There are vacations you take with your family, vacations you take because someone else wants to go, and then there are girlfriend getaways.

Girlfriend getaways are different. You can sleep in. You can spend an unreasonable amount of time deciding where to eat. You can shop without someone sighing dramatically outside the dressing room. You can order dessert simply because you want dessert. And, most importantly, you can spend a few days with women who understand exactly why you needed to get away in the first place.

Over the years, I’ve taken girls’ trips all over the country, and I’ve learned that the best girlfriend getaway destinations aren’t necessarily the places with the biggest attractions. They’re the places where you can easily combine great food, fun activities, a little shopping, a little pampering, and plenty of time to actually talk.

Because let’s be honest: If your itinerary is so packed that you need a vacation from your vacation, somebody has made a scheduling error.

These are some of the best girlfriend getaways in the United States, from wine country and charming small towns to big-city adventures, mountain escapes, beach towns, and destinations where staying out way too late is practically part of the itinerary.

1. San Luis Obispo, California

Best for: Wine, beaches, food, and a little adventure

San Luis Obispo County, or SLO CAL, is one of my favorite discoveries for a girls’ trip because it manages to combine several things women usually want from a getaway without making you drive three hours between each activity.

You can spend one day wine tasting in Edna Valley, wander around downtown San Luis Obispo, head to the coast for brunch, explore Pismo Beach, and squeeze in an outdoor adventure without feeling like you’re constantly sitting in the car.

On my own girls’ trip to SLO CAL, we went wine tasting, ziplined at Santa Margarita Ranch, explored Old Edna, enjoyed champagne brunch overlooking the Pacific, visited tide pools, rode e-bikes, and ate very well. Basically, it checked all the important boxes.

The area is also a nice alternative to some of California’s more famous wine destinations. You get vineyards, coastal scenery, excellent restaurants, and charming towns without quite as much of the “everyone else had the same idea” feeling.

Don’t miss: Edna Valley wine tasting, downtown SLO, Pismo Beach for an e-bike ride, and brunch with an ocean view.

Perfect trip length: 3–4 days.

Read next: Girls’ Trip to SLO CAL: Wine, Beaches, Brunch, and Just Enough Adventure

2. Memphis, Tennessee

Best for: Food, music, cocktails, and a trip with some personality

Memphis is a fantastic girlfriend getaway for a group that would rather eat barbecue and listen to live music than spend the weekend sitting beside a resort pool.

Start with Beale Street and Memphis’ legendary music history, then work your way through the city’s food scene. Barbecue is obviously part of the plan, but Memphis has much more going on than ribs and blues.

You can tour Sun Studio, visit the National Civil Rights Museum, explore the city’s neighborhoods, grab drinks, and spend an evening listening to live music.

And Memphis has something that makes it particularly good for a girls’ trip: you can build the weekend around experiences rather than attractions. There’s plenty to do, but you don’t need a military-grade itinerary to have a good time.

Don’t miss: Beale Street, live music, Memphis barbecue, Sun Studio, and the National Civil Rights Museum.

Perfect trip length: 3 days.

Read next: Girls’ Weekend in Memphis

3. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Best for: Cabins, mountains, wine, and girls who want to relax

Gatlinburg is an excellent choice when your group wants a mountain getaway without completely abandoning civilization.

Rent a cabin with a hot tub, stock the kitchen with snacks and wine, and give yourselves permission to have a slow morning. Then head out to explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, browse the shops in town, visit local wineries or distilleries, and find a good dinner.

Fall is especially gorgeous when the mountains turn into a sea of color, although summer and spring are also popular times to visit.

The real advantage of Gatlinburg for a girlfriend getaway is having a comfortable house where everyone can hang out together. Because sometimes the best part of the trip is sitting around the kitchen table at midnight talking about everything and absolutely nothing.

Don’t miss: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a cabin with a hot tub, local tastings, scenic drives, incredible hiking, and downtown Gatlinburg.

Perfect trip length: 3–4 days.

Read next: Gatlinburg Girls Trip

4. Gruene, Texas

Best for: A laid-back Texas girls’ weekend

Gruene is one of those Texas destinations that feels tailor-made for a girlfriend getaway. You can spend the morning shopping in the historic district, have lunch at the Gristmill, float the Guadalupe River, grab drinks, and end the night dancing at Gruene Hall.

And if your group is anything like mine, you’ll probably want to add a wine tour, a cooking class, or some sort of Texas souvenir-shopping mission.

Gruene is particularly good for a group that wants a road-trip-friendly girls’ trip rather than a destination that requires flights and a complicated transportation plan.

Don’t miss: Gruene Hall, the Gristmill, boutique shopping, the Guadalupe River, and a Hill Country wine tour.

Perfect trip length: 2–3 nights.

Read next: Gruene, Texas Girls Trip

5. Fredericksburg, Texas

Best for: Wine lovers and women who believe shopping is an activity

Fredericksburg is one of the easiest girlfriend getaways to recommend because it checks so many boxes: wine, food, shopping, cute accommodations, spas, and Texas Hill Country scenery.

