Let’s be honest: The last few years weren’t exactly ideal for planning a trip with all your buddies to celebrate your upcoming nuptials. The pandemic made traveling pretty precarious, and many places were shut down because of it. And despite the fact that COVID is still a serious danger, the world has slowly opened back up. So that means a lot more destination are back on the map, and just waiting to be experienced. In this video, we’re taking a look at the best spots for treating a soon to be husband with a trip he won’t soon forget. Join Viewcation, as we present: The Best Bachelor Party Destinations for 2023
Austin, Texas
Austin is considered a bit of an oasis in the middle of Texas. It’s a city full of great art, fantastic music, diversity, incredible food, and much more. So it has a lot of the vibes of perhaps one of the coastal, more liberal cities. And at the same time, it’s still Texas, so it has a classic southern feel, and makes you remember that everything is bigger in the Lone Star State. This mix of vibes means that it’s an ideal spot for bachelor parties of all shapes, sizes, and cultural backrounds. If your group is more from the countryside, you’ll love staying at Lone Star Court, which features gorgeous, wide open spaces that show off the Texas landscape. And if the group consists more of city folks, you can book rooms at Hotel Zaza, which provides the slick, urban feel you’re looking for.
Austin has no shortage of things to do, places to eat, and attractions to check out. One must is to see the famous bats that fly out every night from the Congress Avenue Bridge (provided you’re there in the right season.) It’s a uniquely Austin experience that you won’t forget. You should of course check out Sixth Street, which is home to some of the best stores, restaurants, bars, and music venues in the city. South By Southwest, the music and film festival, is centered around Sixth Street every year, which should give you a sense of how vital that stretch is to the city. If the group has golfers, you can book 18 holes at one of the many pristine courses in Hill Country. And if you’re looking for more of an outdoor adventure, head to West Austin and check out lakeside living and a more laid back vibe.
Texas is famous for both BBQ and Tex-Mex food, and Austin has some of the best in the state. El Alma is a fantastic Tex-Mex spot, where the tacos will solve just about any hangover you might have going. And Franklin Barbecue serves a mean brisket and other BBQ staples. And when you want to combine those tastes, try the Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ food truck!
Newport, Rhode Island
You might not think of Newport right away when you’re considering locales for a bachelor party. But it’s a sneaky great place for a guys getaway, provided you’re looking to go there when the weather is warm. While you might not be looking to hit up a New England winter, in the summer Newport is warm and lovely. It’s a bustling little seaside town that’s full of history, gorgeous views of the ocean, and fun nightlife.
We recommend the Wayfinder Hotel, which is a newer spot that was opened by a bunch of local artists, chefs, and bartenders. The focus is on providing an authentic experience of life on the Rhode island coast, and this hotel nails it. Plus, it’s in a location that is ideal to check out the Cliff Walk. Speaking of which, the Cliff Walk is a must when visiting Newport. You and your buddies can cruise along the beach, admiring the amazing views of the Atlantic, and checking out some of the many old mansions that line the coast. And 11 of them, like the legendary “The Breakers” and Rosecliff, offer tours to the public. You can see how the ultra rich lived back in the day in these elegant and over the top mansions. If the groom is someone with a penchant for all things nautical, Newport is an ideal spot. There are harbors full of yachts, and nautically themed elements throughout the city. You can get tickets for booze cruises as well as go out on fishing charters. And the seafood all over town is as fresh as it can get. If you’re staying at the Wayfinder, you won’t have to go far for a great seafood meal, as Nomi Park is a fantastic in house restaurant. And if you’re looking for a bit more history after your mansion tours, go downtown to eat at White Horse Tavern. Not only is it a charming spot with excellent food, but it’s literally the oldest restaurant still in operation in the country.
Miami
Miami needs no real introduction when it comes to being a party hub. It’s known the world over as being one of the top partying locales, so it should come as no surprise that it would serve as a fantastic place for a bachelor party.
