Just Getting Away - Right Here in Berks

Ladies, I think you’ll agree that sometimes we just dream of getting away. Away from our day-to-day: our jobs, our household chores (oh the dishes and laundry – it never ends!), the alarm clock. Dear family members, don’t get us wrong; we love you. But sometimes, more than anything, we long for nothing more than a break from the daily routine.

Have no fear. You – and your closest friends – can do it all right here in Berks. There's no need to buy an expensive plane ticket or pack a suitcase (and pay $25 or more to store it in the cargo hold); just make a phone call to Boscov’s Travel, select your itinerary from an array of available options, throw the essentials in an overnight bag, and you’re set!

The Girlfriends Getaway

They call it the Girlfriends Getaway, and it was established some time ago and is still coordinated in conjunction with the Greater Reading Visitors Bureau. Berks County Living Publisher Robyn L. Jones and I decided to check it out for ourselves. What we found was that even residents of Berks can enjoy all the county has to offer – relaxation, fun, fantastic food and more – with little planning.

Step 1: Select your Where & When
Let Boscov’s Travel know when you’d like to travel, then select your accommodations. We chose to stay at Reading’s historic Abraham Lincoln – a Wyndham Hotel, and we were lucky enough to score a suite at check-in. Waiting for us was our Girlfriends Getaway package. It contained a certificate to redeem at VF Outlet Center for a cute purple Girlfriends Getaway nightshirt, a gift of chocolate fudge from Boscov’s, all of our vouchers for the spa services we booked in advance, an array of brochures detailing fun things to do across the county, some Tom Sturgis pretzels to snack on and more! After hunkering down in our rooms for a bit and enjoying a cocktail at the hotel’s beautiful bar, we took off to our first stop: United Artists Salon & Spa in West Reading. After all, what’s a relaxing getaway without some time to decompress?

Step 2: Bring on the Pampering
We were greeted warmly upon making our way to the check-in desk at United Artists and were given a brief tour. Robyn was whisked away for her reflexology appointment, while I sauntered over to another area for my manicure with a hot paraffin dip. I highly recommend you upgrade to the shellac or gel polish – especially if you’re anything like me and you mess your mani mere minutes after it’s finished. I went with gel, and the gorgeous work by Carrie (ask for her; she’s fabulous!) lasted two weeks! Bonus: if you’re a local, and you crack or chip it for any reason, just stop by and they’ll fix it at no charge.

Then we switched it up. Robyn made her way over for an invigorating sugar scrub pedicure with Carrie, while I ventured off with Lissette, who indulged me in an amazing 30-minute massage. The 90-minute version she offers surely must be heaven.

Refreshed and ready to take on our next task, we made our way down Penn Avenue to ViVÁ Bistro & Lounge to enjoy a cocktail and appetizers.

Step 3: Food, Delicious Food
Home of contemporary Euro-Mediterranean cuisine, ViVÁ is a cool spot on a Friday night. Sit in the lounge area and enjoy a drink or two while listening to live entertainment. Robyn picked a glass of wine, while I strayed from my usual and ordered a White Peach Sangria: very refreshing and quite tasty. We also recommend you get an appetizer in the form of ViVÁ’s tapas. We loved the trio we tried: Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with a BBQ glaze and crispy onions; Grilled Chicken Satays marinated with ginger and soy and served with a spicy peanut sauce (pictured); and Spanakopita: spinach, onions and Feta cheese wrapped in phyllo dough (pictured). Yum!

Then it was off to the main dining event!

Traveling back across the Penn Street Bridge and into the city, we sat down for dinner at Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar & Restaurant. Famous for being featured on The Travel Channel and for offering up peanuts at every table and allowing patrons to toss the shells on to the floor below, the restaurant is also known nationally for its sensational food, namely its wings, seven-time Best of Berks winners and highly regarded by USA Today.

Tonight, though, we started with a round of the delicious fried pickles (pictured), accompanied by the restaurant’s secret blended spicy mayonnaise. We wish we knew that secret.

For entrees, Robyn ordered the Amazing Filet Special: an 8-ounce portion of pan seared filet mignon topped with bleu cheese sauce and served with horseradish mashed potatoes and fresh sautéed asparagus with a drizzled port reduction. It was, indeed, amazing. I, on the other hand, went with the majority and ordered the restaurant’s most popular entrée: the Lemon Parmesan Flounder. Sprinkled with fresh lemon juice, dusted with fresh bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, it was served over the Peanut Bar’s lemon beurre blanc sauce and came with mashed potatoes and fresh broccoli. With one bite, it was easy to see why it’s a customer favorite.

Before Bed

After dinner, we weren’t ready to call it a night, so we opted to take in a show at the RC Reading Movies 11 & IMAX just across the way on N. Second Street. It was a Girlfriends Getaway, so we chose a sappy chick flick, of course.

We then made our way back to the Abe Lincoln and stayed up late into the night chatting (as girls do) before settling in for a good night’s sleep on our nice, cozy beds. The morning brought a complimentary breakfast buffet at the hotel (part of the package), complete with the essentials: eggs, fruit, sausage, bacon, French toast, pastries, coffee, you name it! When all was said and done, our package (the overnight stay and two spa treatments) totaled $222 each. Well worth it for a getaway with no long drive necessary and lots of fun to be had! 