Forty is a big number and one you should embrace – and celebrate. (Don’t even think about buying an “Over the hill” balloon.) Instead, grab your girls and your car keys because we’ve got the best ways to throwdown for your 40th – without throwing around a lot of cash. As in, you can drive to these places and celebrate your fabulous self with your fabulous friends.
The Greenbrier (West Virginia)
This luxury mountain resort has been around since 1778 and is known for its world class southern hospitality. The Greenbrier has thirty-eight shops, twenty restaurants and five golf courses. And oh yeah – there’s a fantastic spa. The 40,000-square foot spa offers more than fifty treatments, relaxation pavilions, and of course, the rich mineral waters the area is known for. So soak it all in…just make sure you have some snacks and a full tank of gas for the roadtrip – it will take you about four and a half hours to get there from Charlotte.
Charleston
The ultimate Girls Night Out destination, Charleston is a foodies paradise with plenty of great shopping (Hellllooooo King street…tell Stacy at Hampden hello for us) and lots of places to stay that are full of charm and character. We like the brand new Dewberry Hotel in the former Federal building. For good eats in the city full of good eats, try the Macintosh. Get your drink on at the Bar at Husk where the mixologists are experts at whipping up a fun blend of historic and modern cocktails.
The Ritz Carlton (Charlotte)
Can’t go too far from home? Don’t worry – you don’t have to. You can still feel like you left suburbia without leaving the city limits – and still have a fantastic time. Just about every big name celebrity that comes to town stays here, and with good reason. Located in the heart of uptown, Charlotte’s own Ritz offers a first class spa (make sure you and your girls indulge in the brown sugar and bourbon scrub and glow), fun cooking classes at the Cocoa Lab and some top notch wining and dining options. Grab a drink in the lobby (or checkout the hidden new wine cellar and tasting room to buy a bottle you can enjoy in your room), before eating at BLT Steak. After dinner head upstairs to the newly redone Punch Room for some specialty drinks (courtesy of the city’s best mixologist) and spectacular views.
Chateau Elan (Georgia)
It will take you just three hours to get from Charlotte to one of the top wineries on the east coast. Chateau Elan offers winery tours where you can go behind the scenes to see how the wine is made, or you can simply choose a tasting bar and just enjoy the fruits of their labor. Make sure to book some time in the spa while you’re there. The European style spa is nestled inside a mansion that even has newly done guest rooms. You an also choose from seven restaurants on the property offering everything from lighter spa fare to Italian, French, Southern, Mediterranean and more.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort
If you haven’t been to Kiawah Island Golf Resort, simply put, you are missing out (you can just ignore the “golf” part, that’s just one element). Located on a barrier island about a half an hour drive from Charleston, you can choose to stay at the extraordinary Sanctuary Hotel, or rent a villa or private home. While there a visit to the legendary spa at the Sanctuary is a must. Even if it’s not beach weather, there is plenty of relaxation to go around. But if you and your friends are avid tennis players or big fans of golf, there are special packages for both – no matter what the time of year.
