A group with Grand Traverse Woman Magazine is gearing up for a girlfriends getaway.

According to Countrywide Tours, the travel agency planning the trip, vacations with "just the girls" are becoming more and more popular.

Karen Bezemek with Countyside Tours says, "it has indeed been the women coming up to the plate and saying 'you know, I'm ready, I'm ready to get out of here I need to get away.'" From a week away, to just a few days, time with the girls is gaining in popularity.

Karen also says the company has found a new niche, women wanting to get away from the everyday grind. She goes on to say "it doesn't matter where you go or how long you stay what we found is there's probably more of a desire for shorter trips, call them long weekend. We've had great success with the one day getaways to Chicago or Detroit or Indianapolis and very much for theatre. Being wined and dined, food and fun that's what women are really enjoying now."

And Karen says a new poll of 470 women is highlighting just how important these trips are, with 86 percent of women saying they leave 'guilt free'. They put this on the calendar so the whole 'how do I grant myself the liberty of doing this' doesn't seem to be so tough anymore. And when it's a getaway with a whole group of women, it doesn't take long to bond.

Kim Schwamberger from Girlfriend Getaways says, "usually by the end you are laughing like you've been friends for years. Take time out for yourselves as mothers as employees as business owners just take some time out for yourselves and enjoy it."

The group with Grand Traverse Woman Magazine will be taking in the sights and sounds of Chicago on the upcoming getaway. While this trip is currently sold out you can get information on future events by visiting the Grand Traverse Woman Magazines Web site.