Girlfriend Getaways

Raleigh, N.C.: My girlfriend and I are planning our second girls getaway in 2009. We are wanting to do a spa weekend in Arizona. Any info on the best spa for a girls weekend? We usually travel in the late spring and are open to a better time.

GG Editors: Hi, Raleigh. You picked a great state for a spa getaway with your friend; Arizona has a bunch of destination spas that are highly regarded. And spring is actually a nice time in the state, before the temps rise in the desert. My top three suggestions are Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson, Mii Amo in Sedona, and the Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley. Miraval now has a special "Bring a Friend" package—you both get 20% off your stay if you come together. The spa has some unique offerings, including "Horsing Around," a one-on-one learn-to-ride program. Mii Amo has a gorgeous location in the heart of red rock country, and they allow guests to choose from seven-night to one-day spa packages. The Sanctuary Spa incorporates traditional Asian treatments into its offerings, such as Thai massage and reflexology, reiki, and a treatment called luk pra kopi, in which your feet are soaked in a fresh lime bath and exfoliated with white Thai clay, followed by a full-body Thai massage with herbs.

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Vienna, Va.: A group of 10 women would like to celebrate our 50th year in the Finger Lakes in NY State. We're coming from all parts of the U.S. Could you recommend a "budget" getaway in July 2009 with suggestions for lodging and activities? We'd like our stay to last about 3-4 days. Thanks much.

GG Editors: The Finger Lakes region is actually becoming a popular destination for women-only getaways. There's great boutique and antique shopping in the region—historic routes 5 and 20 are lined with antique shops—and there are more than 70 wineries in the area that produce Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Pinot, along with some specialty wines. A few wine trails to consider include Canandaigua, Cayuga, and Seneca. The Canandaigua Lady, a 19th-century replica paddleboat, is a fun afternoon trip on the water; a two-hour cruise, including lunch, is $28 per person. If you prefer something with a bit more throttle, the Canandaigua Speedway has stockcar racing. In the summer, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performs at the C-MAC performing arts center in Canandaigua. For places to stay, I'd recommend a B&B—there are dozens of them in the Finger Lakes. The 1840 Inn on the Main, in the center of Canandaigua, has rooms from $125 a night for next summer. A good resource for a more complete list of activities and inns in the region is visitfingerlakes.com.

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Hartford, Conn. and Westerly, R.I.: What's a great place to go for sisters to get away? My sister lives by the beach so something different would be great! Thanks for your help.

GG Editors: It all depends on what type of trip you're looking for, of course, but I'm obsessed with Charleston and Savannah as girlfriend getaways right now. Both have a great mix of culture, character, great food, and great shopping. We helped two friends plan a trip to both cities a few months ago. Check out our recommendations here.

If you and your sister like wine, you might consider a trip to wine country. Napa and Sonoma are the obvious options, but there are actually wineries all over the country. Check out our article about Wine Country Weekends to see if there's one that's convenient for you. If you want something more lively, head to a city. Our round-up of big city getaways will get you on the right track.

Finally, you can't go wrong with a trip to a spa. We found some great deals on spas in the Northeast for our America's Best Spa Values story.

My best advice: Wherever you decide to go, don't over schedule yourselves! It's always tempting when we're in a new place to fill every second of every day, but don't do so much that you don't have time to just relax and enjoy each other's company.

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Wilmington, Del.: Can you recommend some places to go for my book club ladies for a literary-themed getaway?

GG Editors: So many possibilities! New York comes to mind right away. Greenwich Village was a magnet for American writers for years (and probably still would be, if it weren't so pricey!). Big names like Henry James, Edgar Allen Poe, Dylan Thomas, Louisa May Alcott, and Jack Keroac all spent time there at one time or another, and a stroll through the windy streets and hole-in-the-wall cafés will show you why. Despite being in the middle of hectic NYC, the village is calm, quiet, and inviting. Be sure to stop for a drink at the White Horse Tavern, a favorite writer's haunt, and, they say, the bar where Dylan Thomas drank his last whiskey. Frommer's Memorable Walks in New York has a great literary tour of the Village. I followed it years ago (long before I worked here!) and loved it.

For something a little more low-key, you could go to Savannah, Ga. It got a lot of attention when John Berendt's book (and, later, the movie) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil came out. Savannah Tours will take you to several spots mentioned in the book, like the Bonaventure Cemetery, home to the story's famous statue (savannahtours.us, from $40). Savannah was also home to Flannery O'Connor, one of my favorite writers. You can visit her childhood home at (207 E. Charlton St., 912/921-5618, flanneryoconnorhome.org).

If you're game for an overseas trip, it's hard to beat Paris as a literary destination. You can visit the graves of Baudelaire, Sartre, and Beckett at the Montparnasse Cemetery, and those of Colette, Balzac, Proust, and Getrude Stein at Pere Lachaise. But don't spend all your time at gravesites! Wander the Left Bank, the area of the city that drew writers and artists for generations. Stop for a coffee at Café de Flore or Café des Deux Magots, both popular with Sartres and the Existentialists. La Closerie des Lilas was a favorite writers' haunt, too—particularly members of the Lost Generation, like Hemingway and Fitzgerald.