The holidays are over and you’ve spent a bundle of time with your family—maybe even more than you would have liked. Now it’s time to focus on yourself and your closest friends…so call the girls and plan a trip that’s just for you! Whether you enjoy active adventures, laid-back luxury, or something in between, we’ve found something that fits you and your friends.
Get Energized
THOMPSONVILLE, MICHIGAN
crystalmountain.com
Looking for that perfect getaway that will allow you and your girlfriends to hit the slopes all day and finish off with a relaxing massage? Well, look no further than Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa’s Ski & Spa Getaway package. This premier Midwestern resort offers 45 slopes, 27 of which are lit for night skiing, a terrain park, and areas to learn terrain skiing and snowboarding. At the end of the day, your entire group can head over to the Crystal Spa for rejuvenating massage treatments before retreating to your lodge or grabbing a bite to eat at one of the resort’s three restaurants.
Slow It Down
AMANA, IOWA
amanacolonies.org
The seven villages of the Amana Colonies, a National Historic Landmark, offer an array of casual, laid-back activities. The short travel from one village to another with your girlfriends is only half the trip. Stop at the specialty shops in the villages which offer handcrafted baskets and furniture to smoked meats and flaky pastries. Winterfest, a one-day festival that takes place this year on January 22nd, is the perfect excuse to gather your girlfriends, coats and scarves. The annual event features many activities, including ice sculpting and quilting demonstrations, a wine walk, and even a 5K!
Live It Up
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
visitkc.com
On the border of Missouri and Kansas, KC is an oft-forgotten gem. Within its several districts, Kansas City offers you and your girlfriends a change of scenery, even in the middle of a Midwestern winter. The Country Club Plaza District offers an upscale shopping and dining experience amid Spanish-inspired pedestrian streetscapes and architecture. The Crossroads Art District is home to the city’s art scene and features art galleries, eclectic boutiques and unique dining experiences. Close to the Country Club Plaza District, the Brookside District is the city’s first suburban shopping center and still boasts the original architecture and neighborhood charm. The Downtown/Power & Light District is a hotspot for night life and live music, especially jazz, where you and your girlfriends can unwind (or live it up!) after a day of shopping and dining.
Get Cultured
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
visitindy.com
Indianapolis is about much more than racing. A major Midwestern cultural hub, this city is home to one of the country’s 10 largest and oldest general art museums, the Indianapolis Museum of Art. You and your friends can admire their collection of more than 50,000 works of art representing a variety of cultures and periods—and get in for free, as there is no charge for general admission. You can also head to a funkier part of town known as the Fountain District. A more casual setting just southeast of downtown, this neighborhood features the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, several antique and vintage shops, restaurants, a vibrant arts scene and a hip nightlife.
Indulge Yourselves
HERMANN, MISSOURI
hermannmissouri.com
Hermann, Missouri is the heart of the Show-Me State’s wine country, literally. Within a 15-mile radius of the town are seven award-winning wineries offering a full weekend of wining for you and your best friends. Even in the winter, Hermann Hill Bed and Breakfast, overlooking the Missouri River Valley, is the perfect headquarters for your stay. Participate in the Chocolate Wine Trail on February 20 and 21, 2011, which will feature visits to six local wineries with chocolate and wine tastings.
A Bit of Everything
GALENA, ILLINOIS
visitgalena.org, galena.org
Galena has it all, right here in Illinois! Unique specialty shops line the streets with their antiques, freshly pressed olive oil and chocolates. Quaint, low-key restaurants and pubs featuring live music are great places to end the day. Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa will pamper you during your stay, while Chestnut Mountain, just outside Galena, and Sundown, a few minutes away in Dubuque, Iowa, offer top downhill skiing.
Stay Close to Home
PEORIA, ILLINOIS
peoria.org
If you spent the holidays traveling, the last thing you probably want to do is get in a car and drive somewhere. Luckily, there are several things you and your girlfriends can do right in your own backyard. Bill More of Your Secret Chef offers a “Girls’ Night In” package which includes a 30-minute massage for each girlfriend, wine and appetizers for those who have already finished or are waiting, and dinner and dessert for the entire group.
If you’re looking to go out on the town, you could take your chances at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino in East Peoria or customize some pottery at Fired Up in Peoria Heights. You might want to hit a few shops while you’re out—Metro Centre, Junction City, and of course, Peoria Heights have much to offer.
Or, if you and the girls prefer a good show, grab some seats at the Peoria Civic Center or the Peoria Players Theatre. The Civic Center offers the Blue Man Group on January 7th and 8th, and Grease on February 5th. Peoria Players will bring The Wizard of Oz to life on select dates in early February. a&s
