Girls’ Getaways

Lettuce Love
There are many appealing girls’ getaways here in the Burlington area whether you are a visitor or a local and looking for a staycation. Here are a few ideas which you can mix and match to suit the time you have, your budget, the season and your gal-pals interests. To help you determine the best time to visit we have also highlighted some prime weekends where more things are happening in the city. We are happy to help tailor your getaway by giving you other ideas– just call us at 1.877.499.9989 or 905.634.5594. Visit our Girls’ (just wanna have fun) Getaway Blog and our Outdoor Adventure Getaway itinerary.
- Retail Therapy Heaven
- Arts Galore
- Spatastic
- Edutainment
- Night Owls
- Fitness Fanatics
- Foodie Fix – Chocoholics, Divine Dining
- Stay When You Getaway
Retail Therapy Heaven
One of my personal favorites, shopping! With two shopping centres and numerous other popular and unique retail destinations you can spend all weekend and not see the same old, same old. A perfect day for me is meeting a friend downtown where we browse the fabulous fashion and home furnishing stores, enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the quaint outdoor cafes then take a walk along the pier and promenade all the way to the canal and lift bridge and finish off with a gelato (heaven).
- Fashion – Joelles, The Oyster, and Mirella’s, (downtown) Marshalls, LuLu Lemon, Coach, etc. Mapleview Centre,
- Brides – Promises and Lace, Brant Florist, Molly Cake (downtown)
- Shoes – (yes it has to have it’s own category) – Foot Tools, (downtown) Factory Shoe Outlet,
- Home Furnishing – Fairhome, Pure Boutique, In House , Elizabeth Interiors, IKEA, HomeSense (Burlington Mall), Interior Design House
- Outdoor Adventure – Mountain Equipment Coop, Sail
- Antiques – Summer Fields Antiques, T.J’s Antiques & Collectibles, Mizener’s Flea Market
- Garden and Outdoor Living – Lee Valley, Royal Botanical Gardens Gift Shop, Centro Garden (downtown)
- Kids (shop for ‘em don’t bring ‘em!) J– ToysRUs, Mastermind Toys, Mapleview Centre, Burlington Mall
- Beauty – Anise Natural Apothecary & Sephora and Kiehl’s (Mapleview Centre)
Best Weekends
- Royal Botanical Gardens Plant Faire – April
- Royal Botanical Gardens Auxiliary Christmas Sale – 2nd weekend in November
- Art Gallery of Burlington Soup Bowl and Christmas Sale – 4th weekend in November (we have often attended this event and always enjoy picking out our own personalized bowl)
Arts Galore
For a city of its’ size Burlington is very fortunate to have a thriving local arts scene with various galleries featuring talented area and Canadian artists, plus some cool public art installations. You can get really hands on by taking one of the interesting and creative courses and get in touch with your inner artist! I have attended jewellery making and weaving course from local arts organizations and they were a lot of fun plus I made some unique handcrafted items for myself and for gifts. (ok mostly for myself but the thought was there! ) We often purchase gifts for visiting dignitaries, departing board members and special recognition items from the gift shops at Art Gallery of Burlington or the Royal Botanical Gardens as they are often one of a kind, and a great momento from Burlington.
- Classes– Art Gallery of Burlington, Royal Botanical Gardens(RBG), Pure Boutique Furniture Painting, Burlington Public Library, Art of Learning, Medium Art Studio
- Galleries
- Shops – RBG, AGB
- Theatre– Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Theatre Burlington, Drury Lane Theatre etc.
Best Weekends
- Art in Action Studio Tour – 1st weekend in November – various locations in city
- Soup Bowl & Christmas Sale – 4th weekend in November
Spatastic!
Going to a spa is an indulgence that many of us don’t treat ourselves to so it is a perfect outing for a girls getaway whether for a special occasion (wedding, post-baby, birthday) or just because. Being pampered, having a relaxing massage, enjoying a glass of wine or specialty tea, and chatting with your BFF is one of those small luxuries that help reduce stress and rejuvenate you. In Burlington we have some wonderful day spas that you can enjoy including:
- Sanctuary Day Spa – Leading Spas of Canada
- JeSpa (has chocolate treatments)
Best Weekends – anytime!
Edutainment
For those who want to get educated as well as entertained here are a few ideas:
- Screeners – Award-winning movies from the Toronto International Film Festival are shown the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
- A Different Drummer Bookstore –independent bookstore in downtown
Best Weekends
- Culture Days/Doors Open – end of September/early October
Night Owls
If you are looking for something fun to do once the sun goes down, the entertainment scene has live music, dancing and comedy. Downtown Burlington is hopping with lots of night spots to enjoy a drink, dance or catch a band. Movie buffs can find more than just chick-flicks on the big screen at various theatres around the city including Silver City which features games, lounge, club rooms, bowling, pool tables and much more. Further uptown, Burlington is the centre for comedy clubs and nightclubs where it is always party time!