Spend a day touring the wineries along Wine Road 290, then head back into town for boutiques, restaurants, and cocktails. You can also add a spa day, explore local German heritage, or simply rent a house and spend an afternoon hanging out.

Fredericksburg is particularly good for a group that wants a little luxury without needing a five-day vacation to justify the trip. And yes, you should probably leave room in your suitcase.

Don’t miss: Wine Road 290, Main Street shopping, a spa treatment, German-inspired food, and a leisurely dinner.

Perfect trip length: 2–3 nights.

Read next: Fredericksburg Girls’ Trip: Wine, Dine, and Shop Till You Drop

6. Georgetown, Texas

Best for: Small-town charm without giving up good food

Georgetown is another Texas Hill Country option that deserves more attention as a girlfriend getaway.

The historic downtown square is packed with shops, restaurants, coffee spots, and places to sit outside and catch up with your friends. It’s also close enough to Austin to combine the two if your group wants a little more nightlife.

For a slower weekend, though, you can stay right in Georgetown and enjoy the small-town atmosphere. This is the destination I’d choose when everyone says they want to “get away,” but nobody wants to spend half the weekend traveling.

Don’t miss: Georgetown Square, local boutiques and restaurants, Blue Hole, and nearby Hill Country attractions.

Perfect trip length: 2–3 nights.

Read next: Girlfriend Getaway to Georgetown, Texas

7. Montana

Best for: Big skies, outdoor adventures, and getting away from absolutely everything

Montana is the girlfriend getaway for the group that wants to trade traffic and email notifications for mountains, lakes, hiking trails, and ridiculously beautiful scenery. There are several ways to do Montana, depending on your travel style.

For a more polished getaway, look toward places such as Big Sky. For a combination of mountain scenery, outdoor adventures, and small-town charm, Whitefish is a fantastic option. Glacier National Park can turn the trip into a full-blown adventure.

You can hike, horseback ride, raft, explore mountain towns, enjoy a great dinner, or simply sit outside and stare at the scenery.

Montana is also one of those destinations where you don’t have to fill every minute. Sometimes the activity is simply looking around and saying, “Wait. Is this real?”

Don’t miss: Glacier National Park, Whitefish, Big Sky, scenic drives, hiking, and a mountain lodge.

Perfect trip length: 4–5 days.

Read next: Western Montana Girls Trip: Horses, Hikes, and Off-Roading

8. New York City

Best for: Shopping, restaurants, shows, and maximum energy

New York City is the opposite of a relaxing girls’ getaway—and that’s exactly why it’s fun.

If your group wants Broadway shows, incredible restaurants, museums, shopping, cocktails, rooftop bars, and enough neighborhoods to explore that you could come back ten times and still have things left to do, New York is hard to beat.

Spend a morning wandering through the West Village, shop in SoHo, walk the High Line, have cocktails somewhere fabulous, and see a Broadway show.

The key to a successful New York girls’ trip is accepting that you cannot do everything. Pick a neighborhood or two each day and embrace the fact that you’ll still leave with a list of things you didn’t get to do. That’s a good excuse to come back.

Don’t miss: Broadway, SoHo, the West Village, the High Line, Central Park, and at least one memorable dinner.

Perfect trip length: 3–5 days.

Read next: Girls Trip To New York City

9. Carlsbad, California

Best for: Beach time without the chaos

Carlsbad is a great choice for girlfriends who want a California beach getaway but don’t necessarily want the energy of Los Angeles or the expense of some of California’s more famous coastal destinations.

You can spend your mornings walking along the beach, book a spa treatment, shop, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and watch the sunset with a cocktail. It’s also easy to build in some nearby adventures, including exploring other North County San Diego communities.

This is the trip for when everyone agrees that what they really need is to sit somewhere pretty and do less. Honestly, an underrated vacation strategy. No matter what you do, stay at Omni La Costa Resort and make sure to hit the spa.

Don’t miss: Carlsbad State Beach, the village area, spa time, coastal walks, and a sunset dinner.

Perfect trip length: 3 days.

10. Sedona, Arizona

Best for: Wellness, hiking, spas, and dramatic scenery

Sedona is practically designed for a girls’ trip.

The red rock scenery is spectacular, there are hiking trails for different ability levels, and the destination has a strong wellness scene. You can spend the morning hiking, the afternoon at the spa, and the evening enjoying a great dinner while watching the sun disappear behind the red rocks.

If your group is into wellness, yoga, sound baths, spiritual experiences, or simply pretending you’re the kind of person who wakes up early to meditate, Sedona gives you plenty of options. And if you aren’t into any of that, don’t worry. You can just get a massage and call it personal growth.

Don’t miss: Red Rock State Park, scenic hikes, spa treatments, Uptown Sedona, and a sunset experience.

Perfect trip length: 3–4 days.

Read Next: Girlfriend Getaway to Sedona, Arizona

11. Las Vegas, Nevada

Best for: Girls who want to have a VERY good time

Las Vegas is one of the easiest girlfriend getaways in the country because you can make it whatever you want. Want to spend the weekend at a spa? Done. Want to see a show? Easy. Want to shop, eat amazing food, sit by a pool, drink cocktails, gamble a little, or stay out until an hour that would have horrified you ten years ago?

