Remember that scene in every feel-good movie where friends reconnect over wine and laughter, promising to “do this more often”? And then life happens, and suddenly it’s been six months since you’ve had a real conversation that didn’t involve coordinating carpool schedules?
I get it. Between school pickups, grocery runs, and the never-ending laundry pile, finding time for friendships can feel impossible. But here’s what I’ve learned: sometimes the best adventures are the ones that don’t require a plane ticket or a week off work.
My sister-in-law Crystal and I discovered something magical, we can create our own little escape without traveling far from home. A few times a year, we pack our favorite books, find a cozy spot within an hour’s drive, and spend a glorious day or two doing absolutely nothing productive. No sightseeing itineraries. No tourist attractions. Just us, our books, good coffee, and the rare luxury of uninterrupted quiet.
If you’re craving that same kind of reset with your favorite people, here’s how to make it happen.
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Why Taking Time to Reconnect Actually Matters
Let’s be honest, as moms, we’re really good at putting ourselves last. We’ll move mountains to make sure our kids get to their activities, our partners have clean socks, and everyone’s fed. But when was the last time you prioritized an afternoon with your best friend? Not a quick coffee between errands, but real, quality time?
These little getaways have become non-negotiable for me, and here’s why:
We need time to just be ourselves. Not “Mom” or “the one who remembers everything.” Just you, with someone who knew you before the chaos and still chooses to hang out with you anyway.
Friendships require maintenance. Just like marriage or any relationship, friendships need more than occasional texts and Instagram likes. They need actual face time, real conversations, and shared experiences, even small ones.
You deserve to enjoy your hobbies. That stack of unread books on your nightstand? The knitting project you started two years ago? The scrapbook supplies gathering dust? You’re allowed to make time for the things that bring you joy, even if they’re not “productive.”
Rest is productive. I know, I know, it doesn’t feel that way when there are dishes in the sink. But coming home recharged makes you a better mom, partner, and friend. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary.
How to Plan Your Low-Key Local Getaway
The beauty of keeping it local is that the planning is ridiculously simple. You’re not dealing with flights, time zones, or packing for every possible weather scenario. Here’s how to pull it together:
Start with the who and when. Text your friend right now. Seriously, put this article down and send a message: “Want to plan a girls’ getaway? Nothing fancy, just us and some relaxation time.” Pick a date at least a month out so you can both plan around it. Block it off immediately, treat it like a doctor’s appointment you can’t reschedule.
Choose your spot. Think within a one to two-hour radius of home. Look for towns you’ve always been curious about but never explored, or familiar spots that feel special. Check out vacation rental sites, boutique hotels, or even that charming bed and breakfast you drive past every week. The goal is somewhere that feels different enough to be a treat but close enough that you’re not spending half your getaway in the car.
Decide on your vibe. This is where you and your friend get to dream a little. Do you want a hotel with room service so you can be completely pampered? A rental house where you can spread out and make your own meals in pajamas? A spa resort with a pool? There’s no wrong answer, just what sounds good to both of you.
Keep it simple. You don’t need a packed itinerary. In fact, the whole point is to not have one. Maybe you’ll find a coffee shop you love and spend three hours there. Maybe you’ll never leave your hotel room. That’s completely okay.
Communicate with your family. Make sure your partner (or whoever’s covering kid duty) knows this is happening and has everything handled. Write out schedules, meal ideas, emergency contacts, whatever gives everyone peace of mind. The goal is for you to actually relax, not worry about what’s happening at home.
Budgeting for Your Getaway
One of my favorite things about these trips is that they don’t have to break the bank. Since you’re staying local and keeping activities minimal, you can make this work on almost any budget.
Accommodation: This will likely be your biggest expense, but you have options. A hotel room for one night might run $100-200 depending on your area and the level of luxury you’re after. Splitting a vacation rental can sometimes be even cheaper, especially if you’re okay cooking some of your own meals. Check midweek rates, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often significantly less expensive than weekends.
Food and drinks: If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchenette, grab groceries for breakfast and snacks. Splurge on one or two nice meals out. Budget around $50-100 per person for food, depending on how fancy you want to get.
Activities and extras: Here’s the beautiful part—when your main activity is reading (or crafting, or whatever hobby you’re indulging in), you’re not spending money on excursions, tickets, or tourist traps. Maybe budget $20-30 for coffee shop visits or a bottle of wine to enjoy in your room.
All in: You can absolutely do a wonderful overnight getaway for $150-250 per person. If you want to splurge a little more, $300-400 per person opens up nicer accommodations and fancier dinners. The point is, this doesn’t have to be a once-a-year luxury—you can realistically do this a few times a year without guilt.
