Admit it, as much as we love the sexy and scandalous onscreen shenanigans of Simon, the Duke of Hastings, Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury, Will, Genevieve and Marina on Bridgerton, the scenery is just as captivating. All those palaces, gardens and estates invite opulent adventure. If watching has stirred up your wanderlust, hey, why not plan a UK vacay with your bae? We’ve got a list of must-see spots. You might also enjoy a Nawlins Girls’ Trip, an Insecure SoCal tour or another domestic jaunt guaranteed to inspire some intrigues of your own. (And, to avoid any booking buzzkill, you know the drill: Check the CDC for COVID-19 updates by destination.)
Live the high life on a Bridgerton-inspired trip to London, England
Shonda Rhimes’ racy take on Regency-era England and Season 2 of the hit Netflix series continues to follow the deceit and dalliances of the powerful Bridgerton family. To feel like part of this fictitious royal world, tour the Georgian villa Ranger’s House on the edge of Greenwich Park in southeast London, which doubles as the exterior of the regal family estate. To explore more of London town, reserve your spot on a guided tour of the Buckingham Palace Garden and see how the real royals live. Get a grand view of historic attractions like Big Ben and the Tower Bridge from a private capsule in the London Eye rotating observation wheel. Shop til you drop at famed department stores like Harrods and Selfridges, and enjoy a fancy high tea brunch at the Black woman-owned Saint Aymes, founded by sisters Michela and Lois Wilson and hailed as the prettiest cafe in London.
Being Insecure is a good thing in Inglewood, California
Issa Rae’s popular HBO series about a clique of fly millennials helped to place this diverse section of South Los Angeles near the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) firmly on the tourist map. When you visit the area, plan to fan out and snap Gram-worthy shots at hot spots featured on Insecure, like the Dunes apartment complex where Rae’s character Issa Dee and her boyfriend Lawrence began their rocky love affair and the landmark Randy’s Donuts. There are plenty of Black-owned eateries to support, too. Grab a sip and bite at Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, co-owned by Rae; nosh on vegan Tex-mex grub at Stuff I Eat; and wind down with good vino and good vibes at 1010 Wine & Events, Inglewood’s first, and so far only, wine bar.
A Girls Trip getaway to New Orleans, Louisiana
Girls Trip is a girlfriend’s gone wild comedy classic. Every time we watch, it makes us want to rally our BFFs, pack a bag full of flirty fashion and head to Nawlins! Following the lead of the film's fun-loving gal pals played by Tiffany Haddish, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall and Jada Pinkett Smith, your jaunt to the Big Easy must include letting the good times roll in the French Quarter. What’s on the itinerary? Chomping on beignets at Café du Monde, bar-and-restaurant hopping on Bourbon Street, listening to live jazz on Frenchmen Street and people-watching at the iconic revolving Carousel Bar at the luxe Hotel Monteleone on Royal Street. Of course, no girlfriend getaway here would be complete without turning up at Essence Fest (June 30-July 3, 2022). To inspire more wanderlust, the upcoming Girls Trip 2 will reportedly reunite the original “flossy posse” for a trip to an exotic locale like Rio de Janeiro.
Run the World with your girls in Harlem, New York
Harlem is still all the rage and the place to hobnob with fly Black folks. Just ask media personality and native daughter Bevy Smith. That’s why we love Run the World, the Starz series that follows several stylish and sassy uptown girls (it also costars Living Single’s Erika Alexander as a boss “Auntie”), who live, work and play in Harlem. Season 2 is on the way, but in the meantime trace the well-heeled footsteps from Season 1 and peruse and haggle for African fabrics and accessories at the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market, wine and dine at Ginny’s Supper Club at Red Rooster, picnic near the Harlem Meer in the northeast corner of Central Park and strike a powerful pose next to the Harriet Tubman Memorial at the intersection of St. Nicholas Avenue and 122nd Street.
Find your Love Jones in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago was the perfect backdrop for this sexy love story starring Nia Long and Larenz Tate as Nina and Darius. Create your own poetic moments in the Windy City by taking a daytime stroll through Grant Park to see the landmark Buckingham Fountain where the handsome couple stopped for a heart-to-heart talk. In the South Side Hyde Park neighborhood featured in the film, where the Obamas once lived, visit the DuSable Museum of African American History and show some love to the Black-owned restaurants there, including Love & Life Cafe for casual breakfast served all-day, Ja’Grill for authentic Jamaican fare and the upscale Southern restaurant Virtue for a romantic dinner. And in celebration of 2022 being the “Year of Chicago Dance,” grab a partner and find a dance floor to practice your best Chicago steppin’ moves.
