Travel 15 Girlfriend Getaways To Take This Winter By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Courtesy of Visit Tybee/Casey Jones When cool breezes begin to blow and the seasons shift, we know that it's time to plan a trip with our best friends. We've gathered a few girlfriend getaway ideas that are packed with personality—plus plenty of great food, shopping, and entertainment. While just being together is enough to make a trip unforgettable, you and your besties will love what these Southern destinations have to offer. From the coast to the mountains and bustling cities to the serene small towns, there's a getaway suited to any girl group's desires. Don't forget to pack a scarf, because these cozy getaways are ideal for winter (but they make great girlfriend trips any time of year!). If you're still on the lookout for destinations, check out our favorite fall girlfriend getaway destinations and the South's most charming walkable girlfriend getaways, too. And if you're on the road at Christmastime, explore our picks for the best small towns for Christmas in the South—perfect locales to visit during the holiday season with your friends and family. Depending on where you're headed on your wintertime getaway, you may need flip-flops instead of boots, but we trust you'll be ready for anything. Take lots of pictures and make memories to last a lifetime! 01 of 15 Alexandria, Virginia Photos by Coyle/Getty Images If you love walkable cities and historic architecture, pack your comfy shoes and head to Alexandria, Virginia. The charm of Old Town—the 18th-century architecture, brick-edged streets, and holiday lights—will have you constantly pulling out your phone for can't-miss pictures (top Instagram spots include The Spite House, the skinniest historic home in the country, and cobblestoned Captain's Row). You'll have a great time, and you'll learn a lot, too. (Win-win!) Don't Miss: The Lyceum History Museum, Alexandria Black History Museum, Mount Vernon, Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Athenaeum, Fontaine Bistro, Vermilion Restaurant, The Majestic, Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria 02 of 15 Asheville, North Carolina Bob Pool/Getty Images Explore the Biltmore in the snowy season with your besties. From early November to early January, enjoy more than 60 Christmas trees, candlelight tours, and choirs. You'll feel like a local when you make Asheville your home base, because there are plenty of spa services, shops, and breweries in the area for luxuriating, browsing, and sipping to your heart's content. Don't Miss: Biltmore, The Inn on Biltmore Estate, Zen Asheville Inn & Spa Retreat, The Spa at The Omni Grove Park Inn, Grove Arcade, Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, Wicked Weed Brewing, The Orange Peel, Rosetta's Kitchen, River Arts District, Asheville Emporium, Captain's Bookshelf, Historic Grovewood Village 03 of 15 Brevard, North Carolina Sean Taylor/EyeEm/Getty Images Transylvania County will have you swooning the minute you arrive. Take a winter stroll through Brevard's charming downtown, stopping into the boutiques and grabbing a 50s-style soda-shop meal at Rocky's as you go. If it's not too cold, brave the Pisgah Forest for a magical (and snowy!) winter hike. Don't Miss: Rocky's Soda Shop, D.D. Bullwinkel's,Bracken Mountain Bakery,Brevard Brewing Company, White Squirrel Shop, The Square Root, Blue Ridge Bakery, The Falls Landing Eatery, Jordan Street Cafe 04 of 15 Chattanooga, Tennessee joe daniel price/Getty Images Chattanooga is even more fun in winter. Bundle up and walk beside the river, meander the Bluff View Art District, stop into Rembrandt's for coffee, see a show at the historic Tivoli Theater, explore the Tennessee Aquarium, and while away the afternoon in the area's art museums, like the Hunter Museum of American Art (pictured). Don't Miss: Bluff View Inn, The Read House,Bluff View Bakery, Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria, Rembrandt's Coffee House, The Hunter Museum of American Art, Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Big River Grille and Brewing Works, Sugar's Ribs 05 of 15 The Florida Keys Bill Heinsohn/Getty Images Escape the winter chill and get away to the Florida Keys. There's plenty to do here all year round—and, in case you were wondering, there's just as much to do on land as in the water. We've already planned the perfect Keys road trip for you and your girls this season, so pack your flip-flops and get going! Don't Miss: Kona Kai Resort, Gallery, and Botanic Gardens, Pines & Palms Resort, Ballyhoo's Historic Seafood Grille, Key Largo Conch House Restaurant, Bahia Honda State Park, Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe, Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory 06 of 15 Gatlinburg, Tennessee Danita Delimont/Getty Images Winter in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge will keep you and your girls busy all weekend long with plenty of shopping, food, and Tennessee mountain charm. Dollywood is open in winter too (the theme park, not the water park). It's just a short drive from Gatlinburg, and you and your girls will never want to leave. Don't Miss: Bearskin Lodge on the River, Pigeon Forge Fun Time Trolley, Tanger Outlets, Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen, Smoky