Girl Trips | Canadian Women's Retreats & Travel Experiences

5 Things You’ll Learn When You Captain a Le Boat

Think driving a boat is something best left to the “experts”? Nah. At Girl Trips, I want you to know that captains aren’t born, they’re made. Usually right after someone says, “Wait, am I really allowed to drive this thing?” Not only can you Captain a Le Boat, but you get some pretty cool benefits when you do.

Captain a Le Boat for a boost of confidence. Woman driving a Le Boat Horizon 5

Here’s what happens when you take the wheel of a Le Boat:

1. You’re more capable than you give yourself credit for.
You might feel a flutter of panic the first time you steer a 40-foot boat toward a lock station. But once you do it (and trust me, you will), you’ll walk away knowing you can handle a lot more than you thought, both on the water and in life. Also baby bumpers. Just sayin’

2. Leadership doesn’t mean doing it alone.
Being captain isn’t about barking orders from the top deck. It’s about knowing when to ask for help, when to pass the rope, and when to throw a line or haul in the bowline. The best leaders are the ones who work with their crew, not above them.

3. Docking brings out everyone’s inner team player.
Pulling into a mooring spot is less high drama, more slow-motion teamwork. One person grabs the line, someone hops off to secure it, another keeps the boat steady. It’s calm, cooperative, and honestly kind of satisfying. You quickly learn who’s got a steady hand under a bit of pressure, and who’s already in the galley pouring drinks to celebrate another successful docking. Not gonna lie, you’ll feel like a total badass the first time you glide up alongside the dock like you’ve been doing it for years.

A group of women on a dock during a Le Boat trip for women.

4. Letting go is a power move.
After your stint as captain, there’s magic in stepping back, lying on the deck, and watching someone else take the wheel. Surrendering control can be just as powerful as taking it.

Captain a Le Boat and sail away with friends

5. Laughter is non-negotiable.
You will make mistakes. You might bump a dock. Someone will definitely shout “BRAKE!” (which doesn’t exist on a boat). And you’ll laugh until your sides hurt, which is exactly the point.

In all seriousness though…
Le Boat takes your safety seriously. You won’t be tossed the keys and left to figure it out—every guest gets a lesson before setting off, and no one is expected to do anything they’re not comfortable with.

And if captaining’s not your thing? That’s more than okay. These boats need navigators, dock line heroes, snack grabbers, playlist DJs, and someone to shout, “You got this!” from the bow. It’s the teamwork that makes the dream work baby (yes, it’s cheesy—but it’s true).

So are you in, Captain? Sign up for the Retreat on the Rideau now!

The Importance of Being Silly (Seriously)

Girl Talk

There’s a special kind of magic in the benefits of being silly, especially when grown women embrace being ridiculous on purpose. It often involves matching t-shirts, impromptu dance parties, and laughter that leaves your cheeks sore. While it might appear as mere fun from the outside, make no mistake, there is serious business afoot.

Benefits of being silly with your friends — No, I will not explain what is going on here

Being silly doesn’t just happen. It takes planning. You need a shenanigans coordinator (hi, that’s me), a group of willing participants who’ve decided they’re too old to care what strangers think, and a place to let it all come out. It requires women who’ve shrugged off the heavy expectations society tried to place on their shoulders and replaced them with a feather boa and a playlist from 1987.

At Girl Trips, silliness isn’t just encouraged; it’s woven into the fabric of the experiences I’m planning. I’m busy designing spaces where laughter is the soundtrack, playfulness is the norm, and every moment is an opportunity to reconnect with your authentic self. And yes, you should absolutely leave with at least one photo that has people asking, “What the hell was happening here?” To which you’ll respond, “Wouldn’t you like to know.” No explanation offered. Keep ’em guessing.

Because at this age, we’re not here to act our age—we’re here to act our shoe size.

👀 Oh hey, quick thing…

Here’s your official permission slip to make *silly* a priority. The first Girl Trips Retreat is happening this September aboard a Le Boat canal cruiser—and you’re invited. Expect laughter, connection, yoga, good food, and maybe a spontaneous dock dance or two.

Click below to hop on board:

Sign Me Up

The Benefits of Being Silly

Embracing silliness isn’t just about having fun, it’s a powerful tool for enhancing mental, emotional, and social well-being. Here’s why:

1. Stress Reduction

Engaging in playful activities and laughter can significantly reduce stress levels. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, promoting an overall sense of well-being. It also decreases the levels of stress hormones like cortisol, helping you feel more relaxed and at ease.

2. Enhanced Social Bonds

Shared moments of silliness can strengthen relationships and foster a sense of belonging. Being playful with others encourages openness, trust, and deeper connections. It’s a reminder that joy is amplified when shared.

3. Boosted Creativity and Problem-Solving

Allowing yourself to be silly can unlock creative potential. Playfulness encourages thinking outside the box, leading to innovative solutions and fresh perspectives. It’s a mental reset that can inspire new ideas and approaches.

4. Improved Physical Health

Laughter and play have tangible physical benefits. They can improve cardiovascular health, boost the immune system, and even relieve pain by triggering the release of natural painkillers. Engaging in regular bouts of laughter is akin to a mini workout for your body.

Getting silly with friends is good for your health

5. Emotional Resilience

Silliness can serve as a coping mechanism during challenging times. It provides a temporary escape, allowing you to gain perspective and approach difficulties with a lighter heart. This emotional flexibility can enhance resilience and overall mental health.

Embrace the Power of Play

In a world that often prioritizes productivity over play, reclaiming your right to be silly is a radical act of self-care. It’s about giving yourself permission to laugh loudly, dance freely, and live fully.

