Picture this: you finally have the chance to get away from your fast-paced life for the weekend, so you call up your best girlfriends to plan a getaway. What do you do?
Do you and the besties choose a relaxing and pampering spa experience with a glass of wine in hand? Or do you choose an exciting adventure that offers picturesque landscapes and the ability to explore the magnificent waterways and backcountry that Northeastern Ontario has to offer?
Whatever you and your girls decide, there are lots of weekend getaways for women—plenty of ways that, in the words of Cyndi Lauper, “girls just wanna have fun.”
Mattawa River Resort – Mattawa, Ontario
Located on the shores of the Mattawa River, Mattawa River Resort is the ideal location for a cozy getaway with some friends. Tailor-made for weekend spa trips for women, their Girlfriend’s Package includes cottage accommodations, gourmet dinners and breakfasts provided by Cardinal Restaurant, and all activities the resort has to offer!
Once you and your gal pals are all settled in, check out the resort’s spa, where you can enjoy their many services (for an additional fee). You can book by the hour or by the half hour and have your choice of spa treatments, including reflexology, massage (deep tissue or relaxation), Reiki (energy work), lymphatic drainage, Egypt head or neck, and/or a facial.
To complete your afternoon of relaxation, you and your girls can take part in empowering yoga, or can enjoy what the great outdoors have to offer through guided hikes, lake swimming, walking trails, canoeing/kayaking, stand-up paddleboards, and so much more!
Cedar Meadows Resort and Spa – Timmins, Ontario
The “Women’s Getaway” package from Cedar Meadows Resort and Spa will allow you and three of your girls to enter into complete serenity for two nights. Once settled in your Cozy Chalet, make your way to the Spa Grande Nature and Nordic Baths to begin your liberation from reality.
Your getaway package includes passes to the Nordic Baths, where you’ll have a chance to enjoy a natural detox and come out completely revitalized. In addition to the Nordic Baths, your group will receive Grande Nature Spa vouchers which can be used towards any spa service including: custom facials, your choice of massage, hydrofusion for a unique experience, and more. You’ll also receive vouchers for breakfast and dinner to enjoy an assortment of healthy meals in the Voyageur Dining Room.
**If this package is making your eyes glow with excitement, be sure to book it at least 48 hours in advance to ensure that you and your girlfriends have the best retreat as possible.
Women’s Outdoor Weekend at Gordon’s Park – Tehkummah, Ontario
Celebrating its 16th season, Gordon’s Park is having its annual Women’s Outdoor Weekend from June 22 to 24. Your group will have a chance to explore your creative and adventurous sides with a weekend full of campfires, wine, cooking, crafts, hiking, swimming, and more. Most importantly, you’ll have a chance to spend some girl time with your best friends doing the things you love.
This relaxing and revitalizing weekend includes all meals, workshops, supplies, and camping in the park. If camping isn’t for your girl group, you also have the option to stay in the Park's other accommodations—cabins, camping tipis, or a bed and breakfast. On the Saturday of your outdoor weekend, book a relaxing massage with Marilee Harasym, just as long as you do so in advance! This girls-only weekend is approaching fast, so make sure you book your spot today.
Georgian Bay Kayak and Yoga Trip – Georgian Bay, Ontario
This is an expedition for women who love to live more on the wild side. The Georgian Bay Kayak and Yoga Trip will get your adrenaline pumping during the day and leave you relaxed and rejuvenated at night, for five kayaking-packed days.
Your adventure begins at Ontario Sea Kayak Centre’s Harmony Outdoor Inn with an afternoon dedicated to mastering your kayaking skills, instructed by certified kayak guides. Launching from Britt and paddling through the Byng Inlet on days two to five, you’ll eventually reach the northeastern shores of Georgian Bay. To prepare yourself for the day, you and your gal pals will give salutations to the sun, and after a day of paddling, you'll partake in a sunset yoga practice with Vinyasa flow and some meditation.
This five-day rejuvenating trip has all meals, accommodations, and equipment included; the only thing you and your girlfriends need to bring is your sense of adventure. For similar trips, check out the French River to Byng Inlet Kayak Expedition, Killarney Shores Kayak Adventure, and the French River Canoe Trip.
