Family vacations create memories. A romantic weekend with bae can help keep your connection tight. But sometimes what your soul
really needs is some stress-free quality time on the road cutting up with your besties. How long has it been since you spent a weekend with your own version of the “Flossy Posse?” You and your squad may not want to recreate
all of the hijinks that went down in
Girls Trip, but if you fancy packing your bags for a great time that’s both Insta-worthy and culturally enriching, check out these easy excursions:
California
Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County has affordable luxury wine tastings perfect for sipping sessions with your sistas. Its free concierge service can help you decide which of the many area hotels, cottages or B&Bs best suit your crew. From Jan. 19 – 20, the area will host
Winter Wineland, with nearly 100 area wineries participating. About an hour north you’ll find Black-owned
Theopolis Vineyards. Visits must be scheduled in advance, but they also host tasting events throughout Black History Month in San Francisco.
Denver
On Jan. 21, the Mile High City will host the
MLK Jr. African American Heritage Rodeo of Champions, a salute to African American and Native American cowboys and cowgirls. While you’re there, check out the
Five Points neighborhood — the former “Harlem of the West” — for soul food, live shows and historic tours.
Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Hit the slopes with more than 2,000 snow sport enthusiasts at The National Brotherhood of Skiers’
2019 Black Summit (March 2 – 9). Part of the proceeds from the gathering, held every year since 1973, funds a scholarship for athletes of color who excel at winter sports. Don’t worry if some in your group say nope to the slopes and are strictly about that lodge life. There’s shopping, entertainment and fine dining in and around town.
Eatonville, Fla.
One of the first incorporated all-Black municipalities in America, Eatonville hosts the annual
Zora Neale Hurston Festival, featuring educational panels, historic tours, exhibits by renowned artists and a weekend-long outdoor music festival. The festival (Jan. 29 – Feb. 3) celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2019, and it will feature Alice Walker. With easy access to nearby Orlando, Maitland and Winter Park, Fla., there are lots of places to dine, dance and stay, including
Park Social, a retro-inspired cocktail club and
DaJen Eats, a newly opened vegan restaurant specializing in Caribbean cuisine.
Chicago
February 1 kicks off
After Work House Music Fridays, a series of funky celebrations and events at various bars and clubs in and around the Chi. The opening host will be
Lidell Townsell, of “Nu Nu” fame. To learn how they step in the name of love or do those line dances you’ve seen on Facebook and Insta, you’ll find numerous lessons offered around the Windy City. (Y’all ready to go viral?)
Chicago Restaurant Week is Jan. 25 – Feb. 7, providing the perfect opportunity to split a discounted Chicago deep dish.
Memphis, Tenn.
Home to the
National Civil Rights Museum, it also hosts
Memphis Black Restaurant Week in early March, offering you and your girls an opportunity to eat your way around the city at bargain prices while supporting Black-owned businesses. The
Hattiloo Theater is the only freestanding Black repertory theater within five states, and its upcoming performances include “A Song for Coretta” by Pearl Cleage (Jan. 11 – Feb. 3). After chowing down and getting your theater on, you and your crew can work off the extra calories by shaking a tail feather to downhome tunes on Beale St.
Savannah and Sea Islands, Ga.
Home to Gullah Geechee culture, the Sea Islands offer unique historic tours and craft sessions. If your squad is seeking a self-care moment, popular holistic healer
Brooke Brimm will host a retreat from March 15 –17 on
Sapelo Island that includes yoga, self exploration and creative expression. Additionally, nearby Savannah offers antiquing opportunities and delicious regional seafood. Plus you can get to-go drinks on River Street.
Martin Brunner/eStock Photo