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PrintSnowshoe Mountain’s Wild and Wonderful Girlfriend Getaways
Girlfriend Getaways are the latest trend for women looking to unplug, log off, and go on an adventure with their gal pals.
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Who is the average adventure traveler? The 27-year-old male? Nope. According to Marybeth Bond, author of “50 Best Girlfriends Getaways in North America,” it is the 47-year-old woman. And guess what? She wears a size 12.
Girlfriend getaways are no longer about shopping marathons or daylong trips to the spa. Women of all ages are unplugging, logging off, and going on adventures with their gal pals. The AAA’s Girlfriend Getaway Report found that 24 percent of American women have taken a girlfriend getaway in the past three years, and 39 percent of American women plan on taking one in the next three years. The travel industry is listening. Girlfriend Getaway packages are now being offered at every major tourism destination. So that got us thinking: What does our own Wild and Wonderful State offer women? We visited Snowshoe Mountain to find out.
Day One:
When the temperatures start to climb, thousands of people head to the hills—especially to the cooler temps that the majestic peaks of Pocahontas County offer. In the summer, Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort sheds its thick coat of snow and its slopes are transformed into a verdigris playground. Answering demand for friendly fun, Snowshoe has created Girlfriend Getaway packages for every age, fitness level,
and income. Everything is a la carte, so you can do as much or as little as you’d like. Snowshoe will also connect you with area professionals if you’re interested in an activity—like a guided fishing trip—not offered at the resort. We decided to do some hard-hitting investigating, so we spent three days at Snowshoe Mountain bonding over one adventure after another.
Green Zebra Tomcar Tours
One of the most popular summertime adventures at Snowshoe is the Green Zebra Tomcar Tour. Once you’re at the wheel and strapped into your military-grade off-road vehicle—not your run-of-the-mill ATV—you will follow a tour guide through challenging terrain with mud pits, creek crossings, and steep climbs. You’ll skirt scenic ridges, plunge down muddy banks, and experience the adrenaline rush that comes with speed and unbridled abandon. The 14-mile wild adventure will leave you breathless—and a little dirty—and a little wet—so leave your Louboutins at home. This ride is guaranteed to make you laugh, squeal, hoot, and holler, and make the men at home very jealous.
Sunrise Backcountry Hut
Work in a stop at the Sunrise Backcountry Hut for dinner and incredible vistas. This charming and rustic cabin is one of Snowshoe’s hidden gems. Located two miles out on the Cheat Mountain Ridge Trail, the remote hut can be reached by passenger van. Enjoy a glass of wine on the porch, relax in a hammock, and relish a gourmet dinner that includes an appetizer, soup or salad, entree of New York Strip Steak, Roasted Duck, Glazed Salmon, or Pecan Encrusted Trout, bread, dessert, and drinks. The Backcountry Hut, which can sleep eight, can also be rented for overnight stays, and it is a great location for a group function of up to 18 people.
Day Two:
Off-road Segway Tours
Who hasn’t seen a Segway without secretly wanting to ride one? Typically seen in more metropolitan areas zipping along on paved sidewalks, Snowshoe has kicked it up a notch and created an off-road Segway X2 tour. That’s right—off road. That means: in the woods, around tall trees, and on tangled trails. After a brief training session that will teach you to find your center and balance your body, you’ll don a helmet and set out to weave your way along rugged tree-lined paths.
By shifting your weight front-to-back and side-to-side, you maneuver the Segway. It’s a quiet alternative to traditional recreational off-road vehicles, allowing you to enjoy the sites and sounds of nature. At $50 per person, it’s a 1.5-hour tour that begs to be repeated.
Sporting Clays
Head to Snowshoe’s Sporting Clays Center and try your aim at flying clay discs. A rangemaster will outfit you with a vest, a gun, and shells and teach you the art of golf with a shotgun. “It was something I’d always wanted to do, but only with girlfriends,” says Parween Mascari. “The husbands would’ve taken it too seriously and showed us how to do it the ‘right way.’ We just had fun. No pressure.”
