By Kathleen Leighton

Family vacations are fun; romantic weekends are great.

But sometimes a girl’s just got to get away for some pampering, shopping, fine dining and gossip.

And, there’s no better place for girlfriends to gather than Kansas City, so grab your best gal pals and start planning a weekend dedicated just to you. You deserve it.

Head North…

Briarcliff Village is the newest place in the metro to shop, spa and eat. Just north of downtown, this charming, Tuscan-inspired setting offers a wide array of shops and restaurants, as well as Spa Tuscano, a destination you may decide to relax at all day (group parties are welcome).

“You walk through those doors and you are transported,” said Judy Klemm, a frequent visitor. “Their goal was making me comfortable and happy. All my worries were forgotten.”

Spa Tuscano offers massages, wraps, scrubs and facials.

After all that pampering, grab a café au lait at locally owned LatteLand and a chocolate croissant at Napoleon Bakery. Browse through Nell Hill’s for European antiques and gifts, or Kitchen Thyme for gourmet foods and stylish cookware. Check the class schedule at Urban Arts+Crafts to make jewelry or greeting cards. Stop in at Piropo’s for an Argentinean-inspired meal, or try Trezo Mare for flown-in-fresh seafood.

Head South…

The adventurous will enjoy The Berry Patch, where you pick your own pails of blueberries (starting in June) and blackberries (ripe in August). Kady Kraske has gone blueberry picking at The Berry Patch for years.

“Picking blueberries with a friend combines so many great things,” she said. “Outdoor exercise, fresh fruit for a bargain, and most importantly, catching up with each other."

There’s great shopping at 119^th in Leawood, where Crate & Barrel anchors the newest string of shops. That’s where you’ll find NoRTH, a sexy, urban hot spot with modern Italian cuisine. They serve Proseco by the glass (instant celebration!) and addictive zucca chips—zucchini sliced paper-thin and flash fried. Indulge. This is a girlfriend’s weekend, after all.

Find funky footwear at Habitat Shoes, and don’t miss Feng, an Asian-inspired lifestyle store across the street at Hawthorne Plaza. Feng also has an intimate Tea Market that is perfect for a long heart-to-heart.

Head Somewhere In Between…

Take a drive to Atchison, Kan., and wander through the Amelia Earhart Museum; share a picnic lunch on the bluff overlooking the river.

Or head west to Lawrence, Kan., where The Circle S Ranch & Country Inn offers gorgeous rooms and an entire menu of spa services. Stop by Pendleton’s Country Market to pick a bright bouquet of flowers.

Traditionalists will enjoy the Country Club Plaza, Spanish-inspired architecture featuring gorgeous fountains and lots of shops, bars and restaurants. Close by are The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

“If you want a heavenly healthy meal, do not miss Eden Alley, located in the lower level of Unity Temple on the Plaza,” said Dawn Taylor. “You will leave feeling healthier and happier than when you came in, guaranteed.”

Beauty Brands is the place to stop in for a quick mani-pedi, no appointment necessary.

The Southmoreland on the Plaza is the perfect urban inn to retire to, with rooms featuring Jacuzzis, fireplaces or treetop decks. Complimentary sherry is served.

The Crossroads Arts District is jammed with galleries, unique shops and restaurants. Try one of Manifesto’s 25 signature cocktails or nosh on wood-fired prosciutto pies at Pizza Bella. A few blocks further- the Power & Light District, where the rooftop bar at Bice is a perfect perch to enjoy downtown; or grab a drink in the upscale outdoor Living Room, surrounded by bars and restaurants.

There’s so much to do in Kansas City.

Warning: Multiple getaways may be required!

Related Links

• Suggested Itineraries: Girlfriends Getaways
• Shopping Districts
• Art Galleries