Vegas has you covered. And Vegas isn’t just for bachelorette parties. In fact, I think it’s often more fun when you’re traveling with longtime friends who can appreciate a great dinner, a ridiculous show, and a little people-watching.

Don’t miss: A show, a great dinner, the Sphere, a pool day, shopping, and cocktails.

Perfect trip length: 3 nights.

Read Next: Plan a Perfect Girls’ Trip to Vegas

12. Portland, Oregon

Best for: Foodies, coffee lovers, and women who like their trips a little quirky

Portland is an excellent choice for a girlfriend getaway that doesn’t feel overly polished or predictable. Spend the morning drinking excellent coffee, browse Powell’s City of Books, explore neighborhoods filled with independent shops, eat your way through food carts, and visit the Portland Japanese Garden.

You can also make the trip more outdoorsy with a visit to Forest Park or a day trip toward the Columbia River Gorge. Portland is especially good for girlfriends who like to wander without having every minute planned.

Don’t miss: Powell’s, McMenamin’s Edgefield, Portland’s food carts, the Japanese Garden, local coffee, breweries, and the Columbia River Gorge.

Perfect trip length: 3–4 days.

13. Seattle, Washington

Best for: Food, coffee, markets, and city-meets-nature adventures

Seattle gives you the best of both worlds: a fun city with excellent restaurants and neighborhoods to explore, plus spectacular natural scenery nearby. Start at Pike Place Market, where you can easily lose an hour or three sampling food, shopping, and watching the famous fish throwing.

Then explore neighborhoods, grab coffee, enjoy waterfront views, and plan a day trip if your group wants to get outside the city. Seattle is also a great destination for a group with different interests. One person can shop, another can geek out over coffee, another can chase food, and someone else can insist everyone go hiking.

Don’t miss: Pike Place Market, the waterfront, Space Needle, Seattle coffee, and a nearby nature excursion.

Perfect trip length: 3–4 days.

14. Savannah, Georgia

Best for: Southern charm, food, cocktails, and leisurely wandering

Savannah is one of those destinations where you should resist the urge to overplan. Walk through the historic district, explore the squares, browse boutiques, take a food tour, have cocktails, and linger over dinner.

The city is beautiful, atmospheric, and easy to explore at a leisurely pace, which makes it ideal for girlfriends who want plenty of time to talk. Savannah also makes a great choice for a birthday trip or milestone getaway because you can make the weekend feel special without needing a packed schedule.

Don’t miss: Forsyth Park, the historic squares, River Street, boutique shopping, a food tour, Paula Dean’s restaurant, and cocktails in a beautiful historic setting.

Perfect trip length: 3 days.

15. Charleston, South Carolina

Best for: Foodies, history, shopping, and a little Southern glamour

Charleston is another destination that seems to understand the assignment when it comes to girlfriend trips. The city combines beautiful historic architecture with excellent restaurants, shopping, rooftop bars, and plenty of opportunities to simply walk around and explore.

Spend the morning wandering historic streets, stop for lunch, shop in the afternoon, and get dressed up for dinner. You can also add a beach day if your group wants some time near the water.

Charleston is especially good for girlfriends who want their trip to feel a little elevated without being stuffy.

Don’t miss: Historic Charleston, King Street shopping, excellent Southern food, rooftop cocktails, and nearby beaches.

Perfect trip length: 3–4 days.

How to Choose the Best Girlfriend Getaway for Your Group

The hardest part of planning a girls’ trip usually isn’t choosing a destination. It’s getting five women with five different opinions to agree on one.

Before you start arguing about where to go, figure out what everyone actually wants.

If your group wants wine:

Choose San Luis Obispo, Fredericksburg, or Montana.

If you want a beach getaway:

Choose Carlsbad or San Luis Obispo.

If you want shopping and restaurants:

Choose New York City, Charleston, or Las Vegas.

If you want mountains and outdoor adventures:

Choose Gatlinburg, Montana, or Sedona.

If you want a relaxed Texas weekend:

Choose Gruene, Fredericksburg, or Georgetown.

If you want music and nightlife:

Choose Memphis, Las Vegas, or New York City.

If you want wellness and relaxation:

Choose Sedona, Carlsbad, or San Luis Obispo.

If you want a little bit of everything:

Choose San Luis Obispo, Seattle, Charleston, or Savannah.

Why You Should Actually Take the Girls’ Trip

One of the best things about a girlfriend getaway is that it doesn’t have to be a major vacation.

You don’t need two weeks off work. You don’t need to spend $10,000. And you certainly don’t need to wait until everyone’s schedules miraculously align, because that day may arrive sometime around 2047.

A long weekend is enough.

The point isn’t necessarily where you go. It’s getting out of your normal routine, spending uninterrupted time with people you love, laughing until your stomach hurts, eating something you didn’t have to cook, and coming home with stories that will eventually become the stories you tell over and over again.

So pick a place, open the group chat, and actually make the reservation. Because “We really need to take a girls’ trip sometime” is not a travel plan.