10 Girlfriend getaways with an edge

Girls just want to have fun, right? A getaway with your girlfriends doesn’t have to mean a trip to the spa. Give your trip an edge by visiting one of these adventurous locations.

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St. Augustine truly is a shopper’s paradise. The beaches here are beautiful, so make sure you carve out some time for sand and surf, but you’ll probably spend most of your time shopping. More than 85 outlet stores are always full of reduced-price goodies at the Premium Outlets. Once you’ve all shopped ’til you’ve dropped, rest your tired tootsies in the ocean while you work on your tan.

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Leave the city far behind and get a little country with the ladies! Spend a weekend on horseback at the Double R Ranch in western Michigan. Stay in a chalet in the woods or an authentic western bunkhouse. Wake up and sip coffee outdoors on your front porch, then pull on your boots and pick out your horse. You and your girlfriends can travel Flat River on horseback, then lounge in the lazy river. You may even spot a real-life cowboy or two!

Looking to walk on the wild side with your girlfriends? This is an entire island dedicated to partying hard. Just off the shore of Ohio in Lake Erie, you’ll find quaint inns, bed and breakfasts, bars, taverns and shops on South Bass Island. Spend the day touring the island on bicycle and your nights living it up at the island hot spots. Take the ferry back to the mainland for a day at Cedar Point, a massive amusement park just up the road.

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Head to the city and shop ’til you drop at one of the top shopping spots in the US. Splurge on a ritzy hotel and be sure to see a show while you’re in town. Parking in the city isn’t much fun and lots of the shops are in close proximity, so take a cab to wherever you’d like to start and walk from store to store.

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Las Vegas isn’t just a place for boys to play, girls can party there, too! Head out to sin city and live it up with your best girlfriends. Visit a spa, see a show and try your luck at a casino or two. This is the place to let your hair down and go crazy.

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Rent a condo or a townhouse and really get away from it all at Hilton Head, off the coast of South Carolina. Swim with the dolphins or charter a boat and go fishing. You’ll end up with a great tan, even if nothing bites.

Have some fun with the girls and pick up a new skill at the Culinary Institute of America. Three locations, in New York, California and Texas, offer weekend-long classes on a variety of topics, from baking to wine to Italian or classic cooking, just to name a few. Pick a nice hotel nearby and spend the weekend getting your hands dirty in the kitchen while you gab.

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Are you ready to get your cowgirl on? Saddle up for the Cow Girl 2-Day Getaway, where you and your best girlfriends can have the best of both worlds in Bandera, Texas. Get down and dirty on the ranch with the horse and cattle, then get pampered to your heart’s content. This all-inclusive package not only includes gourmet meals and rides to shopping areas, but also a spa, gym and hot tub.

The Poconos aren’t just for lovers, they have lots to offer girlfriends, too! The Inn at Pocono Manor offers a Girlfriend’s Getaway, complete with a complimentary massage and gift card to the nearby outlet mall. If the season’s right, enjoy golfing with the ladies at the beautiful golf course on the property, or plan on skiing in the winter.

Park City, Utah is a great place for a girlfriend’s getaway anytime of the year. Hit the slopes for a skiing or snowboarding weekend or test your bravery at the world’s steepest zipline. After that workout, relax at a spa and get a massage, followed by a day of shopping at some of the town’s one-of-a- kind shops. To really top off your trip, take a hot air balloon ride to check out the area’s beautiful landscape from a whole new angle. Most of the balloons only allow two riders, so you’ll have to pair up if you have a large group.

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