I recently read an article about the importance of girlfriend getaways. It made such an impression on me that I sent it to Leigh and our BFF Jerri. We all agreed that we needed to get together soon and reconnect as it has been months since we were last together. The problem, of course, is nailing down everyone's schedules and coming up with some dates; then there are the questions of where to go, how long can we get away from kids and work, how much is it going to cost, etc. But why we do think we need to go to San Diego, Ft. Lauderdale or Napa in order to have the perfect girlfriend getaway? Why not go to...Burlington, Kentucky?!
Don't be shocked. If you think about it, it fits the bill. After all, what do you want out of your time with your buds? There are some fundamental ingredients to a good getaway, and exotic location doesn’t have to be the main one. Let me break it down for you to show you what I mean.
1. The accommodations should be luxurious and clean. The Willis Graves B&B, even though the main house was built in the 1860's and the cabin in the back dates to the 1830's, it has every modern amenity you would expect in a fancy hotel: steam showers, jacuzzi tubs, sumptuous bedding, plush robes, a Nespresso machine to make yourself the perfect cup of coffee or tea, and cable TV. When I say the beds are comfortable, that is an understatement. The beds are like clouds, and they envelope you in folds of soft fabric while you drift off to sleep. You also don’t want the place to smell like Grandma Sue’s attic and be filled floor to ceiling with dolls. (Yikes!) The cleanliness level of Willis Graves is of the highest degree. No harsh chemical smell, either. The fact that it is such an old dwelling is also so special. You don't get that from a Holiday Inn. As a lover of history, I couldn't help but imagine all of the people who have slept under that roof and strode across the well-worn wood floors. Oh, the stories those walls could tell!
2. Activities are optional. Sometimes when girls get together they want to do lots of activities. We believe retail therapy is good for the soul, so shopping is high on our list of things we like to do. Art galleries, wine or distillery tours and museums all can add to filling up some extra hours. However, sometimes we like to do nothing more than lay around, eat chocolate, drink wine, and have that deep, meaningful conversation that you don’t get at home with the kids running around and never-ending chores calling for your attention. The point is we like to have options. Do a lot of stuff or nothing at all. At Willis Graves, you can visit The Ark Encounter, tour Boone County Distillery which in 1897 produced 4 million gallons of whiskey a year, shop at either the Florence Mall just up the road or travel in to Cincinnati, and then there’s the quaint community of Rabbit Hash that has a dog for a mayor and an adorable General Store. You can fill up your time doing all sorts of stuff! OR, you can sit by the fire pit at Willis Graves in mahogany Adirondack chairs, cuddled up in a blanket, roasting s'mores while sipping wine and reliving the glory days of ol’ with your besties. It’s the best of both worlds!
3. Good food is a must! I’m firmly of the belief that anything I don’t have to cook is delicious, but if your standards are a bit higher, then one thing that is a must-have is good food, and this is one criteria that sets Willis Graves apart from the rest. The innkeeper, Jennifer Goodman, is a Williams Sonoma chef, so rest assured she knows what she’s doing in the kitchen. This is the first bed and breakfast that I have been to that gives you not only a three-course breakfast, but also let’s you choose from different items within the courses. Have a food allergy or aversion? Just let her know and she will create something just for you! Mixed fruit parfait topped with her handmade granola, broiled grapefruit with light brown sugar topped with a luxardo cherry, and pears poached in mulled wine topped with homemade honey vanilla yogurt are your choices to start off with. Follow that up with bananas foster French toast topped with caramelized turbinado sugar, a farm fresh egg sandwich the size of your plate, sides of thick-cut slab bacon, or a mushroom and sausage quiche. The only problem you might have is finishing all of the delicious food set before you. Not only is the food divine, but it’s served in a beautifully appointed dining room with crisp white linens, fine china, fresh flowers, and a cozy fireplace while music softly plays. It’s a terrific way to start your day! Jennifer also has items you can purchase to take home with you like her handmade granola, and my favorite, the sea salt walnut chocolate chip cookies. These are the same cookies that she has waiting for you in your room. What a nice touch!
And although dinner is not included at Willis Graves, they provide you with a fantastic option by being in very close proximity to the Tousey House Tavern, a historic home that serves up an elegant, but never pretentious dining experience. You can take your time and linger over southern staples like fried chicken, pork chops and, of course, bourbon. Hopefully, you can see now why Willis Graves B&B in beautiful Burlington, Kentucky is the perfect girlfriend getaway. So grab your gal pals and book your stay today. You will be so glad you did!
P.S. Willis Graves was voted one of the most romantic bed and breakfasts in the state of Kentucky, so it’s also a great destination to celebrate an anniversary or for a romantic rendezvous.