What the world needs now is more silly. What you need now might be a little less structure, a lot more laughter, and a reminder that joy doesn’t have an age limit.

Act your shoe size. Leave with the kind of memories that don’t need to make sense.
And if someone asks you what you were doing in that photo—just smile and say, “You had to be there.”

It’s the FOMO, MOFO: Why Skipping a Girls’ Trip Hurts More Than You Think

Girl Talk

The other day, one of my girlfriends dropped a gem in our group chat: “Ugh, I have such big mofo.” She meant FOMO, obviously, but her brain, as it often does, had other plans. We lost it. This is classic her; quirky, a little chaotic, the queen of wrong words and rogue emojis. And we love her for it. These are the things that glue us together. The things you miss when you miss the trip.

girl trips FOMO — We never want this MOFO to change.

Which brings me to the very real, very sneaky emotion that catches us all off guard: FOMO. Not the kind you get scrolling through strangers’ curated lives on Instagram. I mean the real one. The ache you feel when it’s your people laughing without you. That’s the one that stings.

The Real Meaning of FOMO

When I say I get FOMO, I’m not weeping over someone’s Euro summer. I can scroll past influencers in Santorini without blinking. Ok, maybe a small blink, I’m human. But when my girlfriends are together, and I’m not there? That’s when I feel it. That’s when the ache sets in.

It’s not about missing a destination. It’s about missing them. It’s knowing there’s a new inside joke I won’t understand, or a story I’ll only hear secondhand. Like our Great Proboscis Monkey Day, a tale so legendary it can’t be shared online, but if you ever come on a Girl Trip, I’ll fill you in. Over wine. With gestures.

This is a story that can only be told in person.

The Beauty of Saying Yes

Life will always give you reasons to say no: work, family, logistics, guilt. But the payoff for saying yes? It’s unmatched. These trips aren’t luxuries. They’re little lifelines. You come back buoyed by laughter, connection, and stories you’ll cling to like a lifejacket; keeping you afloat until the next trip pulls you back in.

📌 Don’t Just Take My Word for It

A 2016 study from the University of Oxford found that spending time with close friends increases endorphins, lowers stress, and improves pain tolerance. Other research shows that strong social bonds—especially among women—boost emotional health and resilience.

Read the study – and then go pack your bag. It’s basically self-care in disguise.

Choose Your FOMO Wisely

Wisdom at our age is recognizing that not all FOMO is created equal. Save that very real emotion for the people who make your life brighter. The ones who laugh with you, not at you. The ones who wouldn’t change your quirks for anything. The ones who keep your seat warm, but only for so long, because next time, you’re coming.

So here’s your permission slip. Book the trip. Block the calendar. Budget for it. Show up. Because the memories? Worth every penny. The inside jokes? Worth every kilometre.

And the FOMO? You don’t know her. Because you were there.

🚨 Don’t Want FOMO?

Book the trip. Block the calendar. Bring your mofo with you.

Claim your spot before it’s someone else’s inside joke

About That Loneliness Epidemic: How Women 45+ Can Reconnect IRL

Girl Talk

Have you heard about the loneliness epidemic? It’s almost impossible to avoid with headlines, articles and wellness newsletters all calling attention to it. It’s real, it’s growing, and it’s affecting women our age more than we like to admit.

Loneliness over 45 is tricky to navigate

But here’s the truth: only you can do something about it. The first step? Stepping out from behind the screen and into real life.

I know, I know—putting yourself out there with new people in a new setting can feel… terrifying. Vulnerable. Awkward.

But it can also be empowering. Exhilarating, even.

C’mon ladies, we’re all over 45 here. I know you remember life before the internet. Back when you had to call someone on their landline to make plans, show up, and (gasp) meet people in person. That muscle memory? It’s still in there.

So if the pandemic of loneliness is getting to you (and you’re craving something more than DMs and group chats) here are a few ways to kick it old school and start making real connections again.

👭 1. Say Yes to the Invite (Even When You Want to Bail)

We all have that moment where we RSVP “yes” and then dread it the whole day. We become experts at event avoidance. Trust me, I’m a world class extrovert and even I want to retreat into my shell occasionally. I get it, and I get you. So listen to me when I say, you need to stop and go anyway. Some of the best conversations happen when we push through the discomfort.

📝 2. Make the First Move

Want to go for a walk? Invite someone. Think a neighbour seems cool? Say hi. Want to start a book club or dinner night? Do it. You’re not the only one thinking this way, trust me. Do this proverbial “trust fall” and someone will catch you.

📵 3. Put the Phone Away

Yes, I see the irony of writing this online. But when you’re out, really be out. At the coffee shop, yoga class, grocery store…look up. Make eye contact. Smile at someone. A tiny moment of connection might be just what you (or they) needed. Unless you’re making silly TikToks, then girl, count me in.

@candacesaid
Worth noting…I’m definitely not the weirdest, but I’m certainly in the running for the most grateful. Thank god for friends. #womenover50 #besties #weird #accessories
♬ Wild Thing (Re-Recorded) – Tone-Loc

🧭 4. Go Somewhere Alone (and Open Yourself Up to Connection)

That gallery opening? Go. That wine tasting event? Go. That Girl Trips retreat you’re eyeing? You already know. Some of the strongest friendships start when we show up solo.

Girl Trips is a great way to make new friends, or reconnect with old ones

💬 5. Be Honest About What You’re Craving

Tell someone you’re feeling disconnected. That you miss deep chats. That you’d love to meet new people. That you want to laugh. Vulnerability attracts authenticity, and chances are, they’ve been waiting for someone to say it first.

Loneliness might be an epidemic, but connection is the antidote. You don’t need a million friends—you need a handful of women who see you, hear you, and laugh until your cheeks hurt.