Money-saving tips: Travel off-season (avoid spring break and summer peak times), look for package deals that include breakfast, bring your own wine or snacks, and don’t be afraid to ask about local resident discounts if you’re staying nearby.
Ideas for What to Do (Or Rather, What to Peacefully Not Do)
The whole concept here is reclaiming time for the things you love but never seem to get around to. Here are some ideas for how to spend your glorious uninterrupted hours:
Reading retreat: Bring that stack of books you’ve been meaning to get to. Trade recommendations with your friend. Read in companionable silence, then discuss over coffee. There’s something incredibly peaceful about sitting next to someone who’s also lost in a good story. On our most recent retreat we both started reading Book Lovers.
Crafting marathon: Pack your knitting, crochet supplies, or scrapbooking materials. Spread everything out on the hotel bed or rental house table and just create. No interruptions, no little hands “helping,” just you and your project.
Journaling session: Bring your favorite junk journal, planner, or regular journal. Decorate pages, write letters to yourself, reflect on the year. Bonus points if you find a cute coffee shop with good natural light for the aesthetic.
Creative catch-up: Maybe you’re both into watercolor, hand lettering, or adult coloring books. Bring your supplies and spend the day being creative together. Put on a playlist, order room service, and make art.
Movie marathon: Sometimes you just want to binge-watch that series everyone’s talking about without someone asking for a snack every five minutes. Bring your laptop, get cozy, and watch to your heart’s content.
Spa day: Even if you’re not staying at a spa resort, you can create your own. Bring face masks, paint each other’s nails, take long baths, and luxuriate in having time to actually let the conditioner sit in your hair for the full five minutes.
Food and conversation: Sometimes the activity is just… talking. Order takeout, open a bottle of wine, and have those long, meandering conversations that keep getting interrupted at home.
Mix and match: You don’t have to pick just one thing. Maybe you read for a while, then work on your scrapbook, then take a nap, then read some more. The beauty is in the flexibility and the lack of agenda.
Our Dunedin and Safety Harbor Favorites
For those of you in the Tampa Bay area (or visiting Florida’s Gulf Coast), here are the spots my sister-in-law and I have loved on our reading getaways:
The Fenway Hotel, Dunedin: This place is absolutely charming. We spent hours on their rooftop bar—not drinking (okay, maybe a little), but mainly just reading with the breeze and the view. The rooms are cozy and comfortable, perfect for curling up with a book. The downtown location means you can walk to everything.
Safety Harbor Resort & Spa: If you want to feel pampered, this is your spot. We spent an entire afternoon reading by the pool, occasionally stopping for a dip or to order another iced tea. Room service meant we could stay in our robes all morning with our books and coffee. Pure bliss.
Dunedin vacation rental: For our most recent trip, we rented a little house through Airbnb. Having a full kitchen meant we could make breakfast in our pajamas, and having separate bedrooms gave us the option to read quietly or chat without bothering each other. Plus, having a living room to spread out in was wonderful.
Coffee spots we love: In Dunedin our favorite spots were Turkro Coffee Shop, Saddlebred Cafe and Crema Cafe. In Safety Harbor we were big fans of Cafe Vino Tinto and Haven House Eatery.
Where we actually spent our time: Honestly? A lot of it was in our room or rental house. That’s not a criticism—that’s the whole point. We’d venture out for meals, grab coffee, walk around downtown for a bit, but the majority of our time was spent doing exactly what we never have time for at home: absolutely nothing, together.
Making It Happen
Here’s my challenge to you: stop waiting for the “perfect time” to plan this. There is no perfect time. There will always be a thousand reasons why next month would be better. Text your friend today. Pick a date. Book something. Even if it’s two months away, having it on the calendar gives you something to look forward to.
You don’t need a big budget, a detailed plan, or even a full weekend. Start with one night if that’s all you can swing. The magic isn’t in the location or the length of time, it’s in the permission you’re giving yourself to prioritize rest, hobbies, and friendship.
My sister-in-law and I started these reading getaways as a “maybe we should do this sometime” idea, and now they’re a regular part of our year. They’ve become something we both protect fiercely on our calendars. Because we’ve learned that these quiet hours together, reading, chatting, being present, aren’t a luxury. They’re what keep us sane, connected, and reminded that we’re more than just the roles we play at home.
So grab your book, your knitting needles, your journal, or whatever brings you peace. Call your friend. Find a spot nearby. And give yourself permission to do the thing you never have time for.
You deserve it. Your friendship deserves it. And trust me, everyone at home will survive just fine while you’re gone, and they’ll be glad to have you back recharged and happy.
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