Guys, we love you, but sometimes we just need to get away with our gal pals – just sisters without misters.
A trip with our tribe away from husbands, kids, work and obligations is restorative and nourishes our souls. Whether we want to shop, eat, explore, play or just relax, there are tons of great escapes throughout the Sunshine State. Here are our favorite destinations for girlfriend getaways. So call your girls and start planning.
History & Cuisine in St. Augustine
Ponce de Leon didn’t find the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine – and neither will you and your entourage. What you will find in the nation’s oldest city is colonial history, Old Florida ambiance and a whole lotta charm.
Plus, St. Augustine has a new claim to fame: Southern Living named it the top foodie town south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Ready to dig in? Breakfast at Casa Maya (we recommend the huevos con chorizo or organic sweet potato pancakes) will give you energy to explore Castillo de San Marcos, the 17th century military fort and National Monument where actors in period dress re-enact lives of Spanish colonists.
Next up: the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, where the 219-step climb to the top of the 165-foot historical structure reveals panoramic views. Take time to pay tribute to Maria Andreu, the first woman to stand watch in a Florida lighthouse.
Climbing makes a girl parched. Luckily, The Hyppo awaits with gourmet popsicles in flavors like maple pecan, champagne mango and strawberry lemonade.
Before lunch at The Floridian, a St. Augustine staple, check out Henry Flagler’s Spanish Renaissance architecture at Flagler College. Flagler, his first wife, his daughter and his granddaughter are entombed in a mausoleum at Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Dinner choices abound, including The Preserved Restaurant, with authentic Southern cuisine from James Beard-nominated Chef Brian Whittington, and Michael’s, Chef Michael Lugo’s take on Spanish and European fare.
Wrap up the day with a Florida Mule – and a toast to the next girls’ getaway – at the Ice Plant Bar, a restored 1920s ice factory adjacent to (and run by) the St. Augustine Distillery.
Shopping & Nightlife in Miami
R&R takes on a whole new meaning in Miami, where retail and recreation are the name of the game. It’s a day-to-night experience with some of the best retail therapy in South Florida, capped with chic hotspots to kick up the heels you’ll no doubt buy.
Begin at Bal Harbour Shops, where ladies who love labels can wind their way through 450,000 square feet of luxury designers, including Gucci, Versace and Jimmy Choo – and possibly pass Kate Hudson or Jennifer Aniston on the way to the dressing room.
Miami’s Design District, where art, design and culture intersect, should be next on your list. There, wander through more than 120 high-end stores like Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton. Refuel at chef-centric food hall Politan Row Miami before heading to Aventura Mall to check out 300 shopper favorites, including the largest Apple store in Florida.
Miami nightlife doesn’t start until late, so there’s plenty of time to explore Lincoln Road Mall in Miami Beach, offering boutiques, galleries and trendy shops (get your sugar rush at Ladurée, the French patisserie famous for macarons).
After the sun goes (way) down, strap on your dancing shoes because Miami’s nightlife scene beckons with high-energy clubs. Live it up at LIV at the Fontainebleau hotel or groove at Story, “an extravagant circus-style setting where nothing is shocking,” according to its website.
At Basement Miami, dance, bowl or ice skate. The rules there are simple. The website explains: “Come dressed up or dressed down. Keep it classy or behave badly, but remember the greatest crime is to be boring.”
Not ready to call it a night? Celebrity hotspot E11Even is open 24 hours.
R&R in Key West
Spectacular sunsets and a laid-back tropical vibe are reasons enough to visit Key West, but did we mention chocolate-covered Key lime pie on a stick? Hangin’ with your besties and exploring paradise in flip-flops are even more incentives for a getaway to the nation’s southernmost point.
For a base of operations, we like the luxurious Marquesa Key West or its new expansion, Marquesa 4-1-4. This quiet retreat “where time slows down,” according to its website, is one block from Duval Street, four blocks from Mallory Square and the Gulf of Mexico, and a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. Why not rent some beach cruiser bicycles and tool around town like kids again?
Key West may be synonymous with debauchery, but this eccentric town does have its quiet side. You’ll find it at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, the former residence of the Nobel Prize-winning author. The house still contains original family furniture, and the 40 cats wandering the grounds are descendants of Papa’s pets.
While you’re out and about, visit the Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum. It first served as the winter White House for President Harry S. Truman in 1946, and it’s a historical gem.
No matter what you do during the day, remember: Key West takes sunsets seriously. The only place to experience it in all its glory is Mallory Square, where you’ll join visitors from around the world as they watch the sun go down amid the spectacle of street performers.
