Day trip ideas

Dying to catch up with your girlfriends? Short on time? We've compiled a list of Canada's top day-trip getaway ideas for you and the girls in or near urban centres across the country. Whether you're on a budget or prepared to splurge, you're sure to find the perfect retreat to help rekindle old ties.

Halifax

A few bucks to spare

Floating in the ocean, surrounded by men...it's not just a Club Med fantasy anymore. You and the ladies can hit the beach together and burn calories by enrolling in surf lessons at One Life Surf School. One Life is eastern Canada's first women's surf school offering instruction for both groups and individuals. Lessons are offered by an all-female crew of instructors at Lawrencetown Beach about 30 minutes outside Halifax. They last about three hours, with one hour devoted to practical land instruction (including safety tips, surfing etiquette, and basic ocean knowledge) before you hit the water. All gear will be provided by the school, you'll just need to make sure that everyone in your group is a competent swimmer.

A private lesson for two people costs $88.00 plus tax per person. For groups of three or more the cost is $61.50 plus tax per person. www.onelifesurf.com.

In the mood for a splurge

When it comes to spoiling yourself in Halifax there are few better places than The Summit Day Spa and Wellness Clinic. This full-service retreat is a great place to get together with the girls and enjoy a few hours of blissed out relaxation. If you and the ladies have some extra cash to spare why not opt for one of the Spa Escapes? Try out the hour-and-a-half-long Summit Mini Vacation, which includes a facial, a mini pedicure, a half-hour massage and a treat to take home from the spa's store. Or go all out with the Summit Signature Vacation - a six-hour experience which includes a two hour massage featuring a skin smoothing sea salt scrub and hydrotherapy treatment, in addition to the spa's signature facial, pedicure and manicure treatments. This package also includes a gift to take home from the spa's store as well as lunch.

The Summit's spa escapes range in price from $185.00 to $477.00. www.summitspa.ca

Montreal

A few bucks to spare

Just 60km north of Montreal, the Saint-Sauveur Valley is the perfect year-round getaway destination. The quaint town of Saint-Sauveur is home to several charming boutiques and intimate restaurants worth investigating, but the real excitement comes from a trip to Mont Saint-Sauveur. In the winter months the mountain draws hundreds of skiers and snowboarders from the city. The hill boasts Quebec's longest ski season with more than 140 days of operation - but don't think the fun has to end when the snow melts. The Mont-Saint Sauveur Parc Aquatique is sure to elicit squeals of glee from even your most uptight girlfriends. And don't think you'll be the only adults in attendance without kids. This fully-equipped water park draws just as many groups of grown-ups as it does kiddies. Spend the day tanning in the Leisure Pool or splashing in the Super Wave Pool or, if its an adrenaline rush you're after, check out The Niagara - a rafting ride that propels you through tunnels and down waterfalls or take the plunge in The Grandes Cascades River - where, nestled in an inner tube, you'll plummet through a long series of heated pools trying not to overturn.