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?