- Midtown Night Clubs – Club 54
- Historic Downtown Pub Crawl – The Dickens Pub, The Poacher, The Queen’s Head
- Downtown Digs – Fuel Lounge (Joe Dog’s), Honey West, S.B. Prime, Beaver & Bulldog, Cinestarz
- Live Music – weekend nights throughout city – numerous locations
Best Weekends
- Sound of Music – Fathers Day weekend in June – Top 100 Festival in Ontario and Event of the Year in 2016 (Festivals & Events Ontario)
- Canada’s Largest Ribfest – Labour day weekend
Fitness Fanatics
If you like to be active while getting away from it all, being situated along the waterfront and minutes from the escarpment means Burlington has many active choices. In spring/summer the girls can enjoy swimming, paddling, walking, hiking, cycling at the waterfront, in local parks or conservation areas. In cooler weather there are indoor options for fitness, sports of all sorts, climbing etc. Why not stay in a local B&B and cycle or hike and then enjoy a massage? Here are a few of the more unique opportunities… call us for more ideas or check the website:
- Beach Rentals (seasonal) – paddleboats, stand-up boards, kayaks, canoes, beach spots, yoga classes
- Climbers Rock – indoor climbing wall
- Outdoor Rock Climbing
- Road Races/Runs – various (see below)
- Fun Activities (blog)
Best Weekends
- Robbie Burns Run – last Sunday in January
- Chilly Half Marathon – 1st Sunday in March
- Around the Bay Race – last Sunday in March
- Epic Tour Grand Fondo – weekend after Labour day
- Santa 5k Run – 2nd Saturday in December
Foodie Fix
Let’s face it, often getaways involve discovering great food. When you come to Burlington you may be surprised by the wonderful variety of culinary experiences and we encourage you to discover our local terroir (taste of the earth). If you like to combine learning with dining a number of local restaurants encourage you to find your inner chef! Choose from cooking classes, demonstrations or enjoy award winning cuisine and chefs. Make sure to check out the calendar for information on the next culinary experience! Our summer staff attended the cooking school at Paradiso and it was a wonderful night out where we worked in teams, learned new recipes and enjoyed the fruits of our labour. Bon Appetite!
- Paradiso Restaurant – classes, wine tasting, restaurant
- Goodness Me – classes, retail
- LCBO – Millcroft – classes, retail
- Nickel Brook Brewery – tours, samples, retail
- Molly Cake – cake tasting
Best Weekends
- Burlington Winter Beer Fest – January
- Taste of Burlington Fixed price dining program Winter – End of February – 2nd weekend in March – Summer mid – end August
- Lakeside a la Carte – 2nd weekend in August
- Canada’s Largest Ribfest – Labour day weekend
Chocoholics
Let’s face it what women doesn’t like chocolate! Personally I think it should be it’s own food group. You can indulge in a wide variety of chocolate treats, artisan food and drink and spa treatments. We have ocal chocolatiers making amazing creations; artisan food producers with a wide variety of chocolate treats, chocolate themed events and spas where you can relax with a chocolate treatment.
Best Weekends – ANYTIME
Divine Dining
You simply can’t have a girls get-together without stopping for a bite once or twice. With over 400 dining establishments in Burlington there is something to suit all types and budgets. Here are a few suggestions but visit our website for many more.
- Location, Location – great views – Emmas/Water St. Cooker, Spencer’s, Beaver & Bulldog
- Cute & Quaint – Lakeshore Coffee House, Serendipity Tea House, Tamp Coffee Co.
- Upscale & Trendy – Carriage House – CAA 4 Diamond, Martini House
- Lusciously Local – Spencers at the Waterfront
- Quick & Tasty – Burlington Charcoal Pit, R.C.’s Boardwalk Fries & Icecream (seasonal), Easterbrooks Hotdogs
- Forget the Diet – The Works, Crema Di Gelato (seasonal), Cakes, Sweets & Treats, Kelly’s Bake Shoppe, Nothing Bundt Cake, Molly Cake
- Good 4 U – Lettuce Love Cafe and Pure Love Smoothie Bar, Bodhi Bar
- Late Night – Montforts, Luganos Pizza
Stay When You Getaway
If you want to get the full girls getaway experience you have to pack an overnight bag and actually get-away! You can do the slumber party thing and talk into the night over a glass of wine and indulge in some treats bought along the way. Stay at Burlington Hotel Association hotels. Bed & Breakfasts – some within walking distance of downtown and nestled in the escarpment. Camping (seasonal) – okay you may not want to rough it but you could try a yurt at Bronte Creek Provincial Park or cabin at KOA which is more glamping than camping!
Enjoy your getaway.