We’d recommend booking rooms at the W South Beach. It has incredible ocean views from all the rooms, and definitely caters to groups quite well. You can rent a cabana by the pool, and even play basketball or tennis on their rooftop courts. If you want to really live it up, book the E-WOW Penthouse, or even a three-floored bungalow that has its own plunge pool. You and the guys will almost not want to even leave the hotel. Almost. We say that because Miami is loaded with things to do, and places to see.
During the day you can obviously hit up the beach, and cruise around the vibrant streets of the city. Of particular interest should be the Wynwood district – an area that has been revitalized of late, and features “The Oasis” – a large courtyard where you can post up for some outdoor dining, people watch, and even stay until night to party it up. If you’re looking for a bit of culture, you can browse the Museum of Graffiti, located in The Confidante Miami Beach. You can feel like a street art aficionado before you hit up the town for some dinner and partying.
Speaking of which, Osteria Morini Miami Beach is a classy and delicious spot for dinner. And if you spend all night boozing it up and dancing, you’ll want some hangover remedies in the morning. For that, we recommend the comfort food at the Miami Diner, perhaps followed by a wellness shot from Delicious Raw. They’ll get you back to feeling more like yourself, and ready for another poolside afternoon.
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is another place that you might not immediately think of when planning a bachelor party, but it’s a sneakily perfect spot for it. That’s because it combines all the elements that you’d potentially want in a destination bachelor party: great food, great booze, gorgeous settings, outdoor fun, and much more.
The 21c Museum Hotel is a great choice to serve as a home base for the trip. It not only is in a great location downtown, giving you easy access to all the city life that Lexington has to offer, but it’s a great hotel in and of itself. You’ll get a nice mix of country and city at the 21c Museum Hotel.
As far as things to do, Lexington and the surrounding area is filled to the brim. If your group is full of outdoorsy and adventurous types, you’ll go nuts for the zipline above Boone Creek Gorge, and enjoy renting canoes for some fun out on the water. Or you can even go hiking through the Kentucky River Palisades. If your crew is a bit more on the artistic side, the Mural Challege put on by VisitLEX. It encourages you to move around the city and take photos of the many painted murals that have been commissioned by local artists. You can even win prizes!
And if you’re looking for a little more adult oriented fun, hit up a distillery tour at one of the 14 distilleries along the Bourbon Trail. Just make sure there’s a designated driver in the group, or use public transport or ride sharing!
Of course, being active around Lexington will mean your crew will develop quite an apettite. And Lexington comes correct with it’s many great dining spots. Right off the Bourbon Trail is Holly Hill Inn, where you can throw on some shirts and ties for a little fine dining. In the morning, stave off that hangover by downing a southern breakfast at Kneeland Track Kitchen. Not only can you stuff your faces with incredible home-cooked food, but you can check out the best thoroughbred horses in the world run on the adjoining racetrack. And for dessert try out Crank & Boom. They have ice cream cocktails that are divine.
Judd Lake, Alaska
Finally, if you’re really looking to get out of town, consider Judd Lake, Alaska. It’s a picturesque locale that will provide a truly unforgettable experience for the groom and everyone else as well. Book a package that includes lodging at Tordillo Mountain Lodge. It’s a gorgeous spot that you’ll be psyched to call home base. And when you want to explore, you don’t call an Uber. Instead, the package includes a private helicopter that lands at the hotel and takes you to local spots. The hotel package also includes top quality meals, fishing equipment, and floatplane trips.
You’ll be in the wilderness of Alaska, so you’ll have the opportunity to explore the area on hikes, and see incredible wildlife. Or you can post up on Judd Lake itself an do water activities like wakeboarding, glacier hiking, water skiing, and more. There’s an incredible package offered by Kings & Corn, where you go heli-skiing in the AM, and spend the afternoon catching king salmon. Talk about a classic Alaskan experience.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Have you ever been to any of these places? Let us know in the comments section below!