6 Best Girls’ Weekend Getaways

Between its awesome shopping scene and killer eats, the Windy City is a go-to girls’ weekend destination. Browse Bucktown and Wicker Park for indie boutiques like Penelope’s for under-the-radar American and Euro designers, and Kokorokoko for vintage threads. When hunger strikes, nosh on a roasted beet Reuben sandwich with a vanilla milkshake at the retro-cool Spinning J pie and soda spot. For happy hour, don’t miss The Ladies’ Room, a tiny cocktail bar in Logan Square (we love the white negroni). Crash at The Robey, a boutique hotel in Wicker Park; this art deco dame has a rooftop bar, French-American eatery, and a Cabana Club and rooftop pool.

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For LA’s cool kids and sunseekers Palm Springs is the perfect escape. Along main street there’s a crop of cute shops, including The Frippery, a colorful vintage spot that sells clothes in mod, resort, and boho chic styles, plus Elizabeth & Prince, which sells retro-inspired bathing suits, lifestyle books, and more. A breezy lunch can be had at Chi Chi, a playful place at the Avalon Hotel & Bungalows. Split Latin-Cali small bites like collard green enchiladas with friends. And of course, you can’t miss an architecture tour of some of the area’s mid-century icons—see it up close and personal with a stay at L’Horizon, a 1950s' Hollywood hideaway for stars like Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable.

There’s no better place for a dose of Southern charm than Charleston. This South Carolina classic has all the trappings of a girls’ getaway spot: bright boutiques on King Street, red-hot restaurants, and picture-perfect hotels. Make Zero George Street your home base—housed within five historic 19th-century buildings, this sweet stay features shady courtyards, wide verandas for sipping tea, and even a test kitchen for on-site cooking classes. And speaking of food, you won’t be at a loss of options in this town. Hit The Grocery for fresh farm-to-table fare, Butcher & Bee lunch deli for the pulled squash BBQ sandwich with pickled coleslaw, and McCrady’s, Sean Brock’s new 22-seat, tasting menu-only concept, for when you can’t get a ressie at his perennially-packed Husk.

If you and your crew subscribe to the “go hard or go home” mentality, then Sin City is right up your alley. High-octane clubs, booze-infused pool scenes, glitzy casinos—all the ingredients for a weekend of shenanigans. When you’re not recovering, go ‘gramming at the Neon Museum, a “boneyard” of Vegas’s iconic signs, catch a show at the Bellagio or Wynn, or flex that plastic at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, The Boulevard or Miracle Mile. Then head up to one of the rooftop bars for sunset views of the Strip (our favorite is the Skyfall Lounge on the 64th floor of the Delano hotel).

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Music City has exploded as one of America’s bachelorette party capitals. And it’s not hard to see why. Besides the fact that it’s the land of live bands, Nashville has refined its honky tonk roots with boutique hotel openings, creative cocktail bars, and more. The Thompson is making waves thanks to its Nashville-inspired design and cooler-than-thou vibe. Inside, you'll find rustic-chic touches like sliding barn doors, brushed-brass bathroom fixtures, and brown leather accents, and at night, locals crowd the rooftop bar for Southern craft beers and sweeping city views. Big boozers will make a beeline for Broadway, but we’d recommend exploring off-the-beaten-path haunts like Pinewood Social, a sprawling bar-restaurant-bowling alley blend, and the indoor/outdoor Public House at Urban Cowboy, a rustic-chic bolthole. Just make sure you fuel up before you go out—we love the fried chicken and cheddar biscuit sandwich at Biscuit Love.

In the land of beignets, po-boys, and kicked-up Cajun cuisine, a weekend in the Big Easy is all about eating and drinking. Start the gluttony with the Creole-inspired brunch (hellooo 25 cent martinis) at Commander’s Palace—the wild Louisiana white shrimp stuffed with spicy tasso ham, Crystal hot sauce, pickled okra, and pepper jelly is a must. And we can't leave out classics like Cafe Du Monde's famous deep-fried pastry, Bon Ton Cafe's jambalaya, and Bevi Seafood Co.'s peacemaker po-boy full of fried shrimp, swiss cheese, and roast beef gravy with a side of seafood gumbo. Newcomers worth checking out include Josephine Estelle, an Italian osteria at the Ace Hotel (where you and your girlfriends should be staying) and Kenton's, a chic southern eatery that features a whiskey-based menu (our favorite: crispy grits with country ham and bourbon aioli). Finish the food frenzy by ordering the smoked pork cheeks with cornbread puree and bacon braised collard greens at Angeline.

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