Girlfriend-in-Chief Dawn checks out the Camaro

GirlfriendCelebrations is hitting the road, courtesy of Chevrolet, and we want YOU to tell us where to go. We recently attended a fabulous blogger event at Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, put on by our girlfriends at Silicon Valley Moms Group and Chicago Moms Blog. We learned about a lot of interesting products and services, some of  which we’ll be sharing with you soon. We also were among ten lucky bloggers selected to test drive a Chevy for a weekend this summer. Not only are we excited to get our hands on a brand new car—we can choose among some great vehicles including Chevy’s Camaro, Equinox, Tahoe, and Traverse—but we want to make our little excursion as GIRL-FRIENDLY as possible! And, in keeping with the spirit of the Chevy Missions project in Illinois, we are also thinking of ways to use our Chevy vehicle to serve others. As always, our goal is to give YOU more ideas for ways to have fun and meaningful times with YOUR girlfriends. We want to make this good, girlfriends, and we need your ideas! So please, leave your comments on this post with suggestions for:

• Girlfriend getaway destinations – drivable from Chicago in a weekend?
• Service project ideas  - perhaps utilizing a larger vehicle?
• Other ways to use a vehicle for some good girlfriendly fun? (and don’t say camping – though that would make for some entertaining reading!)

We’re looking forward to hearing what you suggest, and to bringing you our adventure later this summer. Thanks, girlfriends!

Photo by the immensely talented Lahleyoo!

Speaking of girlfriend getaways (see our contest, above) Loews Miami Beach Hotel has created a tempting offer for girlfriends looking for a weekend full of food, fashion and fun. It certainly sounds like fun, and we wanted to let you know about it. The hotel, which recently completed a $50 million renovation, is inviting ladies to South Beach for the “World’s Largest Girlfriend Getaway.” Headlining the weekend will be two of Miami’s most popular and famous chefs and “girlfriends,” James Beard award winner and TV contributor, Michelle Bernstein, and CIA grad and celebrated chef, Andrea Curto-Randazzo, offering cooking demonstrations, tips, and recipe sharing. The “Girls Only Getaway” package is priced starting at $399 per person, based on double occupancy and is available April 16-18, 2010. The weekend also includes a two-night stay in a deluxe room, daily breakfast, group salsa lesson by Miami Beach’s Salsa Mia, beach yoga and Elemis Spa specials.

“The hotel has always been a great place for women to take a break with their girlfriends. In celebration of this growing trend, we decided to create the ultimate girlfriend getaway experience, where women can relax together, pamper themselves and just have fun,” says Debbie Castillo, Regional Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Loews Hotels. “The Loews Miami Beach Hotel has the best location for everything in South Beach, with shopping and nightlife nearby, and a roster of exciting activities and special guests for the entire weekend.”

To book this package, visit www.loewshotels.com/sobegirlfriendsgetaway or call 1-800-235-6397. Upgrades and additional room nights are available at an added charge. Let us know if you go. We’d love to hear all about it!

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to our winner Viveca! Want to get away? Girlfriend getaways are all the rage—really.  Even the Chicago Tribune noted in a recent article, “Women are signing up in droves to vacation together.” Why? Well, as we can attest from a recent girlfriend getaway, vacationing with a group of girlfriends is a great way to remember who you are. It’s a great way to strengthen your bond with girlfriends you don’t see often. It can be more relaxing than vacationing with your family; you don’t have to take care of your girlfriends, they will let you shop in peace, and they share your enthusiasm about everything from mani-pedis to Manet. Finally, it’s just plain fun.

With summer coming up, our friends at Gracious Bridal want to help you get away with your girlfriends in style. They are giving one lucky GirlfriendCelebrations reader a fabulous Printed Oil Cloth Garment Bag in Orange Toile, along with the matching Passport Cover, Luggage Tag and Cosmetic Bag.  Total value of this package, which includes shipping, is $87.85. Gracious Bridal has been a great girlfriend to our website, offering our readers several giveaways over the years. They have excellent taste, and their wedding favors and gifts are also perfectly suited as party favors for many girlfriend events.

