Five Winter Trips for the Non-Skier

Not everyone is a snow skier, especially us Florida folks.  So here are some suggestions for winter trips that do not involve snow skiing.  

Patagonia Fly-Fishing

Travel with Frontiers International this winter to the new Limay River Lodge, the first and only fly fishing

lodge on the famed Middle Limay River in Patagonia’s Neuquén Province. Targeting river rainbows, browns and fall migratory brown trout, the Limay meshes big water drift fishing with ample walk and wade opportunities. Limay River Lodge has the unique distinction of being the only destination fishing lodge on the banks of this tail water with exclusive put in access and 10 breathtaking beats. The season is mid-November – mid-May. Prices start at $850 per day. http://www.frontierstravel.com/limay-river-freshwater

China Ice Festival

After exploring The Great Wall or Hong Kong or Beijing on an Adventure Life tour in China this winter, 

add a few extra days to experience the Harbin Ice Festival. Explore this winter wonderland and see the impressive ice sculptures and lit buildings that this city creates for what is now the largest snow and ice festival in the world. $1,105 based on two people traveling together.

http://www.adventure-life.com/china/tours/4491/harbin-ice-festival

Antarctic Cruise

Antarctica travel reveals the dramatic extremes of a frozen continent. Antarctica holds the title of coldest,

driest, windiest, and highest elevation on earth. A number of ships ply the Antarctic waters, from Russian icebreakers to luxury expedition ships with strengthened hulls. Depending on your trip-length, spend time visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands and the mountainous South Georgia. Antarctica cruises offer zodiac excursions for up-close encounters with wildlife and the blue icebergs that float quietly in the surrounding waters. Small ship cruises operate December through March. Rates begin at $5,995 per person, depending on the specific ship, cabin class and itinerary.

http://www.adventure-life.com/antarctica

Arizona Cycling

As the days get shorter and colder, and workouts turn to the ‘dread-mill’ and trainer; reverse your usual

winter fitness losses by joining The Cycling House for a cycling and triathlon camp. For 2016 winter training, The Cycling House is offering 18 weeks of camps in Tucson, Ariz. and Solvang, Calif. The first camp is the week of December 8, 2015 and the last camp begins April 4, 2016. Within those weeks are several specialty camps, too, including beginner triathlon, long-distance triathlon, mountain biking, and women-only. Camps are 6 days/5 nights with 45 – 80 miles of guided riding per day, chef-prepared meals, opportunities to run and swim, and plenty of time to relax and recover. Prices start at $1,895. http://thecyclinghouse.com/trips/#winter

Siberian Escapade

The thought of Siberia tends to conjure images of punishment, exile, and vast expanses of nothingness – a

place of no return. But, in fact, Siberia is a wild and wooded country of inconceivable beauty. MIR Corporation’s 8-day “Siberian Winter Escapade” tour is perfect for the adventurous traveler who’s seen it all. On UNESCO-listed Lake Baikal, race teams of sled dogs, ice-fish and sweep across the lake by hovercraft.  In Ust-Ordynski, discover one of Siberia's Buddhist monasteries. Participate in a sunrise shaman ceremony at Olkhon Island's best-known spot, Shaman Rock. Feb 20-27, 2016, from $3,995.http://www.mircorp.com/trip/siberian-winter-escapade/. 

Photo credits: Adventure Life,  Frontiers Travel, MIR Corp., The Cycling House.

Girls Getaway to Phoenix/Mesa - Day 3

For a more affordable option, head 25 miles east in Mesa. Fuchsia Day Spa has a blow dry bar and salon for manicures and pedicures as well as treatment rooms for massages and facials. The massage therapists and aestheticians are upbeat and friendly

Clearly, we ate very well in Phoenix and one of our favorite restaurants was Beckett’s Table for its

casual, affordable but delicious Southwestern cuisine. Although customers rave about Chef Justin Beckett’s short rib, his vegetable platter blew us away. The dish masquerades on the menu as “seasonal organic vegetables, inspired daily,” a simple description that doesn’t do this carnivore-converting entrée justice. Everything from asparagus and romanesco to sea beans, tomatoes and foraged greens were presented raw, cooked, roasted and pureed mimicking a multi-course vegetable tasting menu. Just because we started out virtuous doesn’t mean we didn’t save room for dessert. The signature dessert here is the buttery fig and pecan pie complemented by tangy cream cheese citrus zest ice cream. Share a slice and you won’t feel quite as guilty.

