Unique Bachelorette Party Ideas

Bachelorette parties don’t have to center around bar crawls and phallic paraphernalia. Instead, choose meaningful activities and destinations that are specially tailored to the bride-to-be’s personality. Try these unique ideas to make her dwindling days as a single girl unforgettable.

Rock Out at a Festival

Drinking and dancing are standard bachelorette party pastimes, but take it up a notch by attending a music festival. These events often feature multiple performers, supply plenty of food and drinks and allow you to mix with a crowd that’s also in the mood to celebrate. We like Wanderlust because it offers yoga, inspirational speakers, farm-to-table food and organic wine in addition to big-name musicians such as Ziggy Marley.

Get Wet and Wild

If the bride-to-be is the outdoorsy type, try organizing a whitewater rafting trip to make her send-off from the single life a heart-pumping adventure. ARO Adventures, which organizes group trips in New York state complete with post-rafting barbecues, has experienced a surge in bachelorette parties in recent years. Bonus: If you have eight or more people in your crew, the bride-to-be is free.

Feed Her Foodie Side

Whistler has been referred to as Western Canada’s version of Vegas, except that it has fresh mountain air and an emerging culinary scene. Here, you can swap the pub crawl for a Whistler Tasting Tour, which lets your group sample gourmet dishes such as the amuse-bouche plate from the award-winning Bearfoot Bistro, visit a 15,000-bottle wine cellar and eat your way through a local chocolate shop. Get your fill of that fresh air by visiting the cedar-forest setting of the Scandinave Spa and boost your digestion by soaking in the hot and cold baths.

Practice Downward Dogs

If the bride-to-be would like to return from her bachelorette party feeling even healthier than when she started, you might opt for a private yoga retreat. Yogascapes offers yoga retreats around the world that focus on wellness and renewal. Your time off the mat can be spent eating farm-fresh meals, shopping in local markets or immersing yourself in nature with group hikes.

Enjoy R&R at the Beach

Belize may not be the first destination that comes to mind for a bachelorette party, but its abundance of beach resorts, organic spas and adventure activities make it a fun girls getaway. Set on a palm-fringed, white-sand beach, Victoria House is a place where you can both chill out together and get your adrenaline pumping. Adventure Life, a sustainable travel company, lets you book your stay and choose between a selection of a la carte activities such as cave tubing, kayaking, visiting Mayan ruins and parasailing.

Get Down and Dirty at a Dude Ranch

Channel your inner cowgirl, try your hand at fly fishing and unwind at the spa by taking the girls to a luxury dude ranch. For a more intimate setting than a crowded bar, bond over storytelling time in front of a campfire. Book a trip to dude ranches and luxury guest lodges like The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana and Three Forks Ranch in Colorado.

Try Her Luck in Atlantic City

Move over, Vegas! You may think Atlantic City is nothing more than Bingo and boardwalk, but America’s Playground has enough martinis and Manolos to cash in as a top girlfriends’ getaway destination. No matter how you throw the dice, your odds of encountering cosmos and couture are as high as finding saltwater taffy and slots, thanks to a boom in chic hotels, luxurious spas, upscale shopping and celebrity chefs. Tip: Many casinos, such as the Tropicana Casino and Resort, allow groups to reserve their own private table.

Go for a Spin in the Countryside

An overnight cycling trip that incorporates deluxe accommodations and gourmet dinners may be a good bet for more active brides-to-be. Ciclismo Classico, a cycling tour company, offers trips for every interest, from food and wine destinations to scenic mountain rides. For a more low-key option, investigate local bike tours around the bride's current place of residence or a nearby city.

Indulge in a Dinner Cruise

The Finger Lakes are truly a unique bachelorette party destination, thanks to the 11 pristine lakes spread across central New York, world-class vineyards. farm-to-table restaurants and its easy access from hubs like New York, Boston and Toronto. For a memorable day, book a ride on Captain Bill's Seneca Legacy, a casual cruise that offers brunch, dinner and lunch cruises as well as sightseeing excursions.