How to enter

Girlfriend getaways run the gamut from adventurous to indulgent, and we’d love to hear about yours! So to enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us about either:
-your favorite girlfriend getaway,
-a girlfriend getaway you have coming up
-a destination you think would be perfect for a girlfriend getaway
Winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries. U.S. shipping addresses only, please. We’re keeping this one open for TWO weeks, so you have until 11;59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7 to enter.
Good luck, girlfriends!

No cooking, no cleaning, no chores, no worries….that’s what our girlfriends enjoyed at our Party For the Girls weekend at the Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel in Galena, Illinois. Along with Siobhainn O’Connor Van Santen from The O’Connor Show Irish radio program, we descended on this historic resort town for a fabulous late-winter getaway and girl, did we have a great time! Read on for our report, complete with pictures!

The Valley of Glendalough

Friday

After a scenic 3-hour drive to Galena, we arrived at our hotel. When you enter the Irish Cottage, you are instantly transported to a more relaxing place! The hotel overlooks “The Valley of Glendalough” —a hilly countryside reminiscent of Ireland. The hotel’s common areas feature a cozy library fully stocked with books, and an attached pub that is “the beating heart of the hotel”—complete with Irish dancers and live entertainment. It’s always bustling!

Your charming hostesses, Siobhainn, Dawn and Tina

Saturday

On Saturday, many of the girls had appointments for massages, mani-pedis and more booked at the Wild Clover Day Spa. Others took the opportunity for an early morning hike or jog. Some others visited the local alpaca farm (yes, really!) and took in the sights. Then, we all managed to converge on downtown Galena for some serious shopping, lunch, wine-tasting and more in the afternoon. Galena’s downtown comprises several blocks of high-quality boutiques, restaurants, galleries and shops. Jewelry, clothing, shoes…let’s just say that the Party Girls did their part in helping the local economy! Galena’s small-town hospitality and friendliness really wowed us all weekend long. We were definitely charmed by how the local shopkeepers and police rallied to help one of our girlfriends find her lost purse (disaster averted!). Meanwhile, those participating in the scavenger hunt pestered shopkeepers for seashells, birthday candles, pink shoes and more hard-to-find items. While some girlfriends escaped back to the hotel to read and relax, many of us stayed in town to get our makeup done at A Clover on Main and get accessorized at Simply Elegant Boutique. Feeling totally pampered, we scurried back to the hotel to get ready for another night out.

Irish Eyes Smile Down at You in the Lobby

Saturday night featured a planned meal at One Eleven Main, featuring local cuisine. Executive Chef Ryan Boughton prepared a 5 course meal just for us, paired with sangrias and mojitos to help us get in the mood for summer entertaining. From the sweet potato and leek vichyssoisse to the sweet chili maple glazed salmon to the dessert—a vanilla bean biscuit with pineapple rum mascarpone sorbet, topped with canded ginger and Door County cherry compote, the meal and the drinks left us saying wow! In addition, the bartender kindly showed us all how to make our own delicious mojitos (so easy to do!).

Then, local historian Steve Repp stopped by to speak to us about the “history and mystery” of Galena. We quickly learned that were dining in one of Galena’s most interesting buildings—if you’re interested in ghosts, that is. One Eleven Main is renowned for “paranormal activity,” and soon the staff gathered around to tell their own ghost stories. It was fascinating, though we had a few skeptics in the group. On the way out, we gamely trooped up to the “haunted” third floor, where a paranormal study group was setting up their data-gathering equipment for the night—a regular occurence at the restaurant. Luckily, we didn’t encounter any ghosts while in the restaurant—at least, not that we know of!

Ghost in the Group?

We ended Saturday with a nightcap in the pub, enjoying the company of hotel owners Jack and Basil.

Sunday

On Sunday we gathered for a delicious hot breakfast in the pub and awarded prizes to the scavenger hunt winners as well as our raffle drawing for a beautiful Irish music basket courtesy of the O’ Connor Show. We said our farewells to new friends and old and piled into our cars to head back to reality. We left convinced of just how worthwhile it really is to make time for “girl time”—to take a vacation just for yourself, but in the company of friends. And, no surprise, there’s already talk of “next year!” Be sure to subscribe to GirlfriendCelebrations emails if you want to stay informed about all our events, posts, giveaways and more.

