This option isn’t for the testosterone-challenged. How about a white water rafting or kayaking half-day or full-day class/tour for the group? These can be organized with a guide who gives instructions-and who can save your butt when you take a bath.
Personally, I like the idea of organizing a rock-climbing class. If your group is large enough, you can hire an instructor who comes with all the equipment. These are usually half- or full-day classes that can be a lot of fun. In the same vein, there are now many rope courses available that can be rented out, again with an instructor. (A rope course consists of various obstacles that challenge participants to work together and take risks.) Your local yellow pages and/or outdoor sporting stores will have information on these and other outdoor ideas.
Paintball also gets the blood pumping. A little make-believe war can be a good group-building tool. Again, the yellow pages will have a good listing of places in your area. Sea kayaking is one of my favorite outdoor activities, and for those that haven’t tried-go for it. If you’re in
A Night of Music for the Musical Groom
If your Groom is a musician, then a unique and fun idea could be to arrange a jam session with his band or a group of friends who play. You should be able to find some suitable practice space. This is a good example of finding an activity that your Groom is interested in and working it into the event. If the Groom is an accordion player like me, you may want to stick to pool and leave that little secret where it belongs. (For the record, I was very young at the time and I wasn’t picking the instrument with girls in mind. Luckily, I stopped playing long before it had any lasting negative effects, though I still occasionally find myself humming “Lady of Spain.”)
A night of live music at a local club or stadium may also be a good option for the musical groom. Try to arrange an early portion of the bachelor party, before the show, that includes the older participants.
Renting a House for a Night or Weekend • At the Beach
One survey respondent explained that he loved the beach and water skiing. Accordingly, his Groomsmen rented a house near the beach for a weekend and they took his boat with them. The group chipped in to keep the costs down, and they had a great day of water sports. That night they had a big barbecue, and all the guests were encouraged to stay over. It was a big success.
At a Ski Resort
There are tons of condos for rent on many of the major skiing mountains. This is a great getaway weekend for the whole group, not just the downhill skiers. Others can shop in town, cross-country ski, snowshoe, or hike. The ski lodge is also a great place to hang out and meet people. Don’t be afraid to use a leg injury-try propping your leg up on a chair. (It helps if you look like you just came off the mountain, or it may help to have some ice in a bag next to you. This tactic has been used to start up a conversation since skiing was invented.) There are also some great apres-ski drinking and eating bargains after a long day on the slopes.
Overnight Camping Trips
Very few people are equipped to hike into the woods for an overnight camping trip. A better idea is to organize a car camping trip that includes a day hike long enough to work up a good appetite. Most bachelor party camping trips skip the walk and focus solely on the food, drink, cigars, and campfire activities as the main entertainment. Try to bring some extra equipment for those who are not big campers, including an extra tent or sleeping bags. It’s also a good idea to assign some people to bring different types of food. Include different shapes of meat and potatoes that can easily be cooked on a grill or open fire-not different types of salad, unless you’re referring to pasta or potato salad. For this night or weekend you must remember that salad isn’t considered “food”-salad is what “food ate when it was alive.”
The Big City Adventure
To me, this option can only mean going to cities like
The Mini Dream Vacation
Many airlines have cheap weekend getaways. A good package can include flight, hotel, and a rental car. One man told me that his four Groomsmen took him to Miami for his bachelor party on a weekend getaway. They had a great trip that they still talk about to this day. It’s amazing how men can get twenty years of story mileage out of a weekend trip. These weekend trips are obviously more expensive, and are normally reserved for the Groom’s inner circle (or for a Groom’s second wedding).You can always organize a regular party in addition to one of these higher-cost weekend events for the Groom’s other friends and family.
Cigars
Many of the men will expect cigars to be provided or available for purchase. There are now many stores, catalogs, and web sites that allow you to buy cigars, so there is no excuse not to have a box ready for the group. This may be another way to raise money for the Groom. Have Mr. Hyde buy a box of good cigars and have him charge enough to cover his costs, with the extra cash going to the Groom or the Best Man to cover other costs.
Food
I can’t say enough about food at bachelor parties. This is a “must have;’ so fit it in and give it some thought. If you’re not good with grub, then ask for some help. 