Your Dream Girls' Weekend

[hez]

I decided I needed a Girls Night In with my girlfriends, and in our email discussion so far today, the idea of a Girls' Weekend came up. Going someplace relatively close (we're in Cincy, for perspective) but getting away and having fun.

If you were planning a Girls' Weekend/Get-Away, where would you go? What would you do? We're open to driving up to Chicago to go shopping, renting a cabin in a nearby state park... pretty much anything.

I can't believe I've never done a girls' weekend this before-- DH has been on my case to do it for years, since he's got his golf trip with the guys every spring. I think it's time to do it this fall.

[ribbit1019]

Personally I'd love to spend a weekend shopping and staying at a Spa getting pampered. Massages, Pedicure, manicure, hair cut, styled and dyed, plus some shopping on the side. Ah a dream for me.

Of course where is the question...but I am certain you could find somewhere in Chicago, or maybe even Cinci.

Whatever you do it sounds like a great idea!!

Christy
Maddy born 06/09/04
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Little Peanut due 03/02/06
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[HGraceMom]

My DH does a college "fall men's trip" every year - I think they're on #11 this October.

None of the wives are REALLY close, but decided to do a girl's trip every now & again anyway. The trips we've done have been lots of fun. It's sad, it's so easy for the DHs to get away for a weekend without much planning stress - for the DWs, it's SO much work - someone is always nursing, pg, TTC, has to arrange sitters, preschool rides, etc... It'd be exhausting to plan a trip every year!

The first trip, we went to NY for a 3 day weekend - stayed at the plaza (split 4 ways wasn't too much $) and spent a day at the Greenhouse Spa (way too much $!) shopping (way too much $! :) and nice dinners out.

A couple of years later, we went to Chicago & did something similar - pricelined a 4* hotel (it was great - I definitely recommend it in Chicago where you can be picky about the location) spent a day shopping Rush & MI ave, had great dinners out, but skipped the spa - next time I'd at least add a manicure / pedicure or massage. The highlight of the trip was walking out of our elevator into a crowd of BEAUTIFUL men - they turned out to be the Avalanche hockey team!

The most recent trip was to Naples where one of the girl's parents had rented a huge condo for the winter - it was next door to the Ritz on the beach, so we did the spa there (sigh) but ate in most of the weekend, so in the end didn't spend much at all b/c lodging was free!

We haven't done one in 2 years, so we're about due - the boys have done everything from Vegas & NO, national parks, FL Keys, Atlantis, Outer Banks, and somewhere in AZ - this year they're going to Orlando for a golf trip, save for another hurricane... Looking back, I liked our lower key trip the best in FL - sleeping in late, lounging by the pool, cocktails in the afternoon, grilled dinners on the deck, more cocktails in the evening, great chick flicks, so would probably push for another similar trip. we'll see...

Have fun planning - from Cincy, you could definitely go to Atlanta & have a lot of fun - spas, shopping, great restaurants... with a little lower travel cost - or how about more relaxing trip during color season in a cabin near gatlinburg or somewhere else in the mountains?

[psophia17]

My best friend and I have been hitting the beach in Misquamicut, RI, every summer since we graduated from HS for a weekend. We get a campsite, make the fire up ourselves (without any chem. starters), eat like crazy, get some lobby lobsters, and lay on the beach all day. We have also gone to DisneyWorld (this was to celebrate 10 years of friendship), which was also our last trip before we both got married.

Now that I live so far away and have a DC to keep track of, and factoring in that she makes about triple what I do, she comes out here to Vancouver and we spend a week adventuring.

For my dream weekend with my BF, I think we'd have to either go back to Disney or we'd have to go on a outdoorsy adventure with mountain bikes, hiking, camping, the whole shebang...well, maybe we could do that on our way to Disney :)

[JMarie]

I live in the Chicago 'burbs and we regularly (two or three a year) have Girls Weekends up in the Wisconsin Dells. One of our girlfriends owns a hotel with her DH and we stay there, go to one of the spas for a day of pampering, and then hit the bars at night and act like we're in college again. We actually have one this weekend, but I'm not going since DH has to work. It's just so nice to get away with the girls.

As far as Chicago is concerned, there are tons of things to do in the city. You'd have no problem planning a weekend away. Good luck and I hope it happens for you! The time away is amazingly rejuvinating!

Jennifer
Mom to Aidan Christopher
01/28/03

[alkagift]

Hm...I think it depends on your friends! I would love to sit at one of the local mountain lodges or B&B's and have coffee, go for hikes, and park myself in the hot tub afterward. You might be a bit far for the beach, unless there is some lake place north of you that you would like.

I guess if I was in Cincy I would go east to the mountains. But that is just me. I would say that several of my friends are NOT camping types so we would have to stay at some sort of hotel-like establishment at a state park (there are two nice ones in our area) or a mountain hotel.

Enjoy!


Allison
Mommy to Matthew, who is TWO!

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[jbowman]

Heather,

If I lived in Cincinnati and wanted to get away for the weekend, I'd go to Bloomington, IN. But I'm a little biased ;).

Seriously, I'd drive to Chicago--shop, eat, and just have fun (and go to the Art Institute of course!). I second a PP's recommendation of using Priceline for a hotel. We've done this several times and have had a lot of luck--for instance, we stayed at the Palmer House--and it was dirt cheap!

And I would be remiss if I didn't suggest visiting Indianapolis, since it's my hometown. There is a lot to do there, too, and the drive is easy. As far as state parks, more rustic getaways, etc., Madison, Indiana is pretty (right on the river) and has a nice state park with beautiful hiking trails. It is only an hour from Cincinnati (if that, honestly).

Have fun!

[Wife_and_mommy]

Let us know where you decide to go. What a fun idea!

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[hez]

I go to church in Mason, and Payton's sitter is in Mason-- very small world indeed :)

I did some searches today on a few of the State Parks in OH-- Hocking Hills was one of the girls' suggestions. Unfortunately, we seem to want to go when everyone else wants to go-- must be the beauty during the fall :)

I'll let you all know what we end up doing-- I've been enjoying all your suggestions!!!

[Wife_and_mommy]

Would you like me to ask my MIL for more specific suggestions on state parks? My eyes kind of glaze over when she talks about hiking.(shhhh...don't tell ;) ) I'm sure she'd have great suggestions if that's what you're looking for.

Let me know. :)


Elizabeth

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Our second morsel due early February 2006!

[Sarah1]

First of all, good for your DH for encouraging you to do it. That's great. I think whatever you do depends on you and your friends' personalities. I'd be more of the shopping type vs. renting a cabin type. But if there was enough wine, I'm sure renting a cabin would be fun too :P

[hez]

Yup-- I'm getting the feeling that renting a cabin near shopping with an available hot tub and ability to drink wine (some State Parks don't allow it!) would be pretty close to perfect for us :)

[kransden]

My girl's weekend is in Feb. We go to a day spa and spend the day. We get dinner then casually shop the outlet mall. We just went in Aug. and spending the entire day at the spa wasn't as nice as Feb when it was cold.

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Karin and Katie 10/24/02

[Wife_and_mommy]

I don't drink but that sounds *fabulous* nonetheless!


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[hez]

Me neither, but the rest of the girls do :)

I'd rather have a Smirnoff Twisted or usually, just not drink at all!

[boys2enough]

Hi, a PP suggested "priceline" a hotel in the Chicago area. I second trtying out Priceline. I used Priceline twice already for very good result. There is a website called www.biddingfortravel.com where people post their "success" stories with priceline so you can see the date(s), the exact hotel and the price they got and what they put in to get that hotel for that price. (Hope I am making some sense here).

We got a room at Hyatt Regency Chicago on Wacker Drive over the Labor Day weekend for $100 (after tax).

I do have to say that with Priceline, you can't really see "reviews" or list of ammenities for the specific hotel you will be getting. I also used Hotwire for a couple of times and although Hotwire price tends to be higher than Priceline, you can see reviews for the hotel (though the name if obscured) if there have been reviews written for that hotel. I got a nice hotel in Boston and actually was pretty sure which hotel it was based on the reviews. (The review said "Nice water taxi right outside hotel," well, there is only one hotel with that description in the area I was looking for...)

Have fun on your girl's getaway weekend! BTW, Kudos for your DH for the nice "quid-pro-quo." :)

Cheers, Lin
Mom to 2 wild boys
D 3/98
G 11/02

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[muskiesusan]

I have never been, but have heard good things about French Lick Springs, Ind. www.frenchlick.com I would also think a trip to Chicago would fun.

A girls weekend sounds fun. I have never been on one, but should as DH has taken several trips with his buddies!

Susan
Mom to Nick 10/01
& Alex 04/04

[KrisM]

I'd probably do an adventure type vacation and then hang out at a cabin or rented house. Maybe white water rafting or hiking or something like that. From Cincy, maybe somewhere in Pennsylvania? Not sure.

If you do Chicago, we've found that staying out near the airport is way cheaper and you can just take hotel transportation to the airport and then the train into the city. Not bad.

Have a great time!

[KBecks]

I would like --

spa - massages or facials and manicures or pedicutes 1/2 day or so
a hike in a beautiful nature area
a great dinner
time to sit around and girl talk.

[Elilly]

Frenchlick is undergoing a major overhaul right now. The grand "reopening" is in fall of 06 when another new resort opens as well. The new resort is called West Baden and it is beautiful!

[mary b]

Heather,

Sorry, I am very late to this thread but wanted to give you a couple suggestions. I went to IU, so I love Bloomington and that and Brown County is always a good suggestion but Brown County is more countryish for shopping and more of a 'mellow' place than Bloomington definitely.

Also, my best GF and I meet up in Indy twice a year and just stay near Keystone and have a couple nice dinners and then spend all day Saturday shopping at Keystone at the Crossing and other malls. It's a WONDERFUL time and 1/2 way for both of us.

The other place that came to mind based on your criteria was Houston Woods. It's pretty packed in the fall, but they have AWESOME deluxe cabins that are loaded with all the amenties (fireplace, microwave etc) that overlook the lake. They really are nice and you could go into Oxford for funky shopping with the Miami students. I really like Oxford alot, it reminds me of Bloomington so much! i am sure you could find a decent place to find 'spa type treatments too'.

I also love Hocking Hills and there are a TON of places to stay there. We have stayed at these and loved them.
http://www.oldmanscavechalets.com/ I don't think there is a ton of shopping around but I haven't been there in a few years so you never know.

Let us know what you finally decide and you will love a girls' weekend!!! It's something everyone should do once a year!
Mary

Mom to Noelle and Lindsey

[jbowman]

>The other place that came to mind based on your criteria was
>Houston Woods. It's pretty packed in the fall, but they have
>AWESOME deluxe cabins that are loaded with all the amenties
>(fireplace, microwave etc) that overlook the lake. They really
>are nice and you could go into Oxford for funky shopping with
>the Miami students. I really like Oxford alot, it reminds me
>of Bloomington so much!

ITA with this suggestion! I went to IU for undergrad, DH went to Miami, and Oxford has always reminded me of a mini-Bloomington!

[hez]

I've been up to Oxford a couple times-- to paint pottery (a friend of a friend used to own a shop up there) and for dinner & drinks for a bachelorette party. It's absolutely gorgeous, I agree :)

I started to look into Hueston Woods-- need to recheck to see if they have any availability. Apparently my need to go coincides with everyone else's need to see beautiful fall colors!

[mary b]

Yep, fall is a crazy time to go to a state park since everyone wants to go and see the leaves change!

Good luck and Heather, I just saw your siggie. I am SO sorry for your loss!!

Mary

[mom to little e]

It sounds great! It agree that it is time to do something for yourself. There are so many options...going to NYC for a Broadway show would be on my wish list with some great shopping. I am excited for you.

I get to go on my first weekend get-away this year, too. I am going to go on a Scrapbook cruise (over a long weekend in October). I have two friends who will be on ship and I am so excited! I am addicted to scrapbooking but never have the time with DH, DS, work, the house, DM, cat, dog, etc., etc. I am starting to plan my packing now. For me, time to scrap is the ultimate enjoyment for something for myself.

Have fun & tell us what you decide!

Maryann
Momma to Ean
and Baby Girl EDD 01/08/06

[hez]

OMG-- they have scrapbook cruises???? I'd be in heaven :) :) :)

Unfortunately only a couple in this group scrapbook, I may have to set up another trip with my scrapbooking pals!

[Wife_and_mommy]

I've never heard of such a thing! Do share, please. :)

I just did an all-day event and it was a great time. I'd love to have a couple days straight to work away. I only have a couple more pages before I start dd's baby album. I can't wait to be totally up to date! I can just taste it. :)


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