Special Thanks

Look what was in the goodie bag!

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and enjoy some GIRL TIME—especially in the middle of winter—and that’s why we’re so excited to tell you about this very special girlfriend getaway weekend, February 26-28, 2010 at the charming Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel in Galena, Illinois. We’re proud to be hosting this event along with Siobhainn O’Connor VanSanten from the O’Connor Show Irish Radio Program. The time to book your room is NOW – so read on for ALL the girlfriendly details!

Girlfriends, you deserve a mid-winter getaway that offers EVERYTHING a girl needs to feel rejuvenated – cozy surroundings, gourmet food, fancy drinks, spa treatments, shopping, pampering, relaxation, and of course, girlfriends! Bring your mom, your sister, your daughter, your best friends.

The Hotel

We’ve arranged a great room rate: Just $109/night (two-night minimum, double occupancy) includes a hot boutique breakfast each morning and free wi-fi. THIS OFFER IS NOT AVAILABLE ON LINE. You must call the Irish Cottage at 866-284-7474 and ask for the “Party for the Girls” rate.

Please note: $109 room rate is for a double queen room and is based on double occupancy. Two-night minimum. Additional persons may share your room for $15 per person per night. A one-night stay will be available at the rate of $139. Tax is additional. Travel to Galena is at your own expense.

Here’s what else is included, courtesy of GirlfriendCelebrations and The O’Connor Show:

• Opening Reception/Mixer (cash bar) with Welcome Gift (Swag Bag) to the First 100 Guests
• Girlfriend Photos
• Raffles/Giveaways
• Games and Surprises Throughout the Weekend

Wouldn’t you love to give your best friend (and yourself) a girlfriend getaway for the holidays? Now that would be the ultimate girlfriend gift—but it may seem way out of reach in the current economy.  To help girlfriends “get away,” our very own contributor Casey Wohl, founder of  the Girls Getaway Guide, has announced The Getaway Girl’s® third annual “12 Days ‘til Christmas” holiday promotion—a chance to make your travel wishes come true! Visit the Girls Getaway Guide online at www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net to sign up for more than $7,000 in fabulous giveaways.  The winners will be selected on each of the 12 business days starting December 8, with the Grand Prize selected on December 25. Look what you can win:

Woohoo! It’s a rejuvenating girlfriend getaway to the land of big sky, rodeos, rafting, and…pilates? This is a girlfriend getaway for ladies who want to be challenged and pampered.

by Casey Wohl

Our destination this month is Livingston, Montana for a Girls Getaway (and Boot Camp).  This quaint town is located in Park County where the Rocky Mountains give way to the plains that stretch to the horizon, blue-ribbon fishing streams turn to the Missouri River, and the “Big Sky” opens up.

Livingston came into being in 1882 in consequence of planning by the Northern Pacific Railway, which deemed it a good location for railroad shops to service its steam trains before their ascent over the Bozeman Pass.  Though Livingston is a small town, it is popular with tourists and is a small art haven, filming location (A River Runs Through It, The Horse Whisperer), fishing destination, railroad town, and writers’ and actors’ colony.  Actors Peter Fonda and Margot Kidder call Livingston home, and Jimmy Buffett fans will recognize the town named in several of his songs.

Rise and shine, Mountain Mamas!

We wake up thrilled to see the incredible view outside the Flatpenny Inn (our home for the next few days) of the Abrasoka Mountains. It is absolutely beautiful here.  Despite our long day yesterday, we are ready for our early, four-mile mountain hike.  Our host, Lisa Celentano, oozes high energy that is contagious and almost infuses you (I will stress “almost”).  I feel really out of shape when I get winded after the first mile, but Lisa assures us it is mostly the mountain altitude.  Regardless, I love incorporating exercise into my getaway experience!

