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The best bachelorette party destinations in the U.S. for every type of celebration

From Nantucket to Nashville and Santa Barbara to Sin City, these are the best bachelorette party destinations in the U.S.

Written by
Jen Woo
&
Clara Hogan
Contributor
Time Out USA editors
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A bachelorette party is one of—if not the—the most fun rites of passage. The time-honored tradition of bidding adieu to the single life with your girls is always a great excuse to throw a killer party. These days, brides-to-be are often opting for more than just one night of debauchery in favor of a weekend trip with their closest friends to enjoy a jam-packed weekend of dining, drinking and galavanting around a new city in a white dress.

When it comes to choosing the best city to celebrate in, consider the bride's personality. Is she a rowdy gal who wants to dance the night away? Vegas it is. Is she a beachside babe who enjoys a warm night on a rooftop? Miami should go to the top of the list. Or is she more relaxed, preferring a more lowkey weekend? Surprise her by choosing an unexpected, quaint town like Nantucket. 

We have scoured the country and handpicked the absolute best bachelorette party destinations in the U.S., from the glitzy lights of Sin City to hotspots like Austin and Nashville to quieter options like the charming mountain town Vail. Whether the bride is into getting pampered at soothing spas, adventuring in the great outdoors, or looking for a wild party scene, our handpicked spots have something for everyone. So gather your squad, pop the champagne and get ready to let loose at a bachelorette bash none of you will soon forget.

Top bachelorette party destinations in America

With steamy beaches, a bumping nightlife and plenty of options for exploring the outdoors, Miami is a timeless pick for a bachelorette party. To be close to all the fun, stay in South Beach. During the day, you can suntan and snooze on the beach, book a scuba or snorkel trip, or splash out in style on a private yacht charter with companies such as Tropicalboat or Prime Luxury. At night, bass-pounding clubs along the beach offer a variety of options for partying: check out bottle service at LIV and keep the party going all night long at Club Space. Ease the hangover by booking a head-to-toe spa treatment at luxe settings like Lapis Spa, the Spa at the Standard or Tierra Santa Healing House.

Napa, California
Photograph: Courtesy Visit Napa Valley

2. Napa, California

Wine, wine and more wine. Need we say more? Winery hopping is the star of any trip to Napa, but the region has plenty of other perks for a Bachelorette trip than excellent vino. But first, let's start with the wine. Our favorite winery stops for a bachelorette party include popping bubbly at the stately Domaine Carneros or group-friendly V. Sattui Winery. Looking for something more unique? Book the "Treehouse experience" at Clos du Val— perfect for up to 8 people, take cruiser bikes out to your private treehouse platform where you can sip wine while you take in views of the estate. After all that wine, you'll need food, and luckily you'll have plenty of world-class restaurants to choose from, from major splurges (hello, French Laundry) to grab-and-go options (try Model Bakery.) If you want to combine excellent food and wine—plus an unforgettable experience —book your girls a trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train

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Nantucket, MA
Photograph: Shutterstock

3. Nantucket, MA

This picture-perfect Massachusetts beach town offers a multitude of options for a group of gals—whether you're craving seafood or retail therapy. First, get settled in one of the various charming inns speckling the seaside: The Wauwinet—with its plush rooms, antique pine furniture and sprawling deck—is an excellent choice. During the day, poke around art galleries like the Egan Maritime Institute, with its unrivaled collection of awe-inspiring artwork depicting the incredible history of the island; rent a bike from Young’s Bicycle Shop and pedal around the island; or, in warmer months, simply sunbathe on any of the island’s pristine and easily accessible beaches. Then, be sure to indulge in some of Nantucket’s delicious seafood dishes at restaurants such as Òran Mór Bistro, Straight Wharf, The Whale and Via Mare at Greydon House. Afterwards, grab a nightcap at The Proprietors, known for its large selection of craft cocktails, or try Cisco Brewers for beer-drinkers. 

Nashville’s central location makes it an excellent meetup point for ladies flying in from all over the country, and its happy-go-lucky feel ensures an enjoyable bachelorette weekend, even if you're toting mismatched personalities. Stay downtown to walk to Broadway honky-tonks like Tootsie’s and Acme Feed & Seed. When not knocking back beers and kicking up your cowgirl boots, pack your towels and head to Pinewood Social, where two wading pools help beat the heat and plenty of comfy lounge chairs provide some much-needed rest (there are also bowling lanes and an on-site Airstream trailer outfitted as a bar). Looking for something more active? Sign up for a group fitness class at Studio Goddess: the Goddess Party package includes a champagne toast, party games, a gift bag for the bride, photos and your choice of class.

