Itineraries

15 Ways to Have a Great Girlfriends’ Getaway in Missouri

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Grab your girlfriends and travel to Missouri, where a variety of fun destinations and attractions are waiting for you. Sit poolside and enjoy great views. Shop at national retailers and locally-owned stores. Dine at award-winning restaurants. Set off on outdoor adventure. This is your primer for a great Missouri getaway.

Shopping

A. Historic Main Street St. Charles

This Main Street region is Missouri's first and largest nationally registered historic district. Running parallel to the Missouri River, the brick-paved streets are home to one-of-a-kind shops, in restored buildings that date to the 1800s. Shop for, among other things art, clothing, furniture, antiques, fine jewelry and stained glass. Numerous restaurants, sweet shops and pubs also line the streets, so there are plenty of opportunities to refresh and refuel while you shop!

B. St. Louis Premium Outlets – Chesterfield

Features national retailers such as Ann Taylor, Coach, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Nike, Vera Bradley and more than 75 other brand-name outlets. It's easy to shop all day ... and into the night.

C. Country Club Plaza Shopping & Dining District

This entire 15-block district is home to more than 150 upscale shops, dozens of fine restaurants, nightclubs and hotels. It is one of the Midwest's major shopping, dining and entertainment destinations.

Outdoors

A. Missouri Botanical Garden

Founded in 1859, this is the country's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. It is a National Historic Landmark with 79 acres of gardens and historic structures.

Outdoor and indoor displays include the Climatron tropical rain forest; Kemper Center for Home Gardening; Japanese Garden; George Washington Carver Garden; historic Tower Grove House; Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum; and the seasonal Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden.

B. Cuivre River State Park

If your group enjoys outdoor fun, you'll find it here. More than 38 miles of hiking, backpacking and equestrian trails wind through this 6,393-acre park. Camping, a lake for fishing and swimming, picnicking, an organized group camp and a visitor center are features.

C. Elephant Rocks State Park

At this park, giant, billion-year-old granite boulders stand end-to-end, like a train of red circus elephants. Spend some time reading the names and comments carved into the red granite by 19th century miners who worked in the area.

A self-guiding trail (with Braille signage) winds among these geologic wonders and takes you past what remains of the long-dead mining operation.

D. Powell Gardens

Set on 970 acres of lush, rolling hills and windswept meadows, Powell Gardens–Kansas City's botanical garden–offers breathtaking display gardens, interesting architecture and a nature trail.

Besides being a gardening enthusiast's dream, Powell Gardens offers unique contemporary architecture. The Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel, designed by architect Fay Jones, offers a quiet place for reflection and inspiration.

Dining Options

A. Extra Virgin

Enjoy the decor inside or patio seating at James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Smith's restaurant. The menu features Mediterranan tapas and more than 300 kinds of wine.
Located in a renovated 1930s Standard Oil Filling Station, Olio is an unusual, yet very charming setting for a grown-up wine bar and eatery. The building’s garage door, salvaged windows, marble counter tops, and modern lighting fixtures make for a memorable experience.Rustic, bold and comforting, Olio’s cuisine is Mediterranean at heart (with nods to the middle-east, southern Europe, and north Africa). They feature a small but curated beer selection; Lebanese Arak, Italian Amari, French aromatized wines; and other lesser known spirits. Cocktail features and wine selections are rotated monthly.

C. Black Sheep Burgers and Shakes

Their staff is trained in all aspects of the menu and wine service, with an emphasis on understanding and respecting the kitchen. Their chef uses local purveyors when possible, and our menu features produce, cheese, meat, and value-added products from Columbia and the surrounding area.

 Sycamore is a comfortable and stylish downtown restaurant with an open kitchen and spacious dining room.

Stay and Play

A. The Lodge of Four Seasons

Overlooking Lake of the Ozarks, The Lodge of Four Seasons offers a peaceful getaway for your group. Indulge in a relaxing treatment at Spa Shiki (on-site), have a great meal and conversation at the restaurant, and when the weather allows, savor views from the outdoor patio, where every sunset is an event.

B. Big Cedar Lodge

Located in the Missouri Ozark Mountains overlooking Table Rock Lake, Big Cedar Lodge is a remote haven of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. With genuine Ozarks hospitality and unmatched attention-to-detail, this premier wilderness resort has received numerous awards including being named the number one resort in the Midwest by Travel and Leisure magazine.

The resort features a collection of lodges, cottages and cabins offering the perfect place to relax with friends after a day on the lake. Big Cedar is home to numerous world-class restaurants and attractions like a breathtaking spa, championship golf, an expansive shooting facility and the brand new Fun Mountain, a 50,000-square-foot activity center. 

C. Ameristar Casino Resort Spa – St. Charles

At the first AAA Four Diamond hotel in St. Charles, the 397 luxurious suites are comfortable and versatile with oversized baths, sunken living rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Missouri River or the city of St. Charles.

A luxury spa escape is just moments away. Featuring a captivating 7,000 square foot design, innovative spa experiences, state-of the-art fitness center, spa boutique and star quality service, ara spa offers a unique spa destination for hotel guests and Missouri locals. Come discover why ara is the highest rated luxury spa in the area.

D. The Raphael Hotel

Located just steps from the famed Country Club Plaza, The Raphael Hotel is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel with European style elegance and charm. Housed in a significant historic landmark, The Raphael delivers a unique blend of vintage hospitality with highly individualized service. 

The hotel's signature restaurant, Chaz on the Plaza, features an award-winning wine list that complements the fresh, seasonal menu of Executive Chef Joe Cizek.