Whether you prefer beer or wine, there are plenty of local options for imbibing. Hit Arizona Brewery Tours, the state’s only brewery tour, to sample craft brews from a selection of tasting rooms. You can easily customize a private tour and the variety and quality of beers to sample is impressive. We especially enjoyed brews from Desert Eagle, The Perch and Arizona Wilderness, recently rated the best new brewery in the world by ratebeer.com. For wine, Postino Wine Café has three locations and a great selection of wines and fantastic bruschetta. With our gaggle of gals, we managed to try just about all the bruschetta flavors. You can’t miss their house tomato jam with sheep’s milk cheese or the prosciutto, fig and mascarpone spread. On Mondays and Tuesdays, you can choose any bottle of wine and a bruschetta board for just $20.

Arizona is a place for relaxing and savoring life over great food and even better conversation. We’d  come back next year with our men to catch a Cubs spring training game and dine at Quiessence at The Farm at South Mountain, supposedly one of the most romantic restaurants around.

Author Amber Gibson is a Food/Travel Writer, Model & Actress from Chicago currently contributing to the Girls Getaway Guide. To find out more about Amber, visit www.AmberGibson.com.  

Girls Getaway to Phoenix/Mesa - Day 1

Polar vortex? No problem. Just head with your girlfriends to sunny Phoenix and enjoy great food, spas,

a surprisingly lush and vibrant botanic garden and learn where your food comes from on local farms.

The Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort is like a village in and of itself. The sprawling resort has nearly 600 suites available and there’s so much to do, including a golf course, spa and several pools, that you could easily be lazy and stay on property for several days. One attraction that’s not to be missed is Different Pointe of View, a fine dining restaurant offering a panoramic view of the valley and scrumptious food with a great wine list. What better way to end the day than watching the blazing red sunset while enjoying diver scallops and sunchokes and sipping champagne?

We never would have guessed the desert would have such lush and vibrant greenery, but the gorgeous Desert Botanical Garden, celebrating its 75^th birthday, proved to us otherwise. Who knew there were so many different types of prickly pear? Indian fig prickly pear is the only kind you should be eating, but the other shapes and textures are fun to compare and contrast. The gardens offer an array of classes for kids and adults, ranging from photography and sketching to gardening and cooking. We had fun learning to make traditional mole sauce in a pressure cooker along with a simple and refreshing prickly pear sorbet at a class taught by personal chef Denise Clayton.

Author Amber Gibson is a Food/Travel Writer, Model & Actress from Chicago currently contributing to the Girls Getaway Guide. To find out more about Amber, visit www.AmberGibson.com.

Congratulations to the 12 Days til Christmas Winners

Congratulations to winners of the Girls Getaway Guide's Sixth Annual '12 Days til Christmas' Getaway Giveaway! 

Dec. 3    Value: $250
Girls Getaway to Lake Havasu, AZ
Three day/two-night stay includes breakfast each morning and one dinner for two
Donated by: Quality Inn & Suites Lake Havasu
Winner: April M. of Edgewater, FL

Dec. 4    Value: $300
Girls Getaway to Arizona
Two-night stay for two adults in your choice of either Sedona or Scottsdale (winner’s choice)
Donated by: Arizona Tourism Center
Winner: Jennifer B. of Lake Placid, FL

Dec. 5    Value: $350
Girls Getaway to Asheville, NC
One night stay at the historic Grove Park Inn with breakfast
Donated by: Grove Park Inn    
Winner: Charlene E. of Nashville, TN

Dec. 6    Value: $375
Girls Getaway to Vero Beach, FL
One-night stay with $50 dinner credit and spa treatment
Donated by: Costa d’Este Beach Resort
Winner: Nita K. of Aloha, OR

Dec. 7    Value: $500
Girls Getaway to the U.S. Virgin Islands
Enjoy three nights deluxe hotel accommodation for double occupancy at Hotel Caravelle that sits on the waters edge in St. Croix.
Donated by: Hotel Caravelle  
Winner: Jane P. of Ottumwa, IA

Dec. 8    Value: $500
Girls Getaway to The Bahamas
Relax at this two-night weekend stay with accommodations at Bimini Sands Resort & Marina for two people in a marina-view, one-bedroom villa.
Donated by: Bimini Sands Resort & Marina 
Winner: Elaine M. of Bokeelia, FL

