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“Girls just want to have fun.” Cyndi Lauper’s hit is the mantra of overworked women seeking out time to relax and have fun with their besties. When you carve out some getaway fun time, the New England region has everything from sophisticated shows and fine dining to beachfront rentals and shows.
There is a girls’ getaway weekend just waiting to happen. You can escape to a charming bed and breakfast nestled in quaint countryside for a peaceful retreat, explore local shops, and wineries, indulge in spa treatments, and savor delicious dinners. Alternatively, you can embark on scenic hikes, paddleboard adventures, or simply unwind by a crackling fireplace with your bestie.
Note: Some information in this piece was obtained during a sponsored press trip, but all recommendations are my own.
The Best Girls Getaways, New England – To Relax and Have Fun
Set Sail To Provincetown
Grab the Provincetown Ferry and leave your car and your work-a-day worries behind. Quirky and flamboyant, a weekend getaway in Provincetown, P-town to the locals, has shopping, great food, raucous entertainment, and fun in the sun. Stroll down Commercial Street popping in and out of cute shops. Linger at the beautiful art galleries that sell local artists’ work and discover that perfect piece you have been hunting for.
Walk down the pier and join a whale-watching expedition. When night falls head over to the Crown and Anchor for a comedic drag show. Laughter is the best medicine, and you will have all you need to cure what ails you. For a toes-in-the-sand stay, check out this Boatyard Luxury Waterfront Apartment that sleeps eight with four bedrooms. Is there anything more relaxing than staying right on the beach? The third-floor apartment has a deck overlooking the sand and the ocean views beyond.
Pro Tip: You don’t need a car when visiting P-town. Everything is within walking distance. There are a lot of things you can do in Provincetown, MA.
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Spa Retreat, Lenox, Massachusetts
Canyon Ranch offers guests a luxurious, all-inclusive getaway. Their Lenox, Massachusetts, wellness resort is located in the heart of the Berkshires. You can simply relax in wonderful self-pampering or get out and push your physicality to the max. Whatever path you choose, you will feel grounded and centered when the weekend is over. Each participant can choose their own “pathway” during the stay.
The diverse offerings include the Personal Discovery Pathway, Optimal Health Exploration Pathway, Outdoor Escape Pathway, and several others. Each pathway has a central theme and activities tailored to your every need. Additionally, there are over 35 activities that happen each day included in your stay. Choose from yoga classes, wellness talks, workouts, hikes, and creative classes to make up your own unique experience. At the end of the day, join your gal pals for a beautifully prepared dinner and lively conversation where you can come together to share your wellness journey.
Pro Tip: Canyon Ranch also has wellness resorts in Tucson, Arizona; Woodside, California; and Las Vegas, Nevada, and offers programs that explore the location along with catering to your health and well-being.
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Elegant Country Inn
The Woodstock Inn, located in Vermont, is synonymous with classic country elegance. The resort resides in the quintessentially quaint town of Woodstock. Exquisitely appointed rooms, luxurious fine dining, and a verdant rural location take you miles from your work-a-worries. This is the spot to slow down, reflect, and replenish.
Spend the day experiencing rejuvenating treatments in the spa, don your hiking boots and explore the Green Mountains, learn a new sport — fly fishing, play a round of golf, or just relax and immerse yourself in a great novel. The Woodstock Inn has a pre-packaged Girlfriends’ Getaway and all you need to sign up!
Pro Tip: Beautiful at any time of the year, the Woodstock area is spectacular in autumn. For more information about Woodstock, see our tips for the best things to do in Woodstock, Vermont.
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Shop Till You Drop
Situated on the jagged Maine coastline, Portland is a quaint seaside town perfectly located between two major shopping extravaganzas. Just 50 miles north of Kittery, Maine, home to a wide array of outlet stores and 20 miles south of Freeport, home to L.L.Bean, Portland is a nice resting spot for shopping-all-weekend getaways.
Portland is a beautiful harbor city with amazing restaurants, making it the perfect place to gather after a long day of hunting for the shopping find of the trip. Live your best girls’ getaway life and stay at Cornelia, a waterfront penthouse rental that sleeps four. With clean modern lines, gorgeous harbor views, and an industrial loft feel, you can relax in luxury after a day browsing the sales racks.
Shopping at the Kittery Outlets requires comfy sneakers and a good map. The outlets are spread across Route 1 in cluster malls. You will need your car to traverse the groups of stores. However, the malls offer everything from Adidas to Yankee Candle. You will surely find some great buys and enjoy bargain hunting with your girlfriends.
Take the short drive up to Freeport and experience the L.L.Bean flagship store. Actually, it’s several stores located on an enormous campus in the heart of downtown. The main store has all the great L.L.Bean clothing you love. There are four other storefronts worth a peek: the Outlet; Home; Bike, Boat, and Ski; and Hunting and Fishing. Each store has something unique to offer. Even if you are not in the market for a new canoe, the best backpack, or a plaid sofa, checking out the latest L.L.Bean style is a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Pro Tip: Portland is a foodie town — bring your appetite and sense of adventure. There’s an array of restaurants in Portland, Maine.
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Pub Crawl
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a pretty city on the water. The compact downtown district is filled with shops, restaurants, and breweries. It is a fun place to shop a little, drink a little, and enjoy great company.
The Portsmouth Brewery takes center stage when it comes to brewpubs. Order a flight to sample their wonderful brews. Pair your beverage with some upscale pub grub and start your crawl off with a satisfying meal.