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The sky’s the limit when it comes to vacationing in La La Land. One thing your group will surely want to do is eat: get down and dirty with some street tacos at Mariscos Jalisco and Leo’s Taco Truck; blow your palate out on some of the spiciest Thai food in the US at Jitlada or don your bikinis and work on your tans at one of the city’s best beaches. If you're looking for more, pretend you’re celebs and book an indulgent spa day at one of the city’s chicest hotels like the Proper or the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. Fill the rest of the trip with the best galleries and museums in L.A., and tons of shopping—look for vintage finds on Melrose, curated goods in Venice, or designer brands on Rodeo in Beverly Hills.

With a robust live music scene, exploding culinary culture, burgeoning arts community, and scenic outdoor destinations, Austin is a natural choice for any group looking to have a good time. An integral experience in this town is brunch. Kick off the weekend with boozy sips as tasty as the fare at spots like The Peached Tortilla (for mimosa kits and Korean steak and eggs), Better Half (try the pastrami toast and cold brew with Gernet Branca), and District (think: French toast with chai-spiced whipped cream and bloody marys with kimchi vodka). Burn off some of those calories kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddle boarding on Town Lake, then snag some new or vintage threads in the adorable boutiques and thrift shops lining South Congress Avenue. At night, book a private karaoke room at Common Interest and belt your heart out.

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Chicago offers something for everyone: high-end and casual dining; craft cocktails and sudsy craft beer; avant-garde theater experiences and excellent live music. Second City, the renowned improv troupe that has funneled some of its funniest stars to Saturday Night Live, is based here; check out the hilarious all-female 'She the People' show, which runs Thursday through Saturday nights and bills itself as the 'Girlfriends’ Guide to Sisters Doing it for Themselves.' If the weather’s nice, grab your crew and go kayaking on the Chicago River, indulge in some pints at a tour of Lagunitas Brewery and, at night, dress up and sip fancy cocktails at excellent mixology dens including the Aviary and Lonesome Rose.

Perfect weather year-round, incredible restaurants, endless hiking options, close proximity to wine country—these are just a few reasons to choose the City by the Bay for bachelorette festivities. Snag a charming Victorian Airbnb, or if hotels are more your style, try the new LUMA hotel in Mission Bay. When it comes time to make reservations, the dining options may overwhelm you. A few suggestions: the large corner booth at modern Vietnamese restaurant Bodega SF (before heading downstairs to the speakeasy, the Felix), rooftop drinks or brunch at the posh Charmaine's atop the Proper Hotel, or fine dining at Tyler Florence's new restaurant, Miller & Lux, where you can pair bay views with divine steak. If you want to pack even more in: hit the club scene, stop by a local art gallery, or take a trip to a nearby winery.

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In the country’s most easygoing city, you and your girls will love strolling the French Quarter’s flower-hung balconies, sipping frozen cocktails on the street in broad daylight and catching some live jazz come evening. First thing in the morning, stop by the deservedly world-famous Café du Monde for the city’s lightest, fluffiest beignets and a cup of dark-roasted chicory coffee. Then, hop on the historic and still fully operational St. Charles Avenue streetcar for a $1.25 tour through Audubon Park, the Tulane campus and Uptown. Finally, dig into a creamy scoop of gelato at NOLA’s favorite Italian bakery, Angelo Brocato, a fixture since 1905. At night, stroll Frenchman Street for excellent jazz and brass bands at intimate clubs like the Spotted Cat and Three Muses and sip perfectly balanced sazeracs and French 75s at mixology temples like the Carousel Bar.

Vegas may be the ultimate cliché when it comes to bachelorette (and bachelor) parties, yet the city remains on every list because it’s just so damn fun. Few other cities permit—nay, encourage—over-the-top dress and behavior like Sin City, so make the most of it. On the itinerary: Be amazed at a Cirque du Soleil show; try your luck at the roulette table; scarf down lo mein and lobster claws at the 24-hour Bacchanal Buffet; sip champagne at the glittering Chandelier bar; and splash around in the largest pool complex on the Strip (seven pools total) at the brand-new Resorts World. At night, dine on top-tier entrées from world-famous chefs including José Andrés, Michael Mina, and Yuri Szarzewski. For a more mellow experience, head to the Arts District, which hosts an Art Party with local creators and food vendors every first Friday of the month.

