Bachelorette parties are one of our favorite bridal festivities to attend. We think it’s a great time to make some memories with just the ladies before you (or your bestie) get hitched. But where are some of the best places to host a bachelorette party? You want it to be fun for everyone, with lots of activities that all of your ladies can participate in. We thought it would be fun to feature some of the top bachelorette party destinations in the U.S. We will be back tomorrow featuring another location – in fact, we will be featuring locations this entire week.

Austin, Texas

“Everything is bigger in Texas,” and we are here to report that the statement is true. We lived in Austin for a bit, so can attest firsthand to the unique vibe this city has. There is so much to do, including a great nightlife, tons of fantastic food options, some fun, locally owned shops and tons of things to do outside. Bonus: it’s about an hour away from Texas’ version of wine country (which we’ll get to in a minute).

Some options for a fun bachelorette weekend in Austin, Texas:

Where to stay? Austin has some great Airbnb options available (if you want to stay by Lake Travis for some fun in the water, we like this airbnb option, which has 8 beds and has a dock out to the lake). If you want to stay somewhere instagram-worthy, we recommend Hotel Saint Cecilia on South Congress, which is just down the street from downtown, and in the heart of some great shopping. Bonus: they have some bikes you and your girlfriends can rent to explore the neighborhood. Austin has so many great districts within the city including Downtown, Hyde Park, Zilker Park, Lake Travis, East Downtown. You can’t go wrong with any of these locations.

Where to eat? Austin is home to tons of great food. It has arguably some of the hottest restaurants in the country. When you think Texas, you think – great BBQ. While it has some fantastic BBQ options, the rest of the food scene is equally as delicious. If you are from out-of-the-state, you must try some Tex-Mex. Z’ Tejas is one of our favorites – the downtown location is great. You can grab some great margaritas and some equally delicious food. Matt’s El Rancho is another Austin staple. While the no-frills restaurant doesn’t look 5-star – their food and margaritas are delicious. For BBQ options, you must try Franklin BBQ – the owner and pitmaster has won a James Beard award. It often has a line out the door, so show up early and expect to wait a bit. You won’t be disappointed. The Salt Lick is also another fantastic option. It’s a bit outside of Austin, but it sits in the heart of Austin’s wine country – so you can go early for the wine and stay for the BBQ. Kerbey Lane Cafe is a must-try spot for breakfast or brunch. It’s kind of an Austin staple. Mozart’s is a great coffee place along the water. For some fancier dinners, Uchi is a fantastic spot for you sushi lovers. Why is it so good, you ask? Well, it’s food is created by James Beard award-winning chef, Tyson Cole. For Italian, we recommend Vespaio. For something uniquely Austin, we love the Driskill.

Where to shop? As mentioned above, Austin has some great, locally-owned shops. To shop local, spend some time along South Congress. It has boutiques, food trucks, galleries, music venues and eateries. It’s very walkable. The Domain has some higher-end shopping and some great eating. We also recommend checking out Austin’s 2nd street district, which features some local and national favorites.

Activities? Austin’s Lady Bird Lake is great for you outdoor lovers. You can rent kayaks, take a walk, partake in some weekend yoga. Lake Travis also is home to some fantastic water activities. Rent a boat or stop for lunch at the Oasis, which overlooks the lake. Now, let me get to that Wine Country I’ve been mentioning throughout this post. The Texas Hill Country is less than an hour outside of Austin, and it is home to some fantastic wineries. We recommend renting a limo and head to the Hill Country for the afternoon. Grape Creek Vineyards  and Becker Vineyards are two of our favorites.

To go out, 6th street (if you’ve never been) is a great spot for some bachelorette fun. It’s a street lined with bars, so you can pop in and out. Rainey street is for a tamer crowd, but still fun for a bachelorette party. To end the evening, please catch some live music in downtown Austin!!!

Our idea of the perfect Bachelorette itinerary for Austin:

–  Check into your hotel or Airbnb Friday night- this allows everyone time to arrive from their respective places.

– Go out to a local restaurant – or order room service as everyone arrives.

– Saturday morning: Plan a kayaking excursion on Lady Bird Lake, which we promise will be fun for all involved. Grab some breakfast tacos at Taco Deli.

– Spend the afternoon shopping along South Congress, Downtown and even the Domain

– Lunch (see recommendations above)

– Go back to your room to get ready. Have some pre-dinner cocktails before you head out.

– Have dinner (make this your fancy meal out)

– Go out on Rainey Street or Sixth Street

– Sunday brunch at Kerbey Lane before everyone heads out of town

For some bonus bachelorette staples, click below:

Don’t forget, we will be back tomorrow with another of 2018’s top bachelorette party destinations: New Orleans.