There’s something almost sacred about a proper girls’ trip, when you can truly let your hair down, belly laugh until your abs are sore, and remember who you are outside of your inbox. And there’s no better time to do it than now, right before the hustle of the holiday season. And it shouldn’t have to take someone getting married to have a ridiculously fun time. The West is rich with easy escapes that deliver adventure, relaxation, and connection perfect for a 3-day adventure with your gals. Here are some of our favorites.
Courtesy of Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels
Palm Springs
Hop a short flight or take a scenic drive through the high desert for a sunshine-soaked reset. Spend mornings hiking through Indian Canyons or wandering Joshua Tree’s otherworldly landscape, then spend afternoons poolside under striped umbrellas at Korakia Pensione. Evenings in Palm Springs call for retro happy hours at spots like Mr. Lyons or Bar Cecil, or watching colorful sunsets from the rooftop at the new Thompson Hotel—the perfect blend of vintage glam and desert serenity.
Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara
Montecito
Just south of Santa Barbara, Montecito used to feel like a well-kept secret for the rich and famous, with its bougainvillea-draped villas and seaside celeb enclaves. But there’s been a bevy of openings that have made it so that you too can get a taste of the good life. Check into the charming cottagecore retreat at San Ysidro Ranch or relax at Rosewood Miramar Beach, where you can stroll Butterfly Beach and indulge in long lunches at Honor Bar. Between spa time, grab a seat at the bar at the new Clark’s Oyster Bar before buzzed boutique-hopping on Coast Village Road or go horseback riding on the beach with Los Padres Outfitters. A trip like this makes you forget what day it is.
Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa
Calistoga
This country town at Napa Valley’s northern tip has a slower, more secluded vibe than the rest of the region. With natural hot springs and volcanic mud baths that make it ideal for a group recharge plus a cutesy small town with great tasting rooms like Tank Garage Winery and Picayune, you can avoid the Disneyland of wine found down south all together. Opt for overnights at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, where you can soak in their mineral rich waters or book in for a restorative mudslinger—a spa treatment that, when done with friends, feels like you’re in a scene from “I Love Lucy.”
The dining room at Edgewood/Courtesy of Travel Nevada
Reno
Just a few hours’ drive over the Sierra, Reno has evolved beyond its “Biggest Little City” moniker into a creative hub with a desert-meets-mountain edge. Enjoy the transitional fall color that the region has to offer by hike or by bike, explore the murals of the MidTown District, sip cocktails at Estella Tacos y Mezcal, and take a day trip up to Lake Tahoe for kayaking or spa time at Edgewood. It’s a mix of grit and glam that’s perfect for a crew craving both nightlife and nature.
Rendering courtesy of Banyan Tree
Valle de Guadalupe
Cross the border into Baja’s wine country, just a short drive south of San Diego, and you’ll find rolling vineyards, design-forward boutique hotels, and some of the best farm-to-table dining in North America. Book a stay at Bruma or the new Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe, linger over wood-fired seafood at Fauna, and sip natural wines at Casa de Piedra. En route or on your return you’ll want to indulge in some of the area’s incredible seafood in towns like Rosarito or Popotla. With your feet in the sand slinging back chocolata clams, the entire group will be savoring every moment and lamenting the return home.
Kaimana Beach Hotel / Hau Tree
Waikīkī
While it feels like a world away, O’ahu is only a 5-hour flight from LAX and SFO. Hop on a direct flight to Honolulu and make your way to Waikīkī, where the first order of business is getting a surf in at Kai Sallas’s Pro Surf School. There, the longboard champ offers both lessons and rentals from his colorful quiver at the newly renovated Kaimana Hotel. Get a view of the best sunset on the Gold Coast at pau hana happy hour at Hau Tree, then make your way over to Romer House, known for its vintage throwback restaurant 855-Aloha and attached speakeasy, The Lei Stand. There’s no shortage of things to do with your gals on-island beyond working on your tans, from diving into Chinatown’s nightlife, exploring Kaka‘ako’s art scene, and attending a more authentic version of the Hawaiian luau on the North Shore at the Polynesian Cultural Center.