Oh, and that Key lime confection we mentioned? You’ll find it at Key Lime Pie Co.
Spa Pampering in Palm Beach
Our gal pals may have our backs, but sometimes we want to entrust those backs to a skilled masseuse. That’s when we head to the iconic Spa at The Breakers Palm Beach.
The grande dame of resorts, built on the beach by Henry Flagler in 1896, is known for its luxury, glamour and world-class service – and the spa is no exception. The 20,000-square-foot respite includes 17 treatment rooms, a private courtyard, and a salon for hair and nail services.
When it comes to treatments, the Spa Suite Experience sounds too good to pass up. You’ll get your own steam shower, chromatherapy tub and semi-private outdoor garden terrace. During the four hours of bliss, enjoy a foot bath ritual, a body scrub, a custom massage and a facial – all with marine-based products packed with essential oils.
Of course, in a town as posh as Palm Beach, there’s more than one spa experience to enjoy. The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach offers Florida-inspired treatments – like the Palm Beach Signature Massage, which uses warmed Key lime essential oils – as well as high-tech options – like the Celestial Black Diamond Non-Surgical Lift, the spa’s “crown jewel facial” using LED light therapy and microcurrent, according to its website.
Finally, cruise down A1A and take in the gorgeous ocean vistas on your way to Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, whose Eau Spa is one of only 48 spas in the world with the five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. At this fanciful destination, nibble cupcakes, sip champagne and relax in a cozy chair suspended over a pool of water. Does it get any better than this?
Recreation in Naples
Fun in the sun means a trip to Naples, a popular destination for golf, tennis and other outdoor activities.
Start your getaway at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. Its Tiburón Golf Club, offering two 18-hole courses (Gold and Black) designed by the legendary Greg Norman, is certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
Tiburón, home to the LPGA Tour CME Group Tour Championship and the PGA Tour QBE Shootout, is consistently rated among the top 20 golf facilities in Florida by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine. Here, tee time replaces tea time.
Tennis players will love what the resort’s sister property, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, has to offer. The tennis program is run by Peter Burwash International, leaders in tennis management, and the four lighted Har-Tru courts are top notch. Even better: Drills, clinics and personal instruction from USPTA-certified professionals can be arranged.
Want to check out pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport? Naples is home to the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships at East Naples Community Park; the 2020 event takes place April 18-25.
Don’t forget the water: Paddleboard, canoe or kayak amid gorgeous scenery at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, where you’ll pass through a mangrove trail, under bridges and into the Gulf of Mexico. You can also snorkel along the reef, bird-watch and hunt for shells along the pristine stretch of beach. Or just lounge poolside at The Ritz with frozen beverage in hand.
Catch up and make new memories with your pals during a leisurely hike at the 140-acre Gordon River Greenway Park, where the 2.5-mile path winds through six different native plant communities.
Arts in St. Petersburg
Art is the name of the game in St. Petersburg, home to the world-renowned Salvador Dalí Museum, which houses more than 2,400 works by the surrealist, including large-scale pieces you could gaze at for hours. (Step back and see how the image changes.)
The museum’s current building was finished in 2011 and heralded as an architectural marvel for its innovative design. A focal point in the downtown area, the über-cool museum is the only one in the southeastern U.S. to be recognized by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating.
“Inside and out, the waterfront Dalí Museum is almost as remarkable as the Spanish surrealist’s work,” says Fodor’s Travel.
Grab lunch or a snack at the museum’s Café Gala, named for the artist’s wife and muse, serving Spanish fare and sandwiches.
Also in the Sunshine City is the Chihuly Collection, presented by the Morean Arts Center, a permanent exhibit of glass art by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The stunning and colorful pieces set the perfect backdrop for Insta-worthy group selfies with the girls.
Next, street murals have popped up all over the Central Arts District, and there’s no better way to see them than a walking tour. Another artsy spot is Venus, a grassroots incubator for females created by the nonprofit St. Pete Women’s Collective. Stop by to encourage your sisters in their creative pursuits, check out the gallery and see artists at work.
Last, but certainly not least, on the agenda is the Museum of Fine Arts, with its 20 galleries and collection spanning 5,000 years. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for the arts and – if you stop by the gift shop – a jar of honey made by the bee colony on the museum’s rooftop. O
Naples photo courtesy Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau; St. Petersburg photo courtesy VisitStPeteClearwater.com; Miami photo courtesy VisitFlorida.com; Key West photo courtesy FloridaKeysNewsroom.com; West Palm Beach photo courtesy The Breakers Palm Beach; St. Augustine photo courtesy FloridaHistoricCoast.com