If you told me 5 years ago that I’d be taking a girls’ weekend in Durham, NC with three other bloggers, just for fun, I’m not sure I would have believed you. Yet, a quick weekend with friends was the perfect pick me up. I mean, what is better than laughing with great friends?
As a blogger, I’ve attended various blogging conferences and over the years, I began rooming with the same people. Conferences can be busy and expensive though so weoften don’t get much down time. Erin, Fadra (yes from this very blog), and Melissa have become some of my closest friends and we thought why wait for another conference when we can hang out now?
Photo via Fadra Nally
Melissa had a birthday to celebrate and, lucky for her, we needed a reason to get together so we decided on a girls’ weekend in Durham! Our trip was early in December before the holiday season really took off and we all jumped at the chance to have a little pampering before the craziness of the season kicked in.
Plan a Girls’ Weekend in Durham, NC
We started the fun at a Durham salon called The Nail Stop. Despite the unassuming name, I have to say this place was fabulous! It’s a large space with just about every amenity you can think of, including a full bar!
Photo via Fadra Nally
The things I do for my friends. This heated neck wrap was amazing along with the massage chair and paraffin wax dip on my feet. Heaven! Since Christmas was around the corner, I went with a shiny red sparkle for my toes. We had a great time at the Nail Stop and I hope to make it back over there sooner than later!
Fun at The Durham Hotel
After we were nice and relaxed it was time to head over to The Durham Hotel, located in the downtown area. I’ve been to Durham many times, but this was my first overnight in downtown. I loved it!
The mid-century modern design of the entryway and lobby hotel was both fun and welcoming along with plenty of holiday touches and stunning lighting. Our room was plenty big for the four of us and it was a lovely touch to see that the denim quilts on the beds were locally sourced from Raleigh Denim! You can check out other local collaborations on the website as well.
Photo via Fadra Nally
Since this was a celebration, we came bearing treats! Fadra got the most amazing cupcakes from Smallcakes and of course some champagne and I showed up with a little taste of Raleigh; macarons from lucettegrace. Time to party!
We headed downstairs to sample some delicious small plates and kick off the evening with a few cocktails in the lobby restaurant. Everything we had was delicious and I took it upon myself to make sure none of it went to waste. I can’t help it. I’m a giver.
Yes, I am someone who enjoys the entire event of a meal. I love the presentation, the aroma, the textures, all of it. And this meal did not disappoint! Even items I wasn’t sure about ended up being wonderful. If you don’t plan to stay at The Durham Hotel, it’s worth a visit just for the appetizers!
Enjoy Downtown Durham
We set out on foot to see what else Durham had in store for us. Wandering around and popping in for drinks at other local spots was a lot of fun and ending with incredible late-night pizza at Pizzeria Toro was just about as good as it gets! The first pizza we ordered to share arrived at the table and we immediately asked for another! Seriously, it was that good. We all agreed the white pizza was far and away the favorite so definitely try it if you go.
I won’t lie when I say I wished we could have eaten in every restaurant we saw. They were all so beautiful and fun looking. If you’re planning a Girls’ weekend at The Durham Hotel, maybe make it 2 or even 3 nights so you can really enjoy this fun scene. DPAC is a quick Uber ride away so you could even catch a show while you’re there.
We had coffee (and tea) service the next morning, which means we placed our order on the door before bed with our choices. When we woke up, the beans were freshly ground and ready for us! The coffee is also local and was just what I needed to get going.
Our adventures in Durham came to an end with a yummy breakfast at local hotspot, Guglhupf. This was a few miles away but worth the drive for great food in a fun and bustling Sunday morning atmosphere. I can see why this place was so busy. If I were closer, I’d be there every weekend too!
I said goodbye to our fun girls’ weekend at The Durham Hotel and went back to reality feeling refreshed and thankful for such great friends who really get me. We had a great time and I hope to do it again!
If you haven’t taken some time out for a girls’ weekend in a while, I highly recommend it no matter where you go. You only live once, right?
Planning a trip to Durham? Save this post for later!
Disclosure: The Durham Hotel provided our room and amenities. All opinions are true reflections of my experience. Post originally appeared on Just is a Four Letter Word.
Andrea Updyke was born and raised in Clearwater, FL where she inherited a love of travel from her parents. Before she was eighteen, Andrea had traveled to Mexico, Israel and Egypt as well as every state on the East Coast.
Andrea’s website, Just is a Four Letter Word, is an online destination for working moms to get ideas, tips and encouragement for everyday living.
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