Baton Rouge, La., affectionately known as the “Capital City” and “the Red Stick,” boasts a rich history and culture, world-class cuisine and a lively nightlife. It’s also home to live jazz music, diverse wildlife and beautiful scenery. With so much to do, it’s no wonder Baton Rouge is the perfect destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Since 45 percent of bachelor and bachelorette celebrations last an entire weekend, and Baton Rouge boasts no shortage of things to do, you’ll want to spend more than just the day. When planning a weekend bachelor or bachelorette party in Baton Rouge, you’ll want to know the best places to eat, sleep and play.
Here is a list of some fun bachelor and bachelorette party ideas to consider if you’re spending the weekend in Baton Rouge:
1. Relaxing Guy’s or Girl’s Day
Wedding planning can be stressful for the bride, groom and bridal party alike. With countless deadlines, decisions and planning, the period leading up to the wedding is often chaotic. For this reason, many brides, grooms and bridal parties choose to schedule some relaxing activities into their bachelor and bachelorette festivities. These activities allow the bridal party to spend some quality time together in a quiet and serene environment to prepare for the upcoming wedding whirlwind. Baton Rouge offers many fun activities that encourage rest and relaxation.
Scheduling a special spa day is a great way for the bride and her bridal party to unwind and enjoy some pampering. Day spas offer a variety of services, from massages and facials to manicures and pedicures, that ensure everyone is relaxed and looking their best for the wedding. Here, you can enjoy a relaxing beverage while wearing a fluffy robe and sandals and being pampered from head to toe. Many spas offer special bridal packages featuring luxury services and delicious catered lunches where the bride and her bridal party can relax in a private space. Spa experiences make memorable gifts for the bride to give her bridesmaids as a token of thanks, and are also a sweet way for the bridal party to spoil the bride-to-be.
These days, spas are not just for the ladies. Many men include some pampering time in their bachelor party weekends as well. Hot stone and deep tissue massages soothe tense and sore muscles, eliminate toxins and benefit the body in several ways. Men’s facials, featuring hot towels and specialty skin products, rejuvenate the appearance and ensure everyone looks dapper in the wedding pictures. The groom may even want to schedule a manicure in preparation for a wedding day full of hand-holding and ring photographs. Baton Rouge features a variety of luxurious day spas perfect for relaxing with friends and family.
For guys and gals who desire relaxation without the spa experience, Baton Rouge features pristine public and private golf courses. In fact, Baton Rouge has been ranked the top golf destination in Lousiana. Courses feature rolling greens set amid the beautiful marshland landscape, with mature oak trees, Spanish moss and local wildlife. Golfing on one of Baton Rouge’s golf courses offers the chance to enjoy the area’s beauty while spending time with close family and friends. Whether you choose to spend the day relaxing at the spa or strolling around the golf course, you can be sure your bachelor or bachelorette party in Baton Rouge will be enjoyable.
2. Shop, Sip, Sample or Scavenge
For those who want to get out and see the sights, either by foot, car or bus, there’s plenty to do in Baton Rouge. From fun scavenger hunts and tours to boutique shopping and dining, you and your bridal party are sure to have a great time. Downtown Baton Rouge has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a new outfit for a night on the town or want to sample some locally crafted beverages. Be sure to take a break and enjoy Baton Rouge’s delicious local cuisine.
Numerous city tours are available to show you around Baton Rouge and teach you about its rich history. A fun twist on the typical sightseeing tour is the Big City Hunt, which offers a fun and sassy bachelorette scavenger hunt around the city. This two-hour walking tour uses an app that guides you around the city, where the bride and bridal party each have a special role to play in completing photo challenges, solving riddles and answering trivia questions. Available in two basic packages, this scavenger hunt is definitely not for the bashful.
Baton Rouge is a shopper’s delight, featuring boutiques, antique shops, outlets and even the Mall of Lousiana. Your bachelor or bachelorette party weekend wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the city’s retail locales. Here, both the guys and girls can enjoy the area’s fine clothing stores, tobacco shops, jewelry stores, bookstores and gift shops. Department stores and supermarkets featuring local products round out the city’s retail offerings. You’ll want to leave room in your suitcase for a special memento of your bachelor or bachelorette party weekend.
Several breweries and distilleries call Baton Rouge their home, and offer tours of their facilities. Here, you can watch the brewing/distilling process and sample their locally crafted beer and spirits. Many of these facilities are family-owned, with the owners giving tours and offering stories about the rich history of Baton Rouge in addition to the science behind the production process. While some tours are free, others require a fee, with some offering private tours for larger groups.
No visit to Baton Rouge would be complete without sampling the local cuisine. Specialties such as beignets, po’ boys, oysters and red beans and rice make a wonderful accompaniment to your bachelor and bachelorette festivities. Baton Rouge features many bistros and cafes offering quick bites and tasty treats. While you may only have a short time between jaunts around the city, you’ll surely regret it if you don’t take the time to enjoy some of the city’s local specialties.
3. Enjoy the Outdoors
There’s also plenty of outdoor things to do in Baton Rouge. Known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise,” the city is home to beautiful marshlands, hardwood forests and diverse wildlife. From kayaking and fishing to swamp tours and biking through the city, you and your bridal party have plenty of outdoor activities from which to choose. Due to the area’s semi-tropical climate, many outdoor activities are available year-round.
