'A Girlfriend Getaway Reminded Me That Connection Heals'
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Five women. Five busy lives. Way too many months between visits.
It had been a while since my “home friends” gathered (“high school friends” doesn’t do our group of five justice, as we’ve known each other since elementary school), due to COVID, new babies, job changes, grad school schedules, and other life events.
We were (past) due for some quality time, even if that time had to be short and sweet. Our souls needed the familiarity and comfort that comes with people who have known you and loved you since childhood.
The agreed-upon meeting spot? Destination Kohler (home of Kohler Waters Spa), in Kohler, Wisconsin: the only five-star spa in the state.
Kohler is about one hour from Milwaukee, and as you cruise there from the airport, you’ll pass by what might be the largest flagpole in the world at the Acuity Insurance campus (a fact that is hard to confirm but easy to accept once you see it flying above you; it’s nearly 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, and at 70 x 140 feet, the flag is the globe’s largest free-flying American flag).
This drive-by moment felt both random and momentous, a good omen for the 48 hours ahead.
Though our claim to fame is that we can have fun in a shoebox, we’ve evolved to enjoy the slightly finer things in life, so centering the trip around a spa day seemed like a good idea.
But first! We wanted to get some fresh air as we shook off our travel legs, whether flying from the East Coast (me) or driving from Minnesota or Illinois (the other four).
An afternoon at Kohler Andrae State Park was perfect: Its Lake Michigan beaches look Caribbean-esque with fine whitish sand and turquoise-blue water.
Once we arrived at Kohler, it was clear that this was more than just a spa destination. This was like self-care camp for adults.
We settled in, staying at the Inn at Woodlake (the American Club is the more luxe lodging option), dining at the on-site restaurants, lounging by the small but pretty beach, sweating in the huge fitness facility, and eagerly anticipating the pampering session ahead.
Inn On Woodlake
$292.00
orbitz.com
On our spa day, we took advantage of Kohler’s claim to fame (water treatments, or hydrotherapy) and swimming in the relaxation pool, working some version of the hydrotherapy circuit (whirlpool to cold-plunge pool to sauna, and back around), and whisper-giggling to each other, as you do when you’re at a serene spa with a group of friends who haven’t seen each other in a while.
I did the Kohler Waters facial, which focuses on, no surprise, hydration. My friend Anne described the River Bath and Vichy shower treatment as “floating on another planet” and “the most relaxed I’ve been in years.”
If you want to venture out, the closest town is Sheboygan. But Kohler is a destination in and of itself, and the beauty is that you don’t feel like you have to leave. It’s the perfect amount of activity options to keep you occupied.
Speaking of activity…did I also come home with my first tattoo? It’s possible, but you know what they say: What happens in Wisconsin stays in Wisconsin.
What I can confirm: One weekend of togetherness is a soul feeder and soother. Thank you, Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of Women’s Health.
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