There comes a time for most women when they are either ready to swap the kids, the husband or another weekend of speed dating and closet cleaning for a few hours, an afternoon or a getaway with their girlfriend.

There’s nothing like grabbing your pal and heading out for a carefree afternoon, night or couple of days. It can be as simple as taking a walk or hike in Snohomish County. A sleepover would be great, especially at a resort on Orcas Island. Or take a few days and head to Oregon where you and your chum can learn to surf.

Whatever your time limit, fitness level or energy intensity, there is something for women to get up and go to when the time is right.

An afternoon of girl talk while breaking a sweat is ready and waiting for you at Lund’s Gulch in Meadowdale County Park.

Begin the walk bundled up at the parking lot and take the swooping path to the head of the trail.

The trail path is embedded with stones and rocks in places and log steps are implanted here and there. Take a moment while heading 400 feet down into the gulch to stop and look around at the forested surroundings that surely make walkers feel transported a million miles away from the ins and outs of everyday life.

The winding trail leads to a fork where on one side there are picnic tables where you and your friend can sit and chat, take deep breaths and replenish your energy.

Keep going on the original path to the railroad underpass where walkers emerge at the water with a fantastic view of Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountains.

Stop and rest a while before heading, up, up, uphill back to the parking lot. The walk back seems so much longer than the one down.

The round-trip walk to the beach from the parking lot is 2.5 miles and is sloped and steep in parts.

Wear good gripping shoes since the path is slippery in areas, especially if it has been raining. And dress warmly since it can be very cool, if not downright cold depending on the weather, because the path leads through Douglas firs, ferns and lots of moss.

If you have more than an afternoon to spare and want to get away from it all book the Chicks Ahoy package to Rosario Resort and Spa located on 30 acres of waterfront on Orcas Island.

This soothing escape at the waterfront retreat includes two night’s accommodation, a bottle of wine, and chocolate truffles.

Don’t let all this relaxation fool you. Your days can be mixed with great walks, kayaking, sailing, and hiking on Orcas Island. Before heading to the island in the San Juans book a whale watching trip or sailing trip and spend quiet time with your girlfriend while communing with nature. A arrange a bike trip around the island, don’t forget rain gear, and pack a picnic to munch on as you explore Moran State Park with its more than 30 miles of hiking trails and a good climb up Mount Constitution, a 2,409 foot task leading to fantastic views of the surrounding areas in the United States and Canada.

After that climb, head back to Rosario Resort where a river stone massage, included in the package, awaits your tired muscles.

Later chat over a Cosmopolitan while planning your or museum and art gallery trip for the next day. Women booking Chicks Ahoy receive a guide to the island outlining the best restaurants, museums, art studios, farms and gardens on Orcas.

If you are more into camping and nature while being, mmm, natural then check out Doe Bay Hot Springs, also on Orcas Island, where clothing is not only more relaxed, it’s optional in the waters.

This is a hiking, kayak, yoga, hot tub retreat where movies and open mikes are the norm. You can go for a day or a week and camp, eat, relax, hike and soak in the hot springs.

For something a little more adventurous girlfriends can head to Oregon’s coast and sign up for a surf camp.

The Northwest Women’s Surf Camps offers women and girls a chance to experience surfing instruction through events such as One Day Surf Camps, Weekenders (two days) and Girlfriends Getaway.

Learning to surf is an adventure that you can still partake in through September.

Chances are that this experience, as all experiences with girlfriends should be, will be bonding, strengthening and fun, fun, fun for a weekend away with a chum.

Christina Harper is a Snohomish Country freelance writer. She can be reached at harper@heraldnet.com.

If you go …

Meadowdale County Park/Lund’s Gulch

Driving Directions from Everett: I-5 south to exit 184. Head west on 164th Street to Highway 99. Cross over Highway 99 and continue on 168th Street SW. Take a right on 52nd Avenue W., then a left on 160th Street SW. Drive to 56th Avenue W. and take a right. Turn left on 156th Street SW. There are some park signs the closer you get to the park. Round-trip walk is 2.5 miles. Dress warmly.

Chicks Ahoy: Rosario Resort, Orcas Island. Packages range in price, depending on time of year, from $539 to 839. Through Sept. 30, the price is $839; Oct. 1-31 is $749; Nov. 1 through March 31, 2008, $539. Prices are based on double occupancy and include taxes and resort fees. Prices are based on double occupancy and include taxes and resort fees. For more information, go to www.rosarioresort.com or call 800-562-8820. www.doebay.com.

Northwest Women’s Surf Camps: Seaside, Oregon. Call 503-738-0758 or go to www.nwwomenssurfcamps.com for information and to sign up for camps.