Mountain Trout House, The Park Grill, Log Cabin Pancake House, Dollywood, Big Daddy's Pizzeria 07 of 15 Houston, Texas joe daniel price/Getty Images Eat your way through foodie-heaven Houston—there's so much good stuff here, you'll want to stay longer than the weekend. Make downtown or the Museum District your home base. Explore the Theater District and go to a musical or concert, or opt for the ballet or an opera. Stop into the Galleria for shopping, and make reservations for plenty of swanky meals. (Or, you know, you can always just grab a few of the addictive tacos at Torchy's.) Don't Miss: Alice Blue, FM Kitchen & Bar, 1751 Sea and Bar, Bludorn Restaurant, Underbelly Burger, Torchy's Tacos, Hotel ZaZa, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, The Wortham Theater Center, Jones Hall for the Performing Arts 08 of 15 Ocean Springs, Mississippi Fred Salinas Road-trip to this Gulf town with your girls for a small-town retreat with plenty of Southern charm, delicious seafood, and unexpected adventure. Shops, art galleries, and lovely architecture dot this stunner on Biloxi Bay. Don't Miss: The Inn at Ocean Springs, Front Beach Cottages, Walter Anderson Museum of Art, French Kiss Pastries, Government Street Grocery, Mosaic Tapas Restaurant, Maison de Lu, The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, Davis Bayou Area 09 of 15 Palm Beach, Florida Southern Living Beat the chill and relax on the Florida coast with a girls' trip to the Palm Beaches. Bundle up on the sand or go exploring up and down the coast. There are plenty of photo ops seaside (and the sands will be much less crowded than in summer!). Don't Miss: Flagler Museum, The Brazilian Court Hotel, The Colony Hotel, Island Living Tours, Worth Avenue Walking Tours, Leopard Lounge & Restaurant, Buccan Palm Beach, City Cellar Wine Bar and Grill 10 of 15 St. Louis, Missouri Southern Living There's plenty to see and do in St. Louis—Gateway Arch included. Explore The Hill neighborhood for world-class Italian cuisine. Make a stop at Charlie Gitto's On The Hill for irresistible dishes amid flickering candlelight, and don't forget to try Zia's Restaurant too. Don't Miss: Charlie Gitto's On The Hill, Zia's Restaurant, The Muny Theatre, Missouri Botanical Garden, Blueberry Hill, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Drury Plaza Hotel-St. Louis at the Arch, Westin St. Louis, Stifel Theatre 11 of 15 Thomasville, Georgia Franz Marc Frei/Getty Images Embrace a small town trip with a jaunt to Thomasville, Georgia. Warm up at Grassroots Coffee Company, do some shopping at Firefly, Relish, and The Bookshelf, and enjoy long, leisurely meals at Liam's, Jonah's, and Sweetgrass Cheese Shop. Don't forget to visit the Lapham-Patterson House (pictured), a Victorian marvel near downtown. Don't Miss: Grassroots Coffee Company, Liam's Restaurant, Jonah's Fish and Grits, Sweetgrass Cheese Shop, Firefly, Relish, The Bookshelf, The Lapham-Patterson House, The Big Oak 12 of 15 Fairhope, Alabama Photo: cwilliamsmoore There's no better place for a restful weekend away with your lifelong besties than beautiful Fairhope, Alabama. Watch the sunset over the bay, indulge in a spa treatment at The Grand Hotel's legendary spa, then spend hours perusing the shops and boutiques on downtown Fairhope's walkable main street. At the end of a great day, toast with a cocktail and fresh seafood at Sunset Pointe. Don't Miss: The Grand Hotel, Panini Pete's, Fairhope Brewing, Fairhope French Quarter, Page & Palette, Fairhope Chocolate, Sunset Pointe 13 of 15 Dahlonega, Georgia Robbie Caponetto You'll feel like you stepped right onto the set of one of your favorite Hallmark movies when visiting Dahlonega. The North Georgia town has every ingredient needed for an ideal girl's weekend. There's a charming downtown filled with specialty stores, cafes, and wine bars. There are charming bed and breakfasts, and North Georgia's thriving wine country is all around. Don't Miss: Paul Thomas Chocolates, Capers on the Square, Amicalola Falls, Dahlonega Tasting Room, Wolf Mountain Vineyards, Montaluce Winery & Restaurant, Mountain Laurel Creek Inn & Spa 14 of 15 New Orleans, Louisiana Paul Broussard The Crescent City is pure magic no matter who you choose to visit with, but it's especially magnificent when you've got your best gal pals in tow. Spend a weekend sipping on Hurricanes, munching on beignets, ducking into vintage stores, and shopping for art. A food tour of the city's outstanding restaurants--both new and old--is definitely in order. Don't Miss: Willa Jean, Spotted Cat, Crescent Park, Preservation Hall, Parkway Bakery, La Petite Grocery, The Chloe, City Park, Commander's Palace, Magazine Street 15 of 15 San Antonio, Texas Al Rendon Spend a weekend learning about Texas history, strolling the scenic Riverwalk, and gabbing over a big bowl of queso at one of San Antonio's many well-loved Tex-Mex restaurants. In the winter, the south-central Texas city shines especially bright with thousands of colorful Christmas lights dressing up the Riverwalk where events like holiday boat caroling take place. Don't Miss: San Antonio Botanical Gardens, The Pearl's Bottling Department, Hotel Emma, Historic Market Square, The Alamo, Blue Star Arts Complex Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit