This is the first installment of a series inspired by a recent Girlfriend Getaway to Carmel-by-the-Sea with fellow food and travel bloggers, Dorothy of Shockingly Delicious and Erika of In Erika’s Kitchen.
In a nutshell, girlfriend getaways are IMPORTANT.
Travel with family is about the experience… family bonding, sightseeing, places to stay, activities, photos for the Christmas card, mementos. And sure, all those matter on a girlfriend getaway.
But really, girlfriend getaways are for talking.
A few days away with like-minded women ensures getting a thousand things covered. We talk about family most of all. Laugh a lot about the care and feeding of husbands. Dialog about the concerns boomers (and post boomers) have for our aging parents. Kids and sports. Kids and drivers licenses. Kids going out into the world.
We notice wallpaper and paint colors, and chat about how we’ll decorate our dream studios and cottages one day. We plan vision boards, debate feng shui, and take photos of fabrics, drapes and chandeliers.
When we shop, we give honest opinions. “Yes” to that pattern, “no” to that neckline. Husbands don’t want to get trapped into our endless trying on of hats and gloves and vintage fur collars. Let alone antique JEWELRY, a favorite pastime.
Tasting and buying vinegars, oils, salts. Chatting about which family member wouldn’t appreciate a pear-infused balsamic vinegar drizzled salad. We savor sunsets, wine and cheese (OK, who wouldn’t?) but discover our backs may be to the scenery because we’re talking!
We breathe ~ deeply. That’s often overlooked by hard-working women. On a getaway, we aren’t responsible for locating a family member’s room key. We don’t have to share toothpaste. Girlfriends eagerly pull off the road at the mere mention of a scenic photo opp.
When we foodies eat, we dissect our meals. Talk recipes. Cooking techniques. Books and blogs. Foods we feed our families.
We talk with chefs who LOVE telling us their cooking philosophies. We talk to restaurant owners, who tell us about their families and how their places came to be.
And when we get home, solutions to many little – and plenty big — issues from the recesses of our minds have shown up. We see a fabulous home studio transformation of an unused garage in one of our futures. Read all of our blogs to watch for that.
And this is why girlfriend getaways are important. We have needs (outlined above) that bore our families to tears. We can either choose to stifle our needs, or do the healthy thing — go away with girlfriends.
“What about the men?? Don’t they have guy needs?? Waaaa!!!” Sure. In this household, it’s Trojan football and basketball.
More posts are upcoming with greater detail of this trip, promise. Thank you to our gracious and generous hosts: Hofsas House in Carmel by the Sea, Mundaka Restaurant, Carmel Food Tours, Fandango Restaurant in Pacific Grove and Jack’s at the Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey, all California.
Erika posts on In Erika’s Kitchen. Dorothy publishes Shockingly Delicious.
Do leave a comment and tell your Girlfriend Getaway stories here!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Fabulous post. So important to have Girlfriend Getaways!
So good to read and see the adventures you three had together! Thanks for sharing!
You girls rock! And what a rockin’ getaway! So fun to see your adventures in one of my favorite getaway towns! Looking forward to more!
Sounds like you guys had a terrific time. Might need to plan my own girly getaway soon!