With this last weekend being the final Hurrah! for our beloved Baldy mountain, the parties were definitely plentiful. It was hard to keep pace with all the Mountain’s festivities since my bachelorette party only just ended, and Chatham’s is only just about to begin. My girlfriends threw me the most amazing party in Las Vegas last weekend, and Chatham is headed to Portland next weekend for what’s sure to be a few days packed full of ‘man’ adventures and most likely drinking at unhealthy levels.
But despite my week long recovery from Sin City and Chatham preparing for the worst, we both enjoyed a last weekend on the mountain. The sun shone down on us and Sun Valley Company opened up the parking lots for tailgating. There wasn’t a camper in sight without their grills on and coolers full. It was a weekend to remember for sure!
So to continue this string of celebrations I thought I’d blog about the infamous bachelorette party, or "hen night" as I like to refer to it (it’s my English heritage shining through). Below are some ideas that might inspire you and some snip-its from my own amazing weekend – I hope you enjoy.
VEGAS
Although it seems cliche, it has been a trusted destination for good reason. Groups of girls have a blast in Vegas. Here’s some reasons why, and ideas for once you’re there. (Guys, don’t try this – a group of dudes at a club doesn’t have quite the same effect as us females.)
Last week 7 of us departed from Sun Valley after work on Thursday to catch our flight out of Twin Falls. Just an hour later we were landing in Las Vegas and none of us could be more excited to shed our puff jackets for a pair of flip flops and some SPF. We arrived at our Hotel, The Encore, where we had adjoining Panoramic Suites. If you have the chance to stay in one, do, they’re fabulous. A good girlfriend of mine had organized the whole weekend and we were greeted by her with gift bags full of hangover remedies, fun trinkets, Vegas shot glasses and other silly necessities. A few glasses of champagne later and a some swift kicks to get us all ready, we were headed to the clubs. Lots of cheers, strawberries and chocolates greeted us at our table at Blush, and we dance dance danced until all of our feet, used to ski and snowboard boots, were screaming in pain from the Stilettos.
Over the next 6 hours our group grew from 8 to 14 and the party was only just getting started. The rest of the weekend went off without a hitch, including a show by Mumford and Sons at the Cosmopolitan, the highest roller-coaster ride in the world, at the Stratosphere, a Monster Truck Limo, the grand opening of Beach Club, Group T-shirts that referenced Chatham and I’s save the dates and more time in the sun than our skin would have liked. I never would have thought Las Vegas would be the bachelorette party of my dreams, but it was amazing and I’d recommend it to anyone planning theirs!
Allegiant Air: Flights from Twin Falls to Las Vegas are $113 round trip and leave on Thursday night and return Sunday evening.
Bachelorette Party Deals: There are all sorts of deals for groups of girls headed to Vegas. Some include a limo, dinner, a show and a club entrance fee for about $80.00 per head. Check out sites like vegas.com for more ideas.
Fun in the Sun: If you’re into laying poolside with a good book, pina colada, all whilst getting impeccable service, then you’ve chosen the right destination. Book your trip anytime between mid April and the end of summer and the sun will most likely grace you with your presence. And it’s a HOT sun. The desert air, UV rays, and frosty cocktails make for sensational days full of lounging.
Shop till you drop: Grab the girls and hit Fashion Show. There’s something for everyone and if you didn’t bring that Vegas perfect dress with you for the night out, you’ll be sure to find one here. RA Sushi Bar is out front as well and you can sit on the deck and enjoy some decedent sushi rolls. There are also ticket counters at the mall where you can buy discounted show tickets the day of. So if you’re keen on a little Cirque du Soleil, this is your chance to find a ticket at an affordable rate.
CAMPING IN THE SAWTOOTH’S
If you want to give all your friends a taste of how wonderful Sun Valley is before your big day, arranging a camping trip in the Sawtooth Mountains can’t be beat!
Whitewater Rafting: A friend of mine had her bachelorette party along the Salmon River. We launched in Sunburst and floated for a few hours, playing different games and relay races along the way. It was such a blast and the boats were loaded with girls in 80’s one pieces and coolers full of delicious cocktails. Just don’t forget the cooler of food! That’s a mistake this group learned the hard, or fun, way.
Redfish Lake: Rent a cabin at Redfish. You’ll want to do this in advance as they book up quite quickly. You can lounge by the lake all day and party in your cabin at night after enjoying a yummy dinner at the Lodge.
Sawtooth Music Festival: Pitch some tents and listen to the tunes all weekend. Up in the Stanley meadows the music festival takes off and there’s tons of dancing and good vibes. Grab breakfast at the bakery in the a.m before heading to one of the glacier lakes or mountain biking some of the famous trails.
BOISE
Head to the City of Trees for a night on the town. Only 178 miles from Sun Valley you can take the shuttle down there or car pool for the 2 1/2 hour journey, it’s well worth the journey.
Hotel 43: Gives 5B residents a nightly discount plus a coupon worth a percentage off at Chandler’s restaurant. (Chandler’s used to be a Sun Valley favorite and relocated to Boise a few years ago. Worth checking out!)
BO-DO: Spend some time with the ladies shopping Boise’s new Downtown area and grab a drink at one of the many patio bars.
Bogus (in winter): Go tubing or skiing at Bogus. The tubing hill is a total riot and will no doubt get everyone giggling. Grab some cocoa at the lodge afterward before making your way back to town.
Float the river (in the summer): Make a river barge and launch the Boise River. It winds slowly through the city and is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. 4th of July weekend can be a hoot as the river is filled with tubes and floating kegs.
Shows: Boise has a great array of music come through, so check with The Knitting Factory and other venues to see what the line up is. There’s nothing better than a good show with the girls.
STAYCATION
It’s so easy to take for granted what we have here. And what better way to acquaint your girlfriends with Sun Valley than a weekend here with just the ladies.
Rent a condo: www.vrbo.com or any other property management site will help you find something that works for you. Lots of condos have access to pools and hot tubs, so make sure that’s included. Whether you’re here in the summer or winter submerging yourself in water can’t be beat.
Pick a Theme: Cowboy always works here. Plan to see the Rodeo, go horseback riding and celebrate Sun Valley the way it used to be.
80’s ski wear is always a great choice if you’re thinking about coming during the winter months. Have a contest for best once piece etc . . . The Goldmine is a local gem at finding vintage ski wear.
Time your bachelorette to coincide with Ketchum Wide Open and have a full blown golf themed weekend. Check out the new White Clouds course and put-put your way through the bar crawl.
The Roosevelt Roof: Finish your evenings atop the Roosevelt sitting around the fire pits soaking up the early evening sun and sipping a cocktail.
Fly Fishing: Take a girls casting clinic to learn to fly flsh with one of our many outfitters.
Get High: Ride the gondola to the top of Baldy and either enjoy dinner at the Roundhouse or take your bikes with you for a thrilling ride down. Launch yourself off the top of the Mountain with a paragliding trip. Or get up there the old fashioned way, hike.
Shot-Skis: Nowhere is the shot-ski more appreciated than in Sun Valley. Custom make your own shot ski to bring out the bars. You’ll have groups of people joining in the fun before you know it.
No matter what you decide to do, remember your bachelorette party is all about enjoying yourself! (Not too much though) I know I came back from Las Vegas more ready to marry Chatham than ever! Please feel free to leave any ideas you may have, or share your own bachelorette party story!