If you and your bridal party are feeling adventurous, you’ll want to schedule a swamp tour, where you can see and learn about the area’s swamps, marshes and bayous. Glide across the marshlands on an airboat while you learn about the local ecology and see wildlife such as birds, otters and even alligators. For those wishing for a slower pace, walking, canoe and kayak tours are also available. You can even get up close and personal with some of the local wildlife at the local animal farms and bird sanctuaries.
For fishing enthusiasts, Baton Rouge offers many opportunities to make the big catch. Chartered fishing trips are available through the area’s waterways and make a memorable bachelor party excursion. Rent your fishing equipment locally or visit one of the city’s sporting goods stores to gear up. Whether you prefer lake and river fishing, casting from a kayak or deep-sea fishing, you and your bachelor or bachelorette party are sure to find the fishing experience all will enjoy.
If you wish to tour the city on two wheels, Baton Rouge boasts miles of bike paths that can take you and your party both on and off-road. From smooth paths to challenging trails, bicycling in the city provides the opportunity to see the city’s beautiful landscape and architecture, along with its ecology. Take a ride along the Mississippi River on the paved and well-lit bicycle paths, or take a mountain bike through the rugged trails of Baton Rouge’s many parks. Bike rentals are available throughout the city, and some of the area’s hotels even offer bicycle rental as one of their amenities.
4. Dinner and Nightlife
Baton Rouge boasts a lively nightlife scene. Home to live music and dance clubs, specialty bars and world-class restaurants, the city is the perfect backdrop to your bachelor or bachelorette party celebration. Whether singing a karaoke duet with your friends or dancing the night away is on your agenda, planning an elegant dinner and arranging for safe transportation is a must.
Baton Rouge offers various ways for groups to travel safely around the city. Heated and air-conditioned party buses are available for rental and are perfect for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Limousine companies offer a variety of vehicles to take you and your group to your destination in style. Planning for your transportation eliminates the worry of navigating through a city that may be unfamiliar, and also ensures each party guest can safely have a great time without worrying about driving. Your driver can pick you and your group up and drop you off at the front door of your hotel.
No matter what nighttime activities you and your bridal party have planned, your evening should include dinner and drinks at The Gregory. Located in downtown Baton Rouge, adjacent to The Watermark hotel, The Gregory offers a unique and exceptional dining experience for all guests. Featuring fresh, local cuisine and modern twists on Southern favorites, dinner at The Gregory provides a delicious and classy experience for you and your bridal party. Enjoy a drink at our full-service bar featuring handcrafted cocktails, an extensive wine list and a large selection of local craft beers. Be sure to reserve your table in advance.
After a delicious dinner, your group will be ready to sample Baton Rouge’s exciting nightlife scene, featuring numerous music and dance clubs, patios and lounges, live entertainment, karaoke and DJs. The city is also home to many bars featuring craft cocktails and other specialty drinks. Some fun ideas to make your bachelorette party a little more festive include assigning a theme to the evening, such as dressing to the nines, masquerading as your favorite pop star or providing the bride with some fun and tasteful bachelorette props such as a tiara, tutu or sash.
5. Slumber Party and Brunch
With all the things to do and see in Baton Rouge, you and your party will no doubt be a little tired from all the festivities. When planning your bachelor or bachelorette party in Baton Rouge, The Watermark hotel is the perfect place to stay. Located in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge, The Watermark hotel’s beautiful architecture has made it a part of the city’s rich history. Featuring beautifully decorated guestrooms, a fitness center and two restaurants, including The Gregory, you and your bridal party can enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Amenities include room service, bicycle rental, car and limo service and wireless Internet access. Be sure to make a reservation early.
A bachelorette slumber party is a fun way for the bride-to-be and her girls to spend an evening. Put on some comfy PJs, gather some snacks such as chips, pretzels and cookies and play some fun games such as Truth or Dare and Twister. For the guys, a slumber party may not exactly be their idea of a good time, so enjoying a gentleman’s nightcap downstairs in the hotel lounge may be more their speed. All party guests can get a restful night’s sleep in their comfortable pillowtop beds. Staying at The Watermark hotel, with its many beautiful guestrooms and amenities, provides you and your party with all of the conveniences needed for a great bachelor or bachelorette party weekend.
Wrap up the weekend’s festivities with a delicious brunch at The Gregory. Incorporating traditional brunch classics and Deep South cuisine with a modern twist, The Gregory’s brunch menu features tasty dishes created with locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy a traditional Belgian waffle or steak and eggs, or be adventurous and try a brunch pizza or crawfish cheese omelet. Sip on mimosas to toast the bride or groom-to-be while you enjoy the beautiful dining area and exceptional service. A classy brunch is a perfect way to end your bachelor or bachelorette weekend in Baton Rouge and send the engaged couple off in style. Planning a weekend in Baton Rouge will create memories everyone will remember forever.
If you’re planning a bachelor or bachelorette party in Baton Rouge, be sure to stop by The Gregory for a nightcap or to enjoy a delicious dinner or brunch. Make a reservation with us online today or call us to do the same at 225-408-1800. We’re glad to have you.
