Girls Just Want To Have Fun

How about a girls’ day (or night) out?  Leave the men at home!

Day One
Looking for pampering after a long week? Consider a spa day at one of Harrisonburg’s spas.  The Beauty Spa, on Market Street, offers pampering in a serene space decorated with gorgeous trompe l’oeil walls by a local artist. With a full spa menu that includes signature Aveda facials and other services, including deep tissue and aromatherapy massage, this well-established Harrisonburg venue will leave you feeling blissfully relaxed.  Cedar Stone Spa, south of town, is an oasis of zen calm that offers specially-priced group event packages for you and the gang; their Reiki Energy Treatment or exclusive basalt stone massage will help repair winter weariness and stress.

For lunch, Lola’s Delicatessen, located in the newly renovated and historic Keezell Building in downtown Harrisonburg, offers designer sandwiches, soups, and sweets with a New York deli ambiance.  After eating, look (literally) around the corner in the same building, at the Yellow Button Boutique, which features one-of-a kind clothing and accessories for every woman; you’ll find anything from the freshest trendy fashion to a timeless classic you can’t live without. Looking for something vintage and one of a kind?  Try The Lady Jane Shop, filled with charming and unique gifts from furniture to jewelry to greeting cards.

In the mood for something exotic for dinner?  Try Beyond Restaurant and Lounge, known for Asian fusion dishes, sushi and cocktails in a modern, streamlined setting.

Day Two
Begin your second day with a slice of quiche?  The Heritage Cafe and Bakery is a “cozy little French inspired pocket” in the Hardesty Higgins House Visitor Center that evokes memories of “your childhood kitchen turned into a cafe,” and is run by a mother-daughter team.  Enamored of their macaron du jour?  Learn how to make your own; they offer baking classes during the week, as well as monthly teas on Sunday.  Browse The Rocktown Gift Shoppe before you leave, and pick up a Virginia-made jam or sweet, or a Virginia is for Lovers souvenir; the shop focuses on items made locally or within the state.

Just down the street at Ten Thousand Villages, you’ll find fair-trade items from all over the world; purchasing a pair of hand-crafted earrings will aid someone in need across the globe. Head a bit outside the city to combine education, history, and a love of fine needlework with a visit to the Official Quilt Museum of Virginia in the Silver Lake Mill in Dayton. This carefully curated museum has new exhibits featuring African and African American quilts and textiles, as well as those from Virginia.

Finish off a full day with dinner at a local restaurant, such as Rocktown Kitchen, which offers casual fine-dining in a uniquely restored former ice plant.  Their ever-evolving menu is inspired by local, seasonal providers and features new American cuisine, as well as wines from around the world and local craft beers.