After showers and a delicious pasta lunch of Sun Dried & Artichoke Hearts over Angel Hair (thanks Lisa), we drive to downtown Livingston for some shopping, sightseeing and bar investigation…with one brief stop at the famous Paradise Valley Pop Stand for the renowned huckleberry ice cream…YUM!  Livingston is a very cute town, and when roaming the streets, you feel as if you have gone back in time about 50 years.  We make purchases at Wild West Clothing and the Livingston Merchantile (www.LivingstonMerchantile.com), and then stop at The Office Lounge & Liquor Store for a drink.  After their power goes out, we re-locate to The Sport, where owner Chuck Tanner has just re-modeled this great local hangout.  We once again re-locate to the Hiatt House for a sneek peek at the band playing there all weekend, The Max.  After the band takes a few of our requests so we can sport our moves, we order a pizza at the bar, eat it in five minutes and head home completely exhausted after a grand Girls Night Out.

Our Thursday begins with pilates on the porch, a great way to wake us up and take in the beautiful scenery.  After homemade waffles for breakfast, we drive to downtown Livingston to meet the Yellow Bus for a tour of the town.  We learn a lot about the history and the role Sacajewea and the Lewis and Clark Expedition played in developing Livingston, as well as the role the town plays as the “gateway to Yellowstone.”  It is interesting to note that Livingston had a Red Light District area that was “operating” until 1948, and residential lots originally sold here for $25. Thank you Jack and Vern for an excellent tour.

After the tour, we get settled in for the big Round Up Parade, which celebrates the beginning of the Livingston Rodeo, which is held every Fourth of July weekend. Ted Turner serves as the Grand Marshall and rides a dappled gray horse through the streets of Livingston…right in front of us. The parade is entertaining and full of celeb sightings.  Margot Kidder (of Superman fame) rides a bicycle dressed as the Statue of Liberty (she is a resident here).  We also see Greg Germann (Ally McBeal) and Missy Pyle (Dodgeball) who takes photos with us.  The parade is also full of bag pipe bands, outfitters, and local celebrities dressed for the parade theme “Like A Rhinestone Cowboy.”  Once the parade ends, we drive back to Flatpenny Inn for some R&R.

After some downtime, I go for an ATV ride up the mountain where I encounter deer and a grouse. Then it’s time for Lisa’s special dinner of make-your-own pizza, which Tatiana says reminds her of  Italian quesadillas.  We love the pear, tomato and provolone cheese…yum!  And just when we think we can’t eat anymore, the campfire lights up and the ingredients for smores are passed around the campfire.

We wake up Friday morning to a cool breeze and warm sun shining on us.  We do a quick run/walk down and then up the mountain and return to the Flatpenny Inn for some pushups overlooking the Absaroka Mountains of Southwest Montana.  After our workout, we drive to Bozeman for some more shopping and massages at Summit Chiropractic & Massage.  Many thanks to Alicia for working the kinks out and massaging our sore “front calves.”  My favorite store, Ruby Slippers (117 E. Main Street), featured some super cute shoes, jewelry and clothing items. With our bodies totally relaxed, we drive back to Flatpenny for a late lunch and to rest up for the evening’s rodeo festivities.

We all have fun getting “gussied” up for the rodeo.  After some group photos, we drive to town to see some of the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls strut their stuff in Livingston.  We watch cowboys get bucked off horses and bulls, which proves to be fully entertaining for the two-hour show.  Tatiana and I were thrilled to find some “Rodeo Wine” served in Pabst Blue Ribbon cups…gotta love it!  At 10 p.m., they turn off the arena lights and start the fireworks show.  After the fireworks, we hit the Livingston nightlife with a stop at the Hiatt House (to listen to our friends “The Max” play).  Many thanks to The Max for re-naming “Mustang Sally” to “Mustang Casey.”  You guys are the best!

Grab a paddle and let’s row!