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Seated at the base of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, charming Asheville is a low-key getaway ideal for lovers of the great outdoors, great live music and good local brews. Starting with the latter, hop-heads simply shouldn't miss the Asheville Brews Cruise, in which a mustachioed yellow school bus will pick up your crew and escort you to four fantastic local breweries. Asheville is also teeming with natural wonders, best enjoyed by a hike in DuPont Forest (don't miss the rushing Triple Falls) or mountain biking in Bent Creek Experimental Forest. And don’t leave town without digging into a heaping plate of BBQ: head to Buxton Hall, where the whole-hog, Eastern Carolina-style 'cue is smoked low and slow over hardwood coals.

Vail, CO
Photograph: Courtesy Vail Mountain

12. Vail, CO

The country’s premier ski resort is the ideal place for winter-oriented gals to catch up and get in a few runs. But if you head to Vail in the off-season, there's still plenty to do: hike or mountain bike on Vail Mountain, kayak or take a paddleboard yoga class on Breckenridge Lake, and check out fun events in Vail Village like the Jazz Festival or Oktoberfest. For a pre-dinner stop, head to wine bar Vin 48 for the daily happy hour. For dinner, try Wyld at the luxe Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch where you can listen to live music on the patio. In the evening, head to The Rose on the Riverwalk to partake in the extensive cocktail list (try a signature shiso highball), then grab a seat at 10th Mountain to sip house-distilled moonshine, bourbon and vodka.

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There’s likely no other place that can offer as wide of a scope of options as the city that never sleeps. Art lovers can meander the famous Museum Mile to visit iconic institutions like the Guggenheim or the Met, or head down to Chelsea to stop at galleries including Gagosian and David Zwirner. Foodies will be overjoyed by the diverse array of flavors to satiate even the most discerning palettes. From inexpensive pizza (Juliana's in Brooklyn is one of the finest in NYC) to hot fine dining institutions to enjoy delectable delights like swordfish tartare with toasted pistachios and pickled fresno chilis at Iris, a Korean-Chinese tasting menu at Joomak Banjum, led by six fine dining veterans from Michelin-starred the Modern and local restaurateur Sarah Kang, or a rotating prix-fixe menu from chef Angie Mar at new white-tablecloth temple Les Trois Chevaux.

This Southern charmer is the perfect pick for a bachelorette party weekend, boasting beautiful cobblestoned streets, handsome architecture and a penchant for the good life that’s tough to find elsewhere. Eating should be a focal point when visiting: Charleston excels in comforting-yet-creative Southern fare at restaurants such as Husk, The Ordinary and Magnolias. And while the emphasis is placed on fine bourbon in this boozy town, those looking for all varieties of great cocktails can steer towards Post House for both classic and exotic sips. If you can fit in any activities between all of that eating and drinking, try taking a candle-making class at Candlefish, finding bliss on Folly Beach, or hiking Bull Island.

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Portland's dedication to the good life makes the city a solid choice for bachelorette groups, whether the crew is looking to kick back and relax or take on the great outdoors. A good place to start is Distillery Row, where you can tasting-room-hop between eight craft distilleries offering impeccable whiskies, brandies and gins. When the snack attack kicks in, world-class restaurants and wildly popular food trucks attract with their diverse array of cuisines utilizing local ingredients. Buzzy spots around town include Momo Master—for Nepalese dumplings and Kenyan iced coffee; Lovely's Fifty Fifty—for pizza and ice cream; and Haitian-meets-Pacific-Northwest cuisine at Kann, if you can snag a reservation. Burn off all those calories with any of a number of stunning hikes near the metro area, including Rooster Rock State Park in Corbett and Puff Falls in Carson.

Full of small-town charm, adorable Burlington, Vermont is the perfect bachelorette destination for a group seeking to spend time in the great outdoors and indulge in equally great grub and brews. Vermont’s dedication to craft beer is unparalleled in the northeast: Sip excellent local pints at the House of Fermentology, a small 'beer blendery' that obsessively ferments and slow-ages its brews in oak barrels, and at Switchback Brewing Co., whose red Switchback Ale is featured on many a menu around town. Outdoor adventures include zipline canopy tours in the Green Mountains as well as hiking and mountain biking trails. When you get tuckered out from all that activity, refuel at wonderful farm-to-table spots including Bleu Northeast Seafood, Hen of the Wood and the Farmhouse Tap & Grill.

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