In seeking to court the growing market in getaway vacations for women, many destinations tout their proximity to the traditional sisterhood pursuits of shopping, restaurant-hopping or lounging by the pool.
At the Highlands Nature Sanctuary in Bainbridge, Ohio, the emphasis in a girlfriend getaway is on truly getting away — not just from jobs or children, but also from the hectic pace of modern life.
For more than a decade, the 2,000-acre sanctuary in the south-central part of the state has offered refuge not only to rare plants and animals, but also for refugees from the freeway and the BlackBerry. You’ll find no television, radio or pool here, and the nearest shopping mall is 70 miles away in Cincinnati’s suburbs.
At the edge of this preserve sits Ravenwood, a home that can be rented by groups ranging from 2 to 14. Filled with natural light and antique furniture, and featuring a wraparound porch and large, fully equipped kitchen, “Ravenwood is definitely a woman’s place,” said Nancy Stranahan, the Highlands’ director.
The back door leads to a sylvan escape by way of what Stranahan calls a “listening trail” along the 100-foot-deep Rocky Fork Gorge. Tracking both into the gorge and along its rim, the trail features 10 “niches” for meditation, journaling or quiet conversation. Those who care more about serenity than spas or shopping come to Highlands for peace, quiet and an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company. They find all of that — and some spectacular scenery as well.