Title:

50 Best Girlfriends Getaways in North America
(National Geographic, 2007) ISBN 978-1-4262-0051-9 1-4262-0051-X

Theme:

Travel is a way to reconnect with your girlfriends.

Notable Elements:

50 Best Girlfriend Getaways in North America is organized by theme rather than destination. Each chapter begins with a woman's personal story relating travel to healing, celebration, challenge or change.

A resources section, at the end of the book, lists travel companies for women, volunteer opportunities and helpful travel websites for women. Our only criticism is that the website list does not include a very valuable women's travel resource: www.journeywoman.com.

Tone / Style:

Chatty and conversational, Marybeth Bond provides inspiration and ideas to encourage women to travel and do things with their girlfriends. She describes getaways for trips of three to six days. Bond organizes and filters detailed women's trip itineraries by where to go, where to stay, what to do and where to eat.

Phone numbers and websites, for each destination, make the planning process simple and easy. Sidebars with tips, tricks and secrets offer advice based on the personal experiences of Marybeth Bond and the women she interviewed.

Sample Items:

Female-friendly trip ideas in 50 Best Girlfriend Getaways in North America range from adventure to shopping, from birthday parties to reunions and from bonding to pampering.

For us, the "Heli-hiking the Canadian Rockies" story recalls personal memories. Anyone who has participated in the Canadian Mountain Holidays experience will agree with Marybeth when she writes: "While they know about safety and the mountains, they could also write the book on wilderness luxury." Sandra Dagelman, in her interview, remembers: "Wow, think of it... today we rode in a helicopter and made snow angels on a glacier. We feel young again."

Visuals:

No photos.

Contents:

• Introduction - Go Now!

1. Big City Getaways
   • San Francisco
   • Miami
   • New York City
   • Chicago
   • Quebec City
2. Spirit Boosters
• Cajun Mardi Gras, Louisiana
• Road Trip, Grand Circle Loop, Utah, Arizona, Bryce and Zion, Moab
• Nashville, Tennessee, Grand ol Opry
• Tanglewood, Massachusetts
• Tetons, Wyoming, Hiking, Biking, with Yoga
3. Birthday Blowouts
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Wine Country, Healdsburg, California
• New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest
• Cruise East - Caribbean
• Cruise West - Mexico
4. Family Bonding
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Aspen, Colorado
• Ashland, Oregon
• Cruise Alaska
• Boston, Massachusetts
5. Adventure Escapes
• Raft the Colorado, Grand Canyon, Arizona
• Heli-hiking in the Canadian Rockies
• Canoeing Kayaking Maine
• Hike inn-to-inn, Vermont
• Discover the Cowgirl Within, Reno, Nevada
6. Friends Reunions
• Asheville, North Carolina
• Sedona, Arizona
• Banff, Lake Louise, Alberta
• Savannah, Georgia
• San Diego, California
7. Best Places to Heal
• Glacier Hiking, Montana
• San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
• Yoga Retreat, Sewall House, Maine
• Key West, Florida
• Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey, California
8. Golf Outings
• Wigwam, Arizona
• Hilton Head, South Carolina
• Whistler, British Columbia
• Palm Springs, California
• The Homestead, Virginia
9. Pampering Retreats
• New Age, New York
• Deerfield, Pennsylvania
• Lake Austin, Texas
• Red Mountain, Utah
• Rancho La Puerta, Mexico
10. Retail Therapy
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Berkshires, Massachusetts
• Door County, Wisconsin
• Berea, Kentucky
• Mount Dora, Florida

• Resources
• Index

Author:

Marybeth Bond

Claim to fame:

Author of A Woman's Asia: True Stories, A Woman's Europe: True Stories, A Woman's World: True Stories of Life on the Road, Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road, A Woman's Passion for Travel: True Stories of World Wanderlust, A Mother's World Journeys of the Heart, and
Gutsy Mamas: Travel Tips and Wisdom for Mothers on the Road.

Other Girlfriends' Getaways by Marybeth Bond:

Best Girlfriends' Getaways Worldwide

Return to Travel Index

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