Girls Weekend Getaways To Take With Your True Soulmates

Valentine’s Day is when you celebrate all the loves of your life, and let’s be honest, that doesn’t have to mean a significant other. As Carrie from Sex and the City so aptly said, “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates…” and we couldn’t agree more!

So this year, make sure you celebrate the ladies in your life. Plan a fun-filled escape to catch up with your true soulmates. To help you out, we’ve put together eight destinations perfect for a girls weekend getaway. Get ready for some laughter, fun, and pampering.

Heather Paul, Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The charming coastal town of Kennebunkport, Maine is a great option for a girls weekend getaway this Galentine’s Day. The slow pace of this beach town allows you and your girlfriends to reconnect and enjoy spending time together. With the summer crowds long gone, the pace is slow in February and the seaside town shines as a haven of relaxation.

You’ll need to pack plenty of cozy, cable-knit sweaters because New England winters can be brisk. Luckily, there will be lots of hot chocolate and mulled wine to warm you.

Spend some time in the town center, called Dock Square, and pop into all the locally-owned boutiques. A favorite shop is Day Trip Society, where you’ll find everything from sunglasses and bags made from old lobster nets to jewelry and camping supplies.

For brunch head to Salt & Honey and warm up with a bowl of their Frogmore Stew. You can’t visit New England without enjoying a famous lobster roll and Salt & Honey certainly serves a tasty one. For evening cocktails, pull up a seat to the bar at Alisson’s. Aptly nicknamed the Cheers of Kennebunkport, you’ll find a cozy place filled with locals to chat with and laugh over drinks inside.

trivago Hotel tip: The Grace White Barn Inn

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Visit Florida

Bring on the sun! West Palm Beach beckons beach-seekers every season of the year. Sure, Miami gets most of the attention on Florida’s East Coast, but West Palm Beach has a more refined, boutique atmosphere.

Peruse the antique shops in the North Village or splurge on designer items at luxury stores like Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Chanel along Worth Avenue. Mediterranean-style architecture and endless rows of palm trees weave throughout this breezy, upscale beach town.

The best way to take it all in is to hop on a rental bike and cruise the town. Once you hit the beach, lay your bike down and wiggle your toes in soft, white sand. To cap off the day, head to the iconic The Breakers Hotel for a tasty cocktail, like the Palm Beach Iced Tea. Cheers to a girls weekend getaway of a lifetime.

trivago Hotel Tip: Hilton West Palm Beach

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The Chanler

Newport has both a charming downtown with a variety of shops and eateries and a dramatic coastline peppered with historic mansions. From dawn until dusk, 365 days of the year, you can stroll along Newport’s famous Cliff Walk. On one side of the pathway, watch as the Atlantic Ocean crashes into the rugged cliffs below. On the other side of the path, ogle at grandiose mansions that date back to the Gilded Age and were once home to famous families like the Vanderbilts.

Downtown Newport’s main stretch runs parallel to the waterfront, lined with family-owned, nautical-themed shops and relaxed seafood eateries. For a real, local taste of the town, try the creamy clam chowder at the famous restaurant The Black Pearl. Perfectly encapsulating that laid-back, coastal New England vibe, Newport is the perfect destination for a Galentine’s Day getaway with the ladies.

trivago Hotel Tip: Gilded

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Ashley Knedler, Unsplash

Upon arrival to Savannah, you’ll immediately feel as though you’ve stepped back into a romantic time of the past. The historic, romantic Georgia city is Antebellum South at its best. Trees draped in Spanish moss pepper the yards of stunning old mansions, and the restaurants serve some of the most satisfying Southern cuisine you’ll ever feast upon.

Start your day with brunch at B. Matthews Eatery where you simply must order the biscuits and gravy. The quintessential southern dish is heavy but delicious and will certainly fuel your day of exploring. Get a Bloody Mary to-go because open containers are legal here and then head out to see the city. Start by walking on the waterfront along River Street; the 200-year-old cobblestone stretch runs parallel to the Savannah River and used to be home to dozens of warehouses. Today, there are a plethora of galleries, shops, and bars in the area. Next, explore the Historic District. Placards share tidbits of historical facts from the days of the American Revolution and Civil War.

If you’ve read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the book comes to life in Savannah, especially over by the Mercer House. The mansion from the book is open for public tours — if you’re into the macabre. When the clock strikes happy hour, grab the ladies and hop aboard Savannah Slow Ride. The pedal-powered pub crawl seats 15 and is a fun way to see the city while quenching your thirst at the same time.

trivago Hotel Tip: The Planter’s Inn

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Frank Köhntopp, Unsplash

Skip the bright lights of Times Square and crowded buggy rides in Central Park and head to Manhattan’s trendy downtown neighborhoods for your next trip with the ladies. The Lower East Side abounds with hipster coffee shops and mysterious speakeasies (PDT is one of the coolest in the city). Nolita and SoHo are chock full of boutique shops, and the tree-lined streets of the West Village boast picturesque brownstones and some of the best eateries in the city.

Scope out the stoop of Carrie Bradshaw’s house from Sex and the City then enjoy a leisurely brunch at the quaint corner spot, The Little Owl. There’s so much character to each of the neighborhoods and there’s no better way to explore them than with your girlfriends by your side.

trivago Hotel Tip: SoHo Grand

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These days the East End of Long Island is buzzing all year round. For the most fun with your girlfriends, head out past the Hamptons and join the fun in the easternmost town on the island, Montauk. With plenty of beach-chic hotels and boutique shops, you’ll find plenty things to do come day or night. If the weather is nice, pack a few blankets and a picnic and cozy up on the famed Ditch Plains beach to watch one of the best surf breaks on the East Coast.

Great restaurants are in no short supply here. The Clam Bar, a beloved roadside shack on the outskirts of town, serves the best lobster roll around, and the Surf Lodge is the perfect spot for evening cocktails in a chic, design-forward space.

Montauk is a crazy collision of laid-back fishing town and trendy weekend destination. Exploring with your girlfriends is the ideal way to take it all in.

trivago Hotel Tip: Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Spa

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Greenwich Avenue

If you ladies want to do some serious shopping on your girls weekend getaway this Galentine’s Day, Greenwich is the place to go. One of the wealthiest cities in the country, Greenwich Avenue is chock full of high-end shopping. From Saks Fifth Avenue to Rag & Bone, there are plenty of options if you’re looking to go on a little splurge. Over on Main Street, you’ll find more favorites like Theory and West Elm.Shop ‘til you drop, then fuel up with a farm-to-table brunch at Terrain. The garden café serves delicious Italian-American fare, like arancini and quiche. Once you’ve stuffed your stomach, you can browse the eclectic home decor.

For a little arts and culture, head to the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science where they always have fascinating exhibitions going on from Mineral Masterpieces to American Abstraction. In the evening, L’Escale is the ideal waterfront spot to enjoy cocktails at the bar. You’ll likely be surrounded by everyone from young foodies to moneyed locals, so it’s a great place to people watch as well.

trivago Hotel tip: Delamar Greenwich Harbor

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Courtesy of Doug Hickok and the Charleston Area CVB, ExploreCharleston.com

Much like Savannah, you can’t think of the South without thinking of Charleston. With almost every old home and majestic tree draped in Spanish moss, the coastal South Carolina city just exudes antebellum charm.

Start your day by picking up a palmetto rose and some local trinkets while breathing in the history at the Historic Charleston City Market. The four-city-block-long building is nearly 200 years old and full of stalls selling local goodies.

No trip to Charleston is complete without a meal at Husk, and their brunch is especially phenomenal. Located in the historic downtown and housed in an old antebellum home, Husk serves all the Southern dishes you crave, but with an updated twist. We suggest the fried chicken, but with James Beard Award-winning Chef Sean Brock at the helm, you really can’t go wrong with any order. After such a decadent meal, you’ll need to do some walking and Waterfront Park is by far the loveliest place to stroll.

Lined by old mansions, the park lawn is a great place to relax with a book, have a picnic, or just wander around. The area is dotted with old artifacts and historic plaques, which means you can relax and learn at the same time. Ogling at all the beautiful historic homes is reason enough to visit Charleston, and this is one of best spots in the city to do so.

When you’re ready for a drink, stop in at O’Hara and Flynn. The hole-in-the-wall wine bar is the perfect to start your girl’s night out.

trivago Hotel Tip: Belmond Charleston Place

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*Feature photo courtesy of Ben Duchac, Unsplash