With the lazy days of summer behind us and fall in full swing, it can be easy to get swept up in the bustle of the new season. We like to think of Autumn as an opportunity for a fresh start – which usually means a whole lotta hustle without coming up for air.
When life gets hectic, it’s especially important to reconnect with those who keep you grounded, and schedule time to step away from the Day Planner for a hot second. Why not combine the two? Take a cue from one of our favorite “girls’ girls,” Cameron Diaz – who recently took a vacay to Napa Valley with her closest gal pals, Reese Witherspoon and Drew Barrymore included – and get to planning your own weekend away with your nearest and dearest this season. You deserve it!
There’s nothing quite like a Girls Getaway. The companionship, food, wine, and laughter without interruption is an essential part of friendship and is just plain good for the soul. Cameron recently joined her girlfriends in Napa Valley, the center of California’s Wine Country. They took Italian cooking lessons at The Culinary Institute of America where they learned how to make fresh pasta, ravioli, and pizza. Take a peek at Cameron’s top tips on planning your own getaway, then start packing your bags!
Cameron Diaz’s Tips for Making the Best of Your Girls Getaway
Pick a place that fits your needs.
Are you looking to relax and unplug? Do you want to site-see or lay on the beach all day and party at night? Make sure you and your friends define what the expectations of your group are. Or, see if everyone is up for a compromise — some of you go to the beach while the others site-see. You can all meet up for dinner and drinks at night.
Pin it.
If you’re gathering a group of women from different locations, the easiest way to plan is on Pinterest. Restaurants, shops, attractions, transportation, and more can all be gathered together on one Pinterest board.
Plan food find before you go.
Use Pinterest, Yelp, Twitter and Facebook to ask your friends, experts and other travelers where the go-to food spots are. This could be the local taco bar, food truck, Michelin Star Restaurant or a combination of all three; whatever your budget, make sure you’re not wasting time on the trip looking at maps, but instead making memories with your friends.
Plan one main activity.
Cameron and her friends planned their trip around one main event at the Culinary Institute of America. Yours could be wine tasting, a shopping day, visit to the spa, hiking, or day trip to a local attraction. Planning this ahead of time means that everyone has time to give their input, reservations can be made, and your trip will full of fun and not spent planning.
Don’t over plan your schedule.
No one likes to be over-scheduled on vacation. Plan your main event for one full day and then let the rest of the time flow naturally. Some of you may want to spend time at the pool, while others feel like hitting the black jack tables. The point of your vacation is not to stress, but to relax, and catch up with your friends. Have fun!
To read the rest of Cameron’s tips, and for other vacation-planning essentials, head on over to Our Body Book by clicking through here!