Dec. 9    Value: $550
Girls Getaway to Orlando & Shopping Spree
Two-night stay at Drury Inn & Suites with breakfast, plus a VIP Shopping Spree from Orlando Premium Outlets that includes a $250 gift card, VIP coupon book, VIP Platinum Passport & Chic Shopping Bag
Donated by: Orlando Premium Outlets
Winner: Jaqueline B. of Ypsilanti, MI

Dec. 10    Value: $600
Girls Getaway to Idaho
Two nights lodging in a deluxe one-bedroom suite for 2-4 adults plus cross country skiing
Donated by: Teton Springs Lodge & Spa
Winner: Carmen P. of Orlando, FL

Dec. 11    Value: $850
Girls Getaway to Orlando & Spa
One night stay in a luxury deluxe guest room at Orlando’s Rosen Shingle Creek and two 50-minute spa treatments
Donated by: Rosen Shingle Creek
Winner: Dawn R.  of Pittsburgh, PA

Dec. 12    Value: $850
Girls Getaway to Orlando & Spa
Enjoy a one-night luxury deluxe guest room at Orlando’s Rosen Centre and two 50-minute spa treatments.
Donated by: Orlando Rosen Centre   
Winner: Abigail E. of Longwood, FL

Dec. 13    Value: $1,000
Girls Getaway to Orlando & Christmas Package
“Christmassy DreamWorks Experience” package that includes: two night room accommodations, unlimited visits to ICE!, Shrekfast and interactive character meal, character Meet & Greets
Donated by: Gaylord Palms Resort  
Winner: Ivette A. of Sebring, FL

Dec. 14    Value: $1,250
Girls Getaway to the Turks & Caicos
Two-night stay in a two-bedroom deluxe suite for 4-6 guests at Ocean Club Resorts
Donated by: Ocean Club Resorts
Winner: Jamie H. of Sebring, FL

Dec. 15 Value: $1,300
Girls Getaway to Hawaii
Experience two nights of paradise at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa on famed Ka’anapali Beach. In addition to splashing fun at the aquatic playground, the winner will enjoy one fitness class per person at the Mind & Body Studio. Maximum 2 people.
Donated by: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka’anapali Beach
Winner: Sydney L. of Diamond Bar, CA
 
Dec. 16    Value: $1,475
Girls Getaway to Longboat Key, FL
Enjoy a 5-night stay in a one or two bedroom unit, plus a $50 gift certificate from Chiles Group’s waterfront restaurants.
Donated by: Cedars Tennis Resort & Chiles Group
Winner: Lorrie B. of Longwood, FL

Dec. 17    Value: $1,500
Girls Getaway to Clearwater Beach, FL
Two-night stay in a one-bedroom suite for 4-6 guests
Donated by: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa
Winner: Gail B. of Lake Placid, FL

Dec. 18    Value: $2,368
GRAND PRIZE: Girls Getaway to Cancun, Mexico
Spend four nights for two adults at the all-inclusive Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort that offers the exhilaration of enjoying whatever you want, whenever you want it – fine dining, premium wines and spirits, water sports, nightly entertainment.
Donated by: Palace Resorts   
Winner: Kate B. of Metairie, LA

Enter to win a Girls Getaway to Arizona

On December 4th, we will give away a two-night stay for two adults in your choice of either Sedona or Scottsdale (winner’s choice) valued at $300.

The state of Arizona is one that features a fantastic diversity of landscapes and areas of geological interest. North Arizona is famous for the Grand Canyon, a colorful chasm with steep rocky walls more than a mile deep and stretching some 277 miles alongside the Colorado River.

Donated by: Arizona Tourism Travel Center. Enter online to win at Girls Getaway Guide.

Win a Girls Getaway to Lake Havasu, AZ

The getaway gift giving begins on December 3rd as the Girls Getaway Guide will award one lucky winner with a Girls Getaway to Lake Havasu, AZ. 

Lake Havasu is a water enthusiast's paradise and a desert lover's dream. With more than 350 days of sunshine per year, Lake Havasu City, Arizona is a great destination for outdoor recreation. Featuring 450 miles of stunning shoreline and breathtaking desert views, visitors will enjoy activities like water sports, fishing, skiing, kayaking and more.

Several shopping opportunities are just minutes from the hotel. A wide variety of restaurants, nightclubs, entertainment options and cocktail lounges are located in the surrounding area.

The winner will enjoy three day/two-night stay includes breakfast each morning and one dinner for two valued at $250.  Donated by: Quality Inn & Suites Lake Havasu.






Enter to win this and other travel prizes at Girls Getaway Guide.