Girls Weekend Getaways

I took this photo of an ancient fort while traveling with my girlfriends
I took this photo of an ancient fort while traveling with my girlfriends

There’s something so special about setting aside time for a girls’ weekend getaway. Whether it’s catching up over long dinners, laughing late into the night, or exploring somewhere new together, these trips are all about connection, fun, and creating memories you’ll cherish for years.

Where you go sets the vibe, and each getaway offers its own way to bond and recharge. Here are some of the best girls’ weekend getaways I’ve discovered with my girlfriends over the last 30 years, and I hope you love them too.

Walk along the shore and enjoy sea breezes on a relaxing summer trip.

Myrtle Beach

This place wowed us with relaxing views and friendly service. We drove about 3.5 hours southeast from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach, the heart of South Carolina’s 60-mile “Grand Strand.” Once a quiet stretch of dunes, the city grew into one of America’s top beach resorts.

For a beach reunion with one of my closest friends, I was craving sun, space to unwind, and just enough fun to keep things interesting, and Myrtle Beach totally delivered.

When we arrived in Myrtle Beach for our girls’ trip, I felt like we had landed in the perfect spot for fun, relaxation, and making memories together.

The beach itself was absolutely spectacular—miles of golden sand and rolling waves that gave us a joyful sense of freedom as we kicked off our shoes and ran straight into the water.

We stayed at 4-star North Beach Resort & Villas which won a AAA Four Diamond award so you can trust that it's high quality.

We spent the mornings lounging under umbrellas, sipping cold drinks, and laughing about everything and nothing...it felt like a hidden gem moment of pure friendship.

One of my favorite parts was strolling the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, where the shops, live music, and ocean views made the atmosphere so exciting and full of life.

Even the quieter moments, like sitting on the balcony of our hotel sharing stories while the waves crashed below, felt unforgettable.

Beautiful summer sunrise in the Myrtle Beach in South Carolina
Myrtle Beach Pier closeup at sunrise
Go hiking and explore mountain sights on an exciting weekend getaway.

Boulder, CO

I fell hard for this lovely mountain city and it was the perfect place to reconnect with my girlfriends.

We drove about 40 minutes northwest from Denver to Boulder. Boulder’s heart is Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian stretch filled with shops, buskers, and cafés. We browsed bookstores, watched street performers, and capped the day with dinner on a patio framed by mountain views.

When we arrived in Boulder, Colorado for our girlfriends’ trip, I felt like we had landed in a place that blended spectacular mountain scenery with a cool, laid-back vibe. We stayed at St. Julien Hotel & Spa, a AAA Four-Diamond award winner.

One of my favorite parts was grabbing brunch at a local farm-to-table spot, where the food was fresh, colorful, and perfect for lingering over long conversations.

We also wandered through the farmer’s market, picking up snacks and soaking in the atmosphere, which felt like the coolest way to spend time together outdoors.

University of Colorado Boulder Campus, Boulder Colorado, Flatirons
Reading, PA: Vintage Finds, Mountain Views & Cozy Catch-Ups

Reading, PA

I was amazed by how welcoming this place was! We drove about 1 hour 15 minutes northwest from Philadelphia to Reading.

We felt like we had found a city that blends history, creativity, and fun in the most unique way. We stayed at 3-star DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading for two days.

We started our trip at the Pagoda on Mount Penn, and I loved how standing at the top with them gave us spectacular views of the city—it felt like such a hidden gem moment to share together with my girlfriends.

Later, we explored the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, and wandering through the galleries gave us a joyful sense of inspiration while we admired the local creativity.

One of my favorite parts was strolling through the Reading Public Museum, where we found art, science, and cultural exhibits that made for an awesome afternoon of exploring and laughing together.

Relax on white sands and savor seafood on a family beach vacation.

Destin, FL

I absolutely adored the beaches here! When my girlfriends and I arrived in Destin, Florida, I felt like we had stepped into a spectacular beach paradise with emerald-green waters and sugar-white sand.

We drove about 1 hour 20 minutes east from Pensacola to Destin, nicknamed the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”

We set up on the beach right away, and I loved how the sparkling coastline felt like a hidden gem where we could soak up the sun, laugh, and just enjoy being together.

Later, we explored HarborWalk Village, where shops, restaurants, and live entertainment gave us an awesome mix of fun and relaxation.

Evenings were spectacular—we dressed up and went out for fresh seafood dinners overlooking the water, then watched the sunset melt into the horizon while the sky lit up in pink and gold.

Pelican and Pier Piling Sunset Seascape Silhouettes
Urban landscape in downtown San Jose, Silicon Valley, California
Visit tech museums and explore downtown sights on an affordable city trip.

San Jose, CA

I thought this was one of the most exciting cities for a West Coast trip with my girlfriends.

We started downtown at the San Pedro Square Market, and I loved how the lively food stalls and music gave us a joyful sense of community right in the heart of the city.

Later, we wandered through the Japanese Friendship Garden, and the peaceful ponds and cherry blossoms felt like a hidden gem escape from the urban energy.

I loved how the city’s diversity showed through in its food. One meal could be authentic Vietnamese, the next a farm-to-table Californian dish, and both felt unforgettable.

We ended the day on the rooftop, watching the lovely sunset.

San Jose City Hall
San Jose State University
My photo of yellow blooms in a botanical garden
My photo of yellow blooms in a botanical garden
Ema Bio
Hi, We are Ema and Chris and we started this website in 1999. While our home is in Texas, we've lived in many different places months at a time reserching travel. While our website VacationIdea.com is small with under 200 pages and all the content written by just the two of us, you'll find a host of diverse and hidden vacation ideas for weekend getaways, day trips in the USA, and longer vacations, based on our personal travels. Keeping this website small allows us to keep it up to date with our latest discoveries and photos while we travel. We hope that reading this inspires you to travel to our favorite hidden gems. Why trust us? We founded this site decades ago and not only are we expert road trippers, but we also work with tourism agencies to stay pluggend into the latest openings and what's new and unique in travel. Chris is an award-winning photographer and designer, giving our contant a visual polish. We've received many awards and media mentions, including Forbes Best of the Web, abc6 Morning Show, UMich, 7News, WA State Department, and many others.