Girlfriend Getaways

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By Melissa Castleman

Time spent with friends is more than a fun fest. It's good for you, too.

Scientists are discovering what women have always known—that time spent with the girls soothes stress. “Hanging out with women friends increases prolactin levels. Prolactin is a bonding hormone that also decreases stress,” says Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom (Bantam Books). “Going to movies together, meeting for cappuccino, or simply having a date for taking walks together—all of these are great ways to decrease stress.”

Getting together with female friends provides you with a chance to talk, listen, laugh, and feel completely understood. “The older you get, the harder it is to make time for girlfriends because you have husbands and kids and jobs,” says Laura Maffeo, author of Girls’ Night In: Fabulous Ideas for Evenings with Friends (Ryland Peters & Small). “So just being able to catch up and giggle and not deal with daily life stuff is great.”

Nurturing yourself and your friends can be done easily at home, or pack up everyone and escape to a destination spa. Get together with your friends for a collective brainstorming session and plan your soothing retreat. If you’re staying home, the rejuvenation gathering can take many forms, such as hosting a spa party or cooking a simple, healthful meal together and then swapping stories or advice.

You can rent your favorite friendship-theme movie (Maffeo likes The Women (1939) for a classic, and Thelma and Louise or The Breakfast Club for a more modern-day pick). If it’s a sunny afternoon, you can head outside for an invigorating group hike or nature walk.

Your get-together won’t require a lot of time or money to be a success. All it will take is a little planning and a few thoughtful touches. Read on for our favorite ideas for a relaxing escape with friends.