After a long workweek, you could use a little pampering, and the Spa at Harbor Shores is the perfect start to your girls’ day adventures! From mani/pedis to facials and massage, you’ll find so many ways to unwind. Take advantage of their “Great Escape” spa package for ultimate relaxation. It includes a fifty-minute massage and facial, a manicure and a pedicure, to get you looking and feeling your best for your day on the town.

*Be sure to schedule appointments in advance and check in 30 minutes early to loosen up in the sauna and relaxation area.

Visit their website for more details and a full list of spa services.

Lazy Ballerina is the only woman-owned and operated winery in Southwest Michigan and one of only a few in the state. Melanie and Lauren have created a café-style, tasting room setting. $10 tastings include five samples of wine or cider, a decadent chocolate truffle from Patricia's Chocolate and a Lazy Ballerina stemless wine glass to take home. Be sure to ask how the winery got its name!

The White Pine Winery tasting room is located in the midst of downtown shops and boutiques. They feature some of Southwest Michigan’s finest wines, with a variety of reds and whites ensuring that everyone will find something they like. Tastings are only $8 for 4 wines, so come and sample the Southwest and find the perfect wine for you!

After wine tasting, you’ll probably be ready to enjoy a delicious dinner. The Bistro on the Boulevard is the place to go. They prepare delicious dishes made fresh from local ingredients and offer an exceptional dining experience. The Bistro has also received the Wine Spectators award of excellence for “one of the best restaurant wine lists in the world,” so you may want to take a glance at their drink menu. Also, don’t forget to save room for dessert!

After dinner, head back to nearby lodgings for a good night’s sleep. There’s more to do with your girls tomorrow!

Popular with visitors, locals, foodies and families, The Mason Jar Cafe will please any palate. Everything is made from scratch with an emphasis on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. With an extensive menu to accommodate vegetarian and gluten-free tastes, this funky cafe is not to be missed. You can spend the afternoon lingering over the beverage menu alone, but if there’s a wait for a table, get your drink ahead of time and enjoy exploring the art studios housed in the same space. The vibe is eclectic and you can meet some of the artists at work. For the bibliophiles, there is a tiny-but-excellent used book store selling a well-curated selection of titles. Browse either before or after your brunch!

There is always something new to see, experience, learn and taste in the Benton Harbor Arts District. Located in the heart of Benton Harbor, Michigan the Arts District has been at the forefront of the revival of the city center. The arts have been an integral part of the growing appeal of Benton Harbor, and new businesses and restaurants keep adding to the burgeoning excitement. Peruse art galleries, thrift shops, record stores and more.

The Cheese Lady offers over 120 varieties of cheese, charcuterie, crackers, jams and a wide selection of specialty food items to enjoy with your cheese. You can sample any cheese before you buy, so you know you’re going to love it before you bring it home. They also offer specialty cheese merchandise, gift baskets, custom cheese boards, corporate gifts, catering for 4 to 100+ people, classes and — our favorite — collaborations with local breweries, wineries, restaurants and shops for pairings and special events. 

The Cheese Lady is one of many shops located inside The Market at 301 Market Street, St. Joseph. Browse through the shops around it before dinner!

The St. Joe Community Taproom was founded on the simple idea of supporting local. Southwest Michigan's unique capability to produce the fresh ingredients used in our favorite beverages and the extraordinary talent of our local makers are a combination worth celebrating! The Community Taproom is backed by over 16 years of experience in Southwest Michigan’s craft brewing industry as well as the desire to bring together only the best craft products to discover and enjoy together. Their locally-focused taproom, located in the same indoor market as The Cheese Lady, provides sixteen taps of craft beer, wine, cider and draft cocktails. Grab a bite at one of the neighboring vendors to enjoy with your local creations!

This is a chocoholic's paradise and an ice cream lover’s escape! Watch the friendly staff make creamy fudge on cool marble slabs, scoop mounds of your favorite ice cream into a waffle cone or hand-pick your favorite chocolates from the case. Dessert isn’t always mandatory, but dessert at Kilwins is a must! Take your cones down to the next stop to enjoy them with a view.

If you have not had enough inspiration by day’s end, head down to Silver Beach County Park before sunset to take in the artistry of Mother Nature. Finish off your girls’ trip with photos together in front of a beautiful Southwest Michigan sunset, a small reminder that you can always come together again and come back for a visit to your favorite beach town.

There you have it. A girls' getaway already planned for you. Now, all that’s left to do is grab your girls and head to St. Joseph, Michigan!