We are all very excited about today’s All-American rafting trip down the Yellowstone River.  What a way to celebrate the Fourth of July!  We arrive at Rubber Ducky River Rentals to pick up our large blue raft, paddles and life jackets.  With the raft loaded, we’re ready to hit the rapids. We unload our equipment, get a quick rowing lesson from our guide Jeff and are on our way.  It’s a gorgeous day with the sun shining!  During our trip, we see a lot of wildlife such as deer, Canadian geese and white pelicans.  We stop for a picnic lunch and to collect colored stones.  As soon as we get back in the raft, it seems that the weather has changed.  After a few small rapids (large enough for some of us to get wet), we start to realize how cold we are.  “How much further, Jeff?” we ask.  “About two hours,” he replies.  As we sing songs (or at least parts of them) and play a very long game of “I’m going on a picnic” we forget how cold we are.  We’re very excited to see Carter’s Bridge, and we quickly land the raft and look forward to getting home for some hot showers.

After some hot (and not-so-hot showers), we go to a neighbor’s house for a great BBQ cookout to celebrate the Fourth of July. Angela and Bruce are amazing hosts, and Bruce keeps bringing more and more food to us. I thought I was going to explode!  It is a wonderful way to end our fabulous Girls Getaway to Montana.  We leave very full and ready to pack our things and prepare for our early morning flights home.

We are all sad to leave the comforts of the Flatpenny Inn, and reminisce about our great time here.  Lisa asks us all to sign the “Guest Log” that is really a log.  I write: “The Getaway Girl® will never forget this fabulous Girls Getaway to Montana at Flatpenny Inn.  Thank you for your hospitality, generosity and inspiration as you help women ‘Leave Your Baggage at Home™.’”

[For more information about the Flatpenny Inn, visit http://www.flatpennyinn.com. For more information about travel to Livingston, Montana, visit http://www.livingston-chamber.com/.]

Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl™, is the author of the Girls Getaway Guide travel book series. Her third book, the Girls Getaway Guide to Nashville: Leave Your Baggage at Home™ is in the works.  For more information, visit www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net.

Dog-friendly vacations abound these days and we love the idea of girlfriends getting together with their pampered pooches. Dog ownership is an interest that can help you make new friends or strengthen the friendships you have. Getaway Girl Casey Wohl is back with some ideas for a girls and dogs vacation in sunny Miami. Enjoy.

by Casey Wohl

My girlfriends and I were so excited to arrive at Miami’s new Epic Hotel for a Girls Getaway with our dogs. Liz brought Stella (a Cocker Spaniel/Shih Tzu mix) and I brought Zoe (my Weimeraner). Emily also joined us minus a dog. Upon arrival, the dogs were thrilled to find the room stocked with toys, their own beds, bottled water, food, snacks and water bowls. Zoe and I quickly found a grassy area that was located just beyond the bridge a minute from the hotel. Each time we passed the bridge, there was a different modeling photo shoot taking place, and each time, Zoe was asked to be in the photos. I think she has a solid future as a dog model now that she has perfected her “looks.”

With the dogs comfortably situated in the hotel room, the two-legged girls headed to the pool for some R&R. The Epic has two pools and several cabana options. Guests can even get a massage in a private cabana poolside. They also offer some uniquely designed (and comfortable) pool furniture. Very nice!

Later we drove to South Beach’s Lincoln Road, known to be a great hangout and dog-friendly. We found Zeke’s Roadhouse where they offer more than 200 beers each at $4. Don’t expect a menu or table service. You must go inside to see what they offer and to place your order. They do provide outdoor seating so you can people watch (note the sunglasses at night fashion trend) while you enjoy a unique brew. Liz and Emily (and even Stella) enjoyed a Philippine beer, San Mig Light…very tasty! We also tried on clothes at BCBG Max Azria.  Zoe didn’t see anything in her color and none of their shoes came in sets of four, so we left empty handed.

Later that evening, we took in the nightlife at Skybar at the Shore Club in South Beach. Unlike many of the SoBe clubs, Skybar offers a relaxed outdoor and indoor atmosphere for guests. It was very chill, but still full of the Miami scene. At 4 a.m., we headed home to order late-night pizza. The next day we ventured to the Spa 101 grand opening at Hilton Bentley. After our hand massage and exfoliation, we joined a group of friends for dinner at China Grill. As we sat down, the girls ordered two bottles of champagne to celebrate the evening. Liz and I split the Riceless Tuna Roll and Dragon Roll…both were amazing! We caught a cab to The Mondrian for a few drinks at their Sunset Lounge, then it was off to Mynt for a late night (or early morning) of dancing the night away.

