Last weekend I spent 40 hours in Atlanta with some girlfriends. We filled those hours with good conversation, delicious food and planned wandering.
Even though our group of four was a small selection of a geographically dispersed friend group, we committed to making an annual girls’ trip. Once we start having kids and continue to relocate, this commitment will only get harder. But, anyone who thinks growing friendships is easy is fooling themselves.
Here are some of the highlights from our girls’ getaway:
Girls’ Weekend in Atlanta – What to See
Atlanta Botanical Gardens – We walked through the gardens in about an hour and a half. My favorite section was the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory. It was like being in the middle of a tropical rainforest.
Dale Chihuly also visited the gardens and his blown glass was scattered throughout the grounds for a special exhibit.
They also host cooking demos! The food is harvested from the “Edible Garden” and we got to sample the recipe.
Piedmont Park and Green Market – Piedmont Park is full of activity. We caught the tail end of the farmer’s market and people watched as we walked through the park.
Ponce Street Market – We went to Ponce Street Market for lunch (which I’ll get to) and stayed for the shopping. Located in the old Sears, Roebuck & Company building, this renovated space is vibrant. Restaurants with culinary creativity are surrounded by local boutiques and national brands.
Krog Street Market – This renovated 1920s warehouse has retail, restaurant and produce stalls. It’s definitely worth a visit to get a glimpse at some Georgia grown goods.
Girls’ Weekend in Atlanta – Where to Eat
Lunch at Ponce Street Market – We went big for lunch and ate at two different restaurants located inside of Ponce Street Market’s food hall.
We grabbed an appetizer of raw oysters from W.H. Stiles Fish Camp. Its raw oyster menu includes west coast, southern and east coast oysters! I picked one from each region to compare.
For lunch, we went next door to Bellina. This Italian eatery and wine bar features carefully prepared meals with fresh, local ingredients. I ordered the North Georgia trout with green beans. It was salty, oily and absolutely delicious!
Dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar – For dinner, we went to Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park. Oh. My. Goodness. The food, wine, atmosphere and our server were all incredible. We shared charcuterie boards, a variety of tapas and desserts. Everything we tried was packed with flavor. Three hours quickly slipped away.
Brunch at The Brasserie and Neighborhood Cafe at Parish – We showed up 10 minutes early to our reservation and were brusquely sent outside to wait. After a rocky start, our Sunday brunch at The Brasserie was yet another delicious meal in Atlanta. The brunch menu is more experimental than the average pancakes/waffles/eggs lineup. I was super happy with the Eggs Hemingway – house smoked salmon, poached eggs, spinach and potatoes.
Girls’ Weekends – Make it Happen
By the end of the weekend, we all agreed that girls’ weekends are an absolute must. We love our men and all, but talking and laughing with your friends is something that can’t be replaced. Girls’ weekends keep us in check and focused on living out our values. It puts the pause button on routine and reminds us to not take everything so seriously.
Do you have a place you like to visit with your girlfriends? Where should we go next?!
