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April 17, 2013 11:08 AM Subscribe
Non-traditional, non-girly, physically active bachelorette party ideas in the DC area?
A couple of friends and I are trying to organize a bachelorette party for our dear friend who lives in the Maryland suburbs of DC. We've already got dinner and post-dinner activities planned, but we're looking for some sort of pre-dinner activity that would be good for a group of about 10 women.
Our friend likes outdoor activities and physical challenges; it's difficult to find something that a) fits those criteria, b) is social, and c) is accommodating of different levels of physical fitness and courage (all of the attendees enjoy physical activity, but not all of them enjoy walking on tightropes 20 feet off the ground and one of the attendees will be rather pregnant).
I thought I had the perfect idea with the low ropes course at Terrapin Adventures, but alas, they are already booked up for the day of the party. Laser tag is a possibility, though unless we're willing to fork over tons of money it seems that we would be thrown in with a bunch of adolescent boys, which is sub-optimal. So, in short, I'm looking for suggestions for activities that:
-Are in the DC area, preferably the Maryland side
-Aren't too expensive (maybe $30/person max)
-Involve some amount of physical exertion and maybe a little bit of adrenaline
-Aren't particularly girly (NO POLE DANCING LESSONS!)
-Facilitate social interaction amongst the participants (and I guess ideally not with strangers)
We're not averse to setting something up ourselves, but it would be much easier if it's something pre-fab.
Have at it, hive mind!
A couple of friends and I are trying to organize a bachelorette party for our dear friend who lives in the Maryland suburbs of DC. We've already got dinner and post-dinner activities planned, but we're looking for some sort of pre-dinner activity that would be good for a group of about 10 women.
Our friend likes outdoor activities and physical challenges; it's difficult to find something that a) fits those criteria, b) is social, and c) is accommodating of different levels of physical fitness and courage (all of the attendees enjoy physical activity, but not all of them enjoy walking on tightropes 20 feet off the ground and one of the attendees will be rather pregnant).
I thought I had the perfect idea with the low ropes course at Terrapin Adventures, but alas, they are already booked up for the day of the party. Laser tag is a possibility, though unless we're willing to fork over tons of money it seems that we would be thrown in with a bunch of adolescent boys, which is sub-optimal. So, in short, I'm looking for suggestions for activities that:
-Are in the DC area, preferably the Maryland side
-Aren't too expensive (maybe $30/person max)
-Involve some amount of physical exertion and maybe a little bit of adrenaline
-Aren't particularly girly (NO POLE DANCING LESSONS!)
-Facilitate social interaction amongst the participants (and I guess ideally not with strangers)
We're not averse to setting something up ourselves, but it would be much easier if it's something pre-fab.
Have at it, hive mind!
Indoor rock climbing is super fun for moderately active people of all kinds.
posted by justjess at 11:16 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by justjess at 11:16 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ice Skating? It doesn't require anyone to be physically fit in any particular way, everyone will look goofy. People will get tired of it in about an hour or so.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:20 AM on April 17, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:20 AM on April 17, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far! Ollie, that's a great idea and made me think of rafting and other water-traversing activities -- Harpers Ferry is a bit of a schlep but I'll put it on the list and see if I can find a rafting place closer to home.
My friend already does rock climbing pretty regularly, along with many other things, which is why finding something that isn't old hat for her is so hard!
posted by enlarged to show texture at 11:23 AM on April 17, 2013
My friend already does rock climbing pretty regularly, along with many other things, which is why finding something that isn't old hat for her is so hard!
posted by enlarged to show texture at 11:23 AM on April 17, 2013
Roller skating? Miniature golf?
posted by Lynsey at 11:25 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Lynsey at 11:25 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Miniature Golf!!
I love that idea.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:26 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I love that idea.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:26 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Scavenger hunt! Mr. BlahLaLa and I have done two of these (not in DC, though) in the last few months and they are ridiculously, ridiculously fun.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:29 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:29 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Belly Dancing. It's a lot more physical than you think and suits all kind of fitness levels. It may be a bit borderline girly for you, but it doesn't have the overt in your face sexiness of pole dancing and is a hoot to do with a bunch of friends.
posted by wwax at 11:32 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by wwax at 11:32 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I was going to suggest the giant indoor rock climbing facility in Rockville, but if the bride is a regular climber (or a regular there, even), that might not be as much fun. I know they do parties, though, so it might be worth a call to see how they could make it super special for your group.