The next day, we ventured to the outdoor shopping area called CoCoWalk and found a haven at Full Bodied Wine & Spa for some terrific spa treatments. Teresa gave me one of the best massages I have ever received (thank you), and Liz got her hair cut while she sipped some light and crispy wine. Co-founder Emile told us the concept behind Full Bodied is “all about the grape.” They even use grape-based treatment products. What a great place to come with the girls and indulge in two of our favorites…wine and spa!  We window shopped our way through CoCoWalk where girls can easily spend the day here checking out the great shopping, cozy cafes and wonderful restaurant options.

We loved our dinner experience and the upbeat atmosphere at Historia Romana (where Italians go for Italian), just one of the restaurants located along Espanola Way. I felt like I was in Spain with the al fresco seating and white lights hanging across the carless street. Historia Romana features a live band (I just had to join them and play the cowbell), singing waiters, people dancing in the street, and a “Roman-esque” host for your evening fun. After dinner, we walked off our pasta with some boutique shopping along Espanola Way as the stores are all open until at least 11:00 p.m. After our fill of shopping, we ended the evening with one last cocktail at Segafredo on Lincoln Road where people watching and random magicians are more than entertaining.

With shopping, nightlife, food, spas and culture galore, no matter what you are looking for during your next girls getaway, chances are you can find it in Florida’s hottest hot spot, which we all know as Miami!

Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl™, is the author of the Girls Getaway Guide travel book series. Her third book, the Girls Getaway Guide to Nashville: Leave Your Baggage at Home™ will be published in Summer 2009.  For more information, visit www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net.

Hey y’all: Getaway Girl™ Casey Wohl is back and she’s “keeping it weird” in Austin, Texas. Her nicely detailed account gives you plenty of ideas for the perfect fall girlfriend getaway. We are so ready to go! Enjoy!

by Casey Wohl

My friend Ali and I had a fantastic time in Austin, Texas. We arrived on a Thursday and were greeted by Ashley, who drove us to the 405-acre Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, which is 20 miles away from downtown Austin and used to be a pecan orchard.

With 492 guest rooms, most with private balcony or patio, the resort brings jeans and business suits together in a comfortable ranch-style setting. Activities here are endless, from Spa Django to the Renegade Equestrian Center to the Wolfdancer Golf Club, as well as hiking in McKinney Roughs Nature Park, white water rafting on the Colorado River, and fun-in-the-sun at the Crooked River Water Park. We enjoyed massages and an amazing dinner at Stories Restaurant that included five courses and items such as scallops, lobster, venison, quail and filet mignon. It was wonderful!
The next morning, we headed back to town to our host hotel, The Driskill Hotel. Built in 1886 as a cattle barron’s showplace, The Driskill is located in downtown Austin with 189 guestrooms and suites distributed between the original Historic Wing and the Traditional Wing, which was added in 1929. No detail is forgotten inside or out as the hotel features a very ornate exterior complete with flags out front, a beautiful columned lobby; original art, oil paintings, and precious antiques; ornate beds designed exclusively for the hotel; marble floors and stained-glass dome. The Driskill has hosted celebs such as Dennis Quaid and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Singer Jewel filmed her latest video here and both Lance Armstrong and President George W. Bush held press conferences here.

Where We Ate

Our first stop in town was lunch at Guero’s Taco Bar on South Congress. This popular taqueria is housed in a renovated feed store and provides an eclectic atmosphere for patrons to enjoy some of Austin’s finest Tex Mex. I loved the combo Tacos Platos (Chicken Especial & Carne Guisada). Dinner Friday night was at Eddie V’s where we sat in the lounge area and enjoyed the live, four-piece jazz band. We all agreed that while all the food was delicious, my Steamed “Hong Kong Style” Chilean Seabass was the best. This was a great pick for fine dining! On Saturday, Ali and I took several recommendations and ate lunch (and saw a movie) at the Original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which was just blocks from The Driskill. We watched their feature movie The Wrestler, but heard they also have Sing Along and Quote Along Nights too.

