Valentine's Day isn't only for couples. Celebrate your friendships by grabbing your gal pals and planning the ultimate girls trip for Galentine's Day. This is the perfect opportunity to plan an amazing getaway, where you can splurge and treat yourselves to a long weekend escape. Whatever you and your best friends like to do for fun, there's a Galentine's Day weekend getaway out there for you.
The 5 Best Galentine's Day Getaways
1. Beach
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If you and your friends love the beach, then consider heading to Miami, Florida. February is a great time to check out the energetic city because the weather is perfect during the winter. It isn't too hot or too cold, so you can enjoy lounging on the beach during the day and still go out and have a fun time at night.
The city is overflowing with art, spanning from Art Deco architecture to vast murals painted by world-renowned artists. Historical Art Deco is found around Ocean Drive, where there are plenty of popular hotel bars and restaurants to explore just across the street from South Beach. Wynwood Arts is also great to walk through because the massive murals that line the streets change almost every month. World-renowned muralist known as ELLE explained why Miami has a special place in her heart. She told Wide Open Roads, "I come to Miami to go to the beach to relax and see Art Deco. And then Wynwood-I come for the art and to be inspired by the creatives and the color. What they do here is very special."
Check out our recommendations for the most stylish Airbnb rentals to stay in during your trip.
2. Wineries & Wine Tasting
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If you and your crew want to turn your wine nights into a wine weekend, then plan on exploring Willamette Valley up north in Oregon for Cellar Season. Although the state is home to more than 900 wineries and vineyards, most are found in Willamette Valley- known for its world-class Pinot Noirs. And according to Morgen McLaughlin, the executive director of Willamette Valley Wineries Association, "Cellar Season, between the first of the New Year and the onset of spring, is one of the best times of the year to experience world-class wines at a relaxed pace."
The February events on the Cellar Season calendar will include wine and chocolate events, pairing dinners, cocktail classes, and even virtual tastings if you and the girls want to participate from your homes. "There's a quiet and contagious energy to Cellar Season, from the neatly-pruned vineyard rows and moody sunsets to the newly invigorated winemaking community, fresh off of another outstanding vintage," McLaughlin said. "It's an incredible time to acquaint yourself with a new wine or winery as distractions are few and far between."
Visit the Willamette Valley Wine Association website to build your trip and decide which wineries you want to hit in the area or what online events you might be interested in.
3. Food & Nightlife
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If you and your besties like to hit the bars, then head to New Orleans, Louisiana. The high-spirited place holds streets lined with famous bars and jazz clubs that can keep you busy until dawn. But with all the places to hit, taking a cocktail tour will be your best shot at making the most of your weekend. So have the ladies at Drink & Learn expertly guide you through the NOLA cocktail scene!
Drinks historian Elizabeth Pearce and bartender extraordinaire Abigail Gullo will take you into the city's rich history through its most famous cultural drinks. The power duo hosts the Drink & Learn podcast, where they highlight the intersections between booze, history, and culture. Pearce, a highly commended storyteller, explained how her tour sets itself apart from the others and those who take it are always pleasantly surprised.
"People go in knowing they're going to learn the history of New Orleans. But when they sign up for a cocktail tour-and I've had multiple people say this-it is not what they expected. They are shocked by a larger understanding of New Orleans and how it came to be. And they didn't know that you could learn that through drinks."
"It's a very interesting way to learn the history of New Orleans. Drinking alcohol is something that, for good or ill, is definitely associated with the city, maybe a whole lot of it," she said. "The other thing is that this is a walking tour. You're getting to be out in French Quarter, which is generally beautiful. And the other aspects of the tour that is nice is that you're hearing the story of the drink, how it was created, where it was created, what led to its creation, and/or how that intersects with a larger narrative of the story of New Orleans."
And for all the foodies, you'll also have a wide variety of local cuisine to try, where you'll get to experience cultural foods found nowhere else. Nurse your hangovers by having brunch at the famous French Café du Mondé with a Cafe Au Lait and tasty beignet. And if you need something a little heavier to soak up all that alcohol, check out Neyow's Creole Cafe for some good ol' Creole comfort food.
4. Wellness
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If you and your girlfriends bond over recovering from your everyday lives, then book a weekend at Hilton Head Health in South Carolina. Just a couple hours from Charleston, this wellness retreat offers everything you would want from a trip of pampering. The resort not only offers spa treatments of all kinds, including saunas and facials, but also fitness and cooking classes that you can take to learn how to incorporate healthy living habits into your lifestyle.
5. The Great Outdoors
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If your girl gang loves the outdoors, then a road trip around Utah makes for perfect girlfriend getaway. The state holds plenty of outdoor parks and recreation that vary from skiing and snowboarding to hiking some of the most beautiful national parks in the country. Check out Alta Ski Area, Snowbird Ski Resort, and Powder Mountain Resort- the largest ski resort in North America.
And if you are planning a road trip for a long weekend, add visiting one of the "Mighty 5" national parks to your itinerary. Utah holds Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park. All of these gorgeous natural regions hold some of the most breathtaking sights worth seeing while exploring the area. If you have the time for a longer vacation, check out our 10-day road trip across Utah that will take you through all five of these incredible national parks.
Where do you like to travel with your best friends? Share your experiences with us on our Wide Open Roads Facebook!