posted by devinemissk at 11:36 AM on April 17, 2013
posted by devinemissk at 11:36 AM on April 17, 2013
Pole dancing is girly? As a man who has wrestled with the pole, let me assure you there are few things on this planet as physically exhausting as pole dancing. Silks or aerial stuff might also be fun.
posted by jalitt at 11:39 AM on April 17, 2013
posted by jalitt at 11:39 AM on April 17, 2013
If you are in the inner MD suburbs, Bladensburg Waterfront Park has canoe rentals. I kind of like canoeing the Anacostia, actually--it's like this little strip of nature nestled up very close to a dense urban area. Other places that have canoe rentals include Jug Bay on the PG County side (probably a little farther out but much prettier), and Black Hill Regional Park and Lake Needwood in Montgomery County.
posted by drlith at 11:45 AM on April 17, 2013
posted by drlith at 11:45 AM on April 17, 2013
With the pgrenant woman in mind for a low impact but social activity, you could get a croquet set or bocce ball and start an impromptu game at a nice park. It's one of those things I did in college when the weather was nice. It's a lot of fun and you could change up the rules a bit to make it more competetive.
posted by loquat at 11:56 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by loquat at 11:56 AM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Swordfighting. Either historical or stage swordfighting. I don't know the area at all, but I would be very surprised if there aren't people who will set you up with a personalised session. You can put as much or as little into it physically as you want, and even if all you do is vaguely wave a longsword around, you can feel awesome. The rather pregnant person won't be able to spar, but they'll be able to do the other stuff.
(My second suggestion would be bellydancing. As wwax says, it may be girly but it's not any way like pole dancing and it's great fun.)
posted by Coobeastie at 12:06 PM on April 17, 2013
(My second suggestion would be bellydancing. As wwax says, it may be girly but it's not any way like pole dancing and it's great fun.)
posted by Coobeastie at 12:06 PM on April 17, 2013
Paintball. I'm not sure how that would go with pregnancy (probably poorly), but loads of fun otherwise.
posted by wrok at 12:24 PM on April 17, 2013
posted by wrok at 12:24 PM on April 17, 2013
Ziplining / Treetop Adventure at Lake Needwood in Rockville!
http://goape.com/days-out/rock-creek-regional-park
posted by grateful at 1:06 PM on April 17, 2013
http://goape.com/days-out/rock-creek-regional-park
posted by grateful at 1:06 PM on April 17, 2013
Seconding belly dancing. Sahara Dance is particularly great and has several studios around the DC area, including Tenleytown. (Former student here.)
posted by marguerite at 1:28 PM on April 17, 2013
posted by marguerite at 1:28 PM on April 17, 2013
Laser tag is a possibility, though unless we're willing to fork over tons of money it seems that we would be thrown in with a bunch of adolescent boys, which is sub-optimal.
A Shadowland party would indeed place you in proximity to the sub-optimal demographic, but the actual laser tag "adventure(s)" would include only your party participants.
maybe $30/person max
About how many people?
If you have someone who has the outdoor space and can host, you can rent an inflatable and an operator for about $300 for an hour or two. The bungee run is great fun. I'd call those people anyway, just tell them your budget and they'll give you a bunch of ideas that might be useful even if you don't hire them.
posted by 0 at 1:31 PM on April 17, 2013
A Shadowland party would indeed place you in proximity to the sub-optimal demographic, but the actual laser tag "adventure(s)" would include only your party participants.
maybe $30/person max
About how many people?
If you have someone who has the outdoor space and can host, you can rent an inflatable and an operator for about $300 for an hour or two. The bungee run is great fun. I'd call those people anyway, just tell them your budget and they'll give you a bunch of ideas that might be useful even if you don't hire them.
posted by 0 at 1:31 PM on April 17, 2013
We did a circus class for a friend's bachelorette party - there's probably something like that near DC. (BTW, we also did a pole dancing class for another friend's bachelorette and it was really fun and not at all "sexy" or girly. It was more like playing on the bars at recess.)
posted by jrichards at 1:45 PM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jrichards at 1:45 PM on April 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I came to recommend belly dancing as well-- it is dancing, but it's a very intense workout and can be adjusted to different levels of expertise easily.
posted by jetlagaddict at 2:16 PM on April 17, 2013
posted by jetlagaddict at 2:16 PM on April 17, 2013
What about orienteering/ geocaching. A series of puzzles/ caches leading to a penis-shaped or other suitably bachelorette-ish item.