We heard more recommendations for Uchi (Japanese word for “home”) Restaurant, so we had to try this sushi hotspot, just a 5-minute cab ride from our hotel, despite the almost two-hour wait (which actually turned out to be part of the Uchi experience). We enjoyed lounging in the outdoor seating area while we waited. They really do make you feel at home here, from the comfortable outdoor seating clusters to the soothing decor inside. Executive chef and Florida native Tyson Cole does an outstanding job of pairing traditional sushi with unusual flavors to create mouthwatering dishes. We loved it!

Our Sunday morning brunch at South Congress Café served up another amazing meal. I had to try the Carrot Cake French Toast (which was delish) with their original cream cheese-pecan syrup. Yum!

Where We Shopped

Our first shopping stop: SoCo. On South Congress Avenue, two to three blocks are filled with a diverse selection of funky stores. Here you’ll find boot shops, vintage clothing, galleries, trendy outfitters, antiques, and more, including the costume store Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds where Bob Dylan is rumored to have shopped for retro outfits. We spent some time in the vintage store Feathers (512- 912-9779), trendy boutique By George, folk art gallery Yard Dog, local fashion house Parts & Labour, jewelry and gifts at Maya, and the all black boutique Blackmail.

We also indulged in some shopping on Second Street, which housed great store and trendy boutiques. We visited several, including Girl Next Door, which showcased some amazing jewelry and fashions, Estilo (512-236-0488) with a great selection of men and women’s clothing, Mercury Design Studio with cool home furnishings and gifts, Shiki, that had several items I wanted to take home, and Peyton’s Place for some fashion deals.

Other Austin Adventures

Nightlife: Sixth Street (formerly known as Pecan Street) is Austin’s (probably even Texas’s) best known street and the city’s entertainment center. It is lined with many historical houses and commercial buildings dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The old buildings now house bars, a host of live entertainment venues, tattoo parlors, art galleries, casual cafes, upscale restaurants, and our fabulous host hotel—the Driskill. Live music from the bars is heard on the streets, and music lovers of all kinds (jazz, blues, country, dance, rock, hip-hop, progressive, metal, punk and more) will be able to find whatever musical style suits their taste. Our first stop on 6th Street was The Blind Pig Pub (512-472-0809) and we bar hopped the rest of the evening.

We ended up in the Warehouse District, which is a little less touristy than 6th and where many of the locals go. Ali and I were in awe of the live shark tank underneath the clear dance floor at Qua. We also checked out Cuba Libre, where Ali played the bongos, J. Blacks Feel Good Lounge,  as well as several others. In the South Congress area, we checked out the live music at The Continental Club, which is a great hangout for music lovers.

Sightseeing: We were so thankful that Trenton, from The Driskill, drove us around to see some of Austin’s sights. The bats were not flying this time of year (Austin has the largest urban bat population; at dusk in warmer months, 1.5 million bats fly from their home under the Congress Avenue Bridge), so we at least stopped at the Bat Sculpture for a photo.

He also took us to Lake Austin where we saw the infamous Chuy’s Hula Hut and Mozart’s Coffee Roasters.He drove us by Austin’s City Hall that was designed to look like an armadillo; it even has a tail! We also stopped by the brand new (and super cool) Hotel Saint Cecilia, which is owned by Liz Lambert who also owns trendy and popular the Hotel San Jose. Hotel Saint Cecilia is housed in a renovated 1880s Victorian estate with 14 bungalow-style rooms. On Sunday, we joined Dani who took us to Mount Bonnell (Austin’s highest point at 775 feet). We hiked to the top and enjoyed the amazing views of downtown and Lake Austin. [Editor's note: Click here for our review of Lake Austin Spa, another top Austin destination].

Many thanks to Ashley, Trenton, Dani, Jennifer Walker with the Austin CVB, and the staffs at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines and The Driskill for their hospitality during our trip. I cannot wait to go back to Austin. As their slogan states, “Keep Austin Weird.” I love it!

Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl™, is the author of the Girls Getaway Guide travel book series. Her third book, the Girls Getaway Guide to Nashville: Leave Your Baggage at Home™ will be published in Summer 2009.  For more information, visit www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net.