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Any kind of trip is amazing, but a trip with your best friends is on a whole other level. I don’t think there’s anything better for the soul than spending an uninterrupted weekend just hanging out with your girls. If you’re anything like me and my friends, then you know sometimes life gets in the way of spending time together. A weekend together can give everyone a chance to reconnect and escape from every day life for a bit. Who knows, you might even find out something new about one another!
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a great place for a girl’s trip. It’s pretty easily accessible and full of fun things to do making it an ideal city for a long weekend trip. The Big Easy is probably most well known for Bourbon Street and the craziness of Mardi Gras. While I can’t deny that Bourbon can get a little wild, you can definitely avoid all the craziness if it’s just not your scene.
Our weekend in New Orleans was jam packed. Our first day we took a streetcar from our hotel to the Garden District. We spent the whole morning strolling through all the different neighborhoods and looking at the gorgeous houses. After we were gardened out, we visited a few cool cemeteries as well.
We visited New Orleans two weeks prior to Mardi Gras. I loved it because we got to have some of the experiences, such as the awesome parades, without the crowds. Don’t get me wrong- I’m all about having a good time, I just think I’ve gotten too old to enjoy the wild party scene. We did spend both nights hanging out on Bourbon Street. It was a lot of fun so don’t be intimidated if you don’t love the bar scene.
If you plan on making the most of your trip, make sure you check out the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass. It’s really handy to have one of these things because for one price you can get into all kinds of attractions without the hassle of having to worry about carrying around tons of tickets.
2. Austin, Texas
I talk about Austin all of the time. In fact, I wrote a whole blog post about it here. Austin is so laid back and I love it. Pair that with great weather and you have yourself a winner.
We stayed outside of Austin at the Lakeway Resort and Spa. We spent the day at the pool overlooking Lake Travis. The first night, we drove into the city and checked out the local bars. Dirty 6th Street was our first stop, it was hoppin but a little crazy for our taste. We ended up on Rainey Street which I thought was awesome. There were a ton of laid back bars and my favorite- food trucks. It turned out to be a great night.
The next day, we took some time to explore downtown Austin. We started at the Capitol Building. It is giant so it took a while to explore. After that we wandered the streets and checked out all the local stores. If you have a sweet tooth I highly suggest taking a break from shopping at Voodoo Donuts. I can attest to the tastiness of the sprinkled cake donut but I have to admit that I still regret missing out on the cock-n-balls donut.
My friends and I spent the afternoon at the Zilker Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden was a nice little break from the city. It was a lot of fun exploring the different exhibits. We ended our day checking out the bats on the Congress Avenue Bridge. You can read about it here!
3. Asheville, North Carolina
Because I have family in the area, I have been to Asheville many times. Asheville is the perfect mix of hipster and classic southern charm. Last time I was there, we stayed in a cute little cabin about 30 minutes outside of the city. It was definitely an awesome little retreat but I think next time I visit I want to stay closer to the city so I’m able to do some more exploring.
The first thing we did when we got to Asheville was hit up one of the local breweries, Wicked Weed Brewing. They had an awesome outside seating area, great beers and tasty food. From there we wandered around, checking out all the local shops and galleries.
We spent the entire next day in Asheville at Biltmore Estates. I have been to Biltmore so many times and believe me when I say that it never gets old. Biltmore Estate is a 250- room chateau that was built by George Vanderbilt in the 1800s. The house (can I call it a house?) is obviously massive and you can tour the whole thing. Biltmore has branched out over the years, adding restaurants, shops and a winery. You can easily spend the good part of a day here so make sure you plan accordingly!
4. New York City, New York
You can’t talk about a girl’s trip without mentioning New York City. Some of my best memories are trips to the city with my family. For a first time city-goer I feel like New York can seem really intimidating, but I promise once you get there you will be absolutely fine. Planning is definitely key here. New York is so giant that it’s super easy to get overwhelmed if you’re not prepared.
If you’re a New York newbie- or actually even if you’re not- I recommend starting with Hop On Hop Off Bus tickets. By grabbing passes to a Hop On Hop Off bus, you can travel all over the city without the crowds of the subway or paying an arm and a leg for a taxi. Plus it takes guesswork out of the equation- it takes you right to the major tourist attractions! Some of my favorites are Time Square, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. Last trip I able to make it to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It is extremely well done and I highly recommend it.
If you’re looking for something to do in the evening, consider checking out a Broadway show. Something you really want to see? Definitely buy your tickets well in advance. If you’re up for being spontaneous or you want to save a little cash, check out a TKTS booth once you’re in the city for discounted (up to 50% off!) same-day theater tickets.
5. Orlando, Florida
If Sam is anywhere near me when I even mention Orlando the eye rolls start. I *might* have a little obsession with Disney World (p.s. Check out some sweet discounts here by the way. You’re welcome). But Disney isn’t the only thing Orlando has to offer.
Because Orlando is such a popular tourist destination, there is an infinite amount of things to do. Zip lining, airboat tours, miniature golf, zoos, aquariums, Gatorland- need I go on? It almost makes me wish that I wasn’t such a Disney freak so I could enjoy the rest of this stuff more often.
Even if you’re not planning on going into the actually parks at Disney World, you can still experience some of the magic by checking out Disney Springs. Disney Springs is open to anyone and is a prime destination for shopping, dining and yes, the world’s largest Disney store.
So there you have it folks. Where am I missing? Make sure you let me know in the comments below!
