girlfriend getaway Archives

Solo trips and romantic escapes have their place. But sometimes we boomer women want a little more girlfriend bonding time. The next time you’re ready for a gal pal getaway, here are 10 Best Boomer Women Bonding Trips to satisfy your wanderlust for a day, a weekend or an extended vacation:

#1 – Spa Travel

Boomers have led the pack in spa travel for decades and we’re not ready to change that anytime soon, are we? Not only do spas offer pampering treatments, saunas and hot springs; increasingly, spa travel takes a 360 approach to health and wellness in exotic locations. Whether you tend towards yoga classes by the sea, hiking through old-growth forests or weight loss boot camps, you’re bound to come home relaxed and rejuvenated.

#2 -Foodie Fun

Food and wine are meant to be shared with friends. So why not sign up for a tasting tour, 5 course progressive dinner or cooking class to discover new flavors and gastronomic traditions? Browsing local farmers’ markets will whet your appetite and inspire new culinary concoctions. Learn from master chefs as you eat and drink your way around the world, or even your own neighborhood.

#3 – Cultural Immersion

Unique, authentic experiences remain high on the boomer women’s favorite travel list. The desire to connect with a place through its people and customs leads to learning a foreign language in the country where it’s spoken. Or renting an apartment so you can mix & mingle with local residents instead of staying in a hotel.

#4 – City Slicker Escape

Take advantage of the many girlfriend getaway hotel packages, offering everything from champagne & chocolate greetings to scenic city views and tickets to special events. Go to a show in your hometown or explore a new destination together through its art and architecture. Investigate the city’s history on foot, by subway or trolley for your own urban renewal.

#5 – Bucket List Adventure

What places are still on your Bucket List? Where in the world do you want to go next? Make a plan with a gal pal to start taking turns on annual getaways. This year you get to choose and cross one more destination or travel experience off your list. Next year she gets to choose. But why wait to another whole year? How about twice or even four times a year instead?

#6 – Writer’s Retreat

A writer’s retreat is just the thing for wanderboomers who want to explore self-expression through poetry, memoir or the next best novel. Pick up tips of the trade from guest speakers and enjoy dedicated time to pursuing your craft with a girlfriend. By the time you return home, you will be well on your way to achieving your writing goals.

#7 – Festival Tour

Find your inner fun at a traditional festival anywhere around the world. Dance the samba at Carnival in Brazil. Or celebrate the rites of Spring at the colorful Holi Festival in India. Enjoy the annual Songwriting Festival in Gulf Shores or listen to jazz in Montreal. Don’t forget Quebec’s Winter Festival or the Sundance Film Festival which honors the best in independent films.

#8 – Trip Down Memory Lane

Through Facebook I’ve reconnected with a childhood girlfriend. We each moved on to different parts of the country long ago. But we plan to meet up again in the place where we spent our early days as best buddies. Or maybe we’ll just skip that part and sign up for the annual Beatles cruise, basking in our shared childhood memories of the Fab Four.

#9 – Voluntourism

Want to make a difference in the lives of the people you meet in your travels? Volunteer tourism provides wanderlusters with rewarding opportunities to help with hiking trails maintenance, housing projects, tutoring or care for the elderly, often in exchange for discounted travel costs. You can see the world, help the planet and build cross-cultural relationships all on one trip.

#10 – Thelma & Louise Road Trip

For the ultimate boomer girlfriend escape, plan your own road trip together with or without GPS. Though you might want to visualize a different ending from the movie . . . Road trips provide just the right balance of destination discoveries, thoughtful conversation and self-reflection. Get off the beaten path and enjoy your shared adventure.

Disclosure: Some, though not all, of my travel experiences seen here were provided by Idaho and Quebec tourism hosts.

Wander on!

Nancy

What’s your favorite girlfriend bonding trip, wanderboomers?

GirlfriendGetaway (299 x 450)

Okay, wanderboomer gals. Let’s eat!

After dropping off bags at your Gulf Shores lodging, it’s time to sample a few of the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama before You Die.” But why not make your food outing an adventure? Here’s how to kick your mealtimes up a notch:

1) Cheer on your favorite team at The Compleat Angler Seafood Grille and Bar.

TheCompleatAnglerSeafoodGrilleandBar (450 x 336) (450 x 336)

Don’t be surprised to spot owner/Head Fry Cook Bob Baumhower greeting guests while overseeing the details of his legendary establishment. Football fans will recognize Baumhower’s name from his days of playing college football at the University of Alabama before moving on to pro-ball for the Miami Dolphins.

Come here for the “casual sports scene with a strong Southern twist.” We loved the island spirit hospitality, tasty seafood gumbo, Bob’s 100% fresh beef burgers and fried bananas pudding. Oh, yeah.

2) Visit a cultural icon.

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That’s how locals describe the Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar (so-named because of its strategic location on the Alabama and Florida state lines in Perdido Key) and also known as “the last great American roadhouse.” We were lucky enough to visit during the annual Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival, but “The Bama” features music 365 days a year.

Order the award-winning Bushwacker (described as “a chocolate milkshake with a kick”), settle back and enjoy the music, or get up and dance the night away.

3) Learn how to make your own sushi.

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Southern hospitality shines at the upscale Zen Restaurant, where award-winning Chef Brody Olive oversees a master staff specializing in Asian fusion cuisine. The open kitchen allows dining patrons to watch the staff create appetizers like the Crawfish and Chorizo Wantons or the Hoisin Barbeque Baby Back Ribs. If you’re up for learning how to make your own sushi, for an additional fee of $20.00 – $30.00 with reservations, you can discover your inner-chef with dishes like the Oyster’s Rockefeller or Curry Hawaiian roll.

Be sure, too, to taste one of the signature handcrafted cocktails like the Zenlicious (orange vodka, Malibu pineapple and cranberry juice) for the complete Zen experience.

4) Hire a Chef.

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If you’d prefer to stay in rather than dine out after a day of play in Gulf Shores, Chef Chris Sherrill offers an outstanding alternative with Staycations Catering. As one of 8 Gulf-area chefs to participate in events for the U.S. Olympic team during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Chef Chris Sherrill knows how to feed a hungry crowd. He’ll even go the extra mile, like heading out to catch flounder himself at 2:00 – in the morning – to create the perfect dish for his customers.

5) Splurge on dessert.

Hope Cheescake (450 x 336)

Gourmet cheesecake lovers will want to sample every single one of Hope’s Cheescakes, I kid you not. Not only are they made with the finest ingredients like Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese, fresh whole eggs, pure cane sugar, fresh lemon juice, and luscious chocolates and liqueurs, but each is a visual work of art. In case you do want to sample more than one delectable piece, the bakery offers bite-size cheesecakes as well. With flavors like Pecan Praline, Chocolate Kahlua, Key Lime and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, how can you go wrong?

What’s your favorite fun food experience, wanderboomers?

10 Best Boomer Women Bonding Trips

Girlfriend Getaway: 5 Fun Food Adventures in Gulf Shores, Alabama

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