetings! Thank you for visiting for our weekly online chat. Unlike most Tuesdays, today we're fielding questions on Girlfriend Getaways topics. Let's get to it!

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Dallas, Tex.: My girlfriend and I, both 60, are looking for a fun spot for 3-4 days this October. We want good shopping, good food, and just a bit of slot action (not Vegas). What are some destinations that accomplish this?

GG Editors: Hello, Dallas. You're in luck! There are a lot of great options for you on our website girlgetaways.com—and we've already done a lot of the research for you. Off the top of my head, I'd recommend Scottsdale, Ariz., and Laughlin, Nevada—which we wrote about in a round up of 50 great long weekend destinations around the country. I hope this article will help inspire you!

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Philadelphia, Pa.: My best girlfriends—my 2 sisters—and I take a long weekend getaway every year. We call it our "Sister Trip." Next spring's trip is hopefully to San Francisco. There is so much to do and see there, so can you give any suggestions on how to make the most of just a few days in the city, especially with flying to S.F. from the East Coast (two of us from Philly, one from D.C.)? We range in age from 26-37. On past trips, we've done things like museums, baseball games, historical sights, beaches, you name it. Thank you!

GG Editors: San Francisco is a great town to visit in a few days: it's compact, easily walkable, and has great shops, restaurants, and people-watching! In fact, we created a long-weekend guide to San Francisco specifically tailored to a girlfriend getaway. You can read up on our recommendations here. Our online reader-generated travel journals on budgettravel.com are also a good resource for tips and recommendations. (If you like coffee you're especially in luck because a member of our staff, a rabid coffee appreciator, recently posted his favorite coffee spots in the city.)

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Clear Lake, Iowa: I will be meeting eight girlfriends (ages 36-37) from around the country next February in the Napa Valley area for a 3-night trip. We have known each other for 18 years and meet for a Girls' Weekend annually. We are looking for somewhere to stay in the Valley where we will be able to stay together (not separate hotel rooms) and where we can walk to stores, restaurants and spas. We are open to areas surrounding Napa, such as Calistoga, Sonoma, etc. We would also like advice on how to get a group of nine to the vineyards for tastings and what vineyards you would recommend for an intimate experience. Finally, we do a "spa day" on one of the days. Any suggestions?

GG Editors: Great minds think alike! In our fall issue of Girlfriend Getaways, you can read about a group of friends who chose to celebrate their 10-year college anniversary by heading to Napa. Staying together is a good idea: These friends rented a house in nearby Santa Rosa, and not only did it allow for more bonding opportunities, they saved cash, too. Browse rental listings to find your perfect fit at napavalley.com. (Just click on lodging and search for rentals.) Another great cost-saving option are the Hideaway Cottages, located next to the famous Calistoga hot springs. For around $149 a night, you can have a stucco bungalow all your own. The 17 cottages are all configured differently—some have sitting rooms in addition to a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen; others have private patios—but all are located a few steps from a swimming pool and hot tub filled with Calistoga's legendary water. As for your spa day, the property is just two blocks from Calistoga's quaint main street, and a short stroll from the 55-year-old Dr. Wilkinson's Hot Springs Resort, where guests can get The Works: a soak in mineral mud baths, a lavender mineral whirlpool bath, time in the steam room, a blanket wrap, and a 30-minute almond oil massage. 707/942-4108. For another spa experience unique to wine country, consider the Kenwood Inn & Spa, which uses the Caudalie line of products, all based on grape-seed extracts. Kenwood also has a particularly lovely setting; if you sign up for one of the "wine barrel baths" you can soak while gazing at vineyards. If you're looking to splurge, try the spa at Villagio.

And now for a few fun tasting ideas: The focal point of the tasting room at Peju Province Winery in Rutherford is a stained-glass window depicting the Three Graces. The gardens are dotted with fountains and statues of mythological figures. Peju is known for its cabernet sauvignons, which you can taste for a $10 fee (800/446-7358, peju.com). There's a different feel entirely at Kaz Vineyard and Winery, a small Sonoma Valley operation that's as unconventional as they come. Owner Richard "Kaz" Kasmier—with help from his wife, son, and daughter—runs a tasting room in his barn. You can sample six wines for $3, including Kaz's specialty, port (877/833-2536, kazwinery.com). For a laid-back vibe and to learn about organic viticulture: Frog's Leap in Rutherford. And no girlfriend getaway is complete without some bubbly: Try Schramsberg, one of Napa's oldest wineries, where you can see literally millions of bottles in 19th century caves. Finally, a few ways for all nine of you to get around: Beau Wine Tours can chauffeur you around in a sedan or limo; you can either put together your own list of places to visit, or pick one of their pre-set tours. Or, the Napa Wine Tours company has several prearranged options and group tours, including a bike tour.

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Prescott, Mich.: How about some girlfriend getaways or even singles based on "things I've always wanted to learn?" I've always wanted to learn to make twig furniture from grass-roots folks who do it. I've checked everything from elder hostels to volunteer groups and can't find craft classes on this topic and actually many others. Do you have any answers?

GG Editors: We have some good news for you: At the Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point, Wisconsin (a forty-five minute drive from Madison), the Bend Willow Chair workshop, utilizing twig furniture-making techniques, is so popular they offer it several times a year. The next scheduled workshop is September 20-21st, followed by another, exact dates TBD, in October. Of note: enrollment is limited to six students per workshop, to ensure a good student/teacher ratio, so be sure to book early! This rustric retreat center—where they offer classes in everything from Wild Painted Furniture to Paper Making and Mosaic Tile workshops—also boasts tree-shaded gardens, an ancient spring, and is conveniently located around the corner from downtown Mineral Point, featuring shopping and 17 (count 'em!) art galleries. For more information, check out shakeragalley.com. And happy crafting!