Earth Eagle Brewings offers a kickback, neighborhood vibe with a casual outdoor beer garden. Try their New England Gangsta brew while munching on a hot dog — the perfect Downeast combo.
At the Thirsty Moose Tap House, you don’t need to wear flannel, but you can if you want. Their on-tap offerings come from around the New England area. From Cisco to Harpoon to Smuttynose, you will find tried-and-true pints along with some unique brew purveyor options. Their seasonal menu offers bites, burgers, and pizzas.
Pro Tip: To fill up your itinerary with activities other than sampling brews, visit how to spend a day in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
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Dinner And A Show
If you only have time for a quick getaway, dinner and a show in Boston is a sophisticated way to have some high-brow girl fun in a short timeframe.
Begin your adventure with an elegant dinner at one of Boston’s best restaurants. Ostra, a Mediterranean-inspired seafood restaurant in the Back Bay, is an excellent choice for a stylish evening out. Alternatively, Strega, in the North End, offers exquisite Italian cuisine and an unforgettable dining experience. Advance reservations are required for both of these fine dining establishments.
Boston is home to some historic theaters that host hit Broadway shows. You can peruse all your options for Theatre District Shows to find exactly what you need for a memorable girls’ overnight getaway. Whether you want a kinky comedy, a serious drama, or an old-school musical, you will find a great show that everyone in your group getaway will enjoy.
After the show, rest your head at the Four Seasons Hotel, Boston’s five-star luxury hotel. Elegant and refined, it is the most sumptuous stay for a night with your best girlfriends.
Pro Tip: If you have more time to visit this wonderful city, there are a lot of things everyone should do in Boston.
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Relaxing Beachside Getaway
Gorgeous private beach, your own cabana, drinks served while you tan, and your own villa just steps away. Can’t you almost feel your shoulders relaxing as you consider the possibilities? Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster, Massachusettes, is the perfect luxury seaside girls’ getaway.
Select either the Edinborough or Endicott Villas for accommodations that sleep up to eight guests, and there is enough space for all your gallivanting gal friends. With a spa, restaurant, golf, and private beach steps from your villa, you have everything you need for a relaxing, sun-filled, best friends’ vacation without ever having to leave the resort.
Additionally, Ocean Edge just launched a new, just-in-time-for-summer, pod-cation package “The Crew on the Cape!” The package includes one of their two or three-bedroom villas, a resort activity credit, and a whale-watching tour or sunset cruise perfect for your gal pal pod getaway.
Pro Tip: You can select either the golf-focused villas or the private beach-focused villas. Be sure to discuss the options with their reservation staff.
Getting away with your best gal pals is good for your mind, body, and soul. We rely on our girlfriends to keep us centered and real. Take the initiative, propose a weekend getaway, pick a date, choose your favorite location, and plan an adventure with your girls. You will be so happy you did!
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Get on an Adventure
Forget the worries of everyday life and set on the adventurous girlfriends’ getaway in Bar Harbor, Maine, a bustling small town, set amongst the gorgeous Acadia National Park. Stay in one of their beautiful hotels or inns or try a local campground like the Bar Harbor Camping Resorts.
Enjoy shopping and dining in town before taking a bus or shuttle to the Acadia National Park for biking, hiking, kayaking, and more. It would make for an epic girls’ weekend trip with those looking to explore.
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Fireside Chats in New Hampshire
Sometimes it’s hard to set aside some quality time to chat to your heart’s content with your lady friends. To have those amazing heart-to-heart conversations, book the girlfriends’ getaway package at Lake Opechee Inn and Spa, in Laconia, New Hampshire.
You and your besties will enjoy a luxury guestroom with your very own cozy gas fireplace. After your 60-minute massage and pedicures, you can enjoy dining and drinks at either O Steaks & Seafood or Fratello’s Restaurant.
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Pampering Escape in Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island is a great place for an all-girls weekend. Newport has everything from shopping, dining, beaches, and scenic walks to sunset cruises, spas, and more. The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina will be your perfect stay, but there is an accommodation option for every girl gang in Newport.
Aside from being a beautiful destination, the quality of the dining, shopping, and stay will be guaranteed.
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FAQs
Why Go on a Girls’ Trip in New England?
Girls’ trips in New England offer value-added amenities like yoga classes, art lessons, and luxurious accommodations. Ladies are sure to find a delightful package and indulge in some much-deserved relaxation.
Where to Go For a Girlfriends’ Getaway in New England?
From cozy mountain cottages in New Hampshire to majestic lighthouses in Massachusetts and sandy beaches in Rhode Island, New England has a vast array of activities and locations perfect for a girlfriend’s getaway.
What Is a Girlfriends’ Getaway?
Girlfriends’ getaway is where women travel with other women and leave the men at home. Everyone needs to de-stress and reconnect with themselves at some point. Trips with your closest women friends can make that experience even more fulfilling.
What Is the Most Popular Type of a Girlfriends’ Getaway?
One of the most popular types of girls’ getaways is a pampering escape, like a spa resort. Spas provide an amazing atmosphere where girls can share stories, spend time together, and get pampered along the way.
Can I Learn Any Skills on a Girlfriends’ Getaway?
Yes, a girlfriends’ getaway can include something instructional such as learning to prepare authentic cuisine, knitting, creating an individual fragrance, or painting handicrafts. Also, some trips focus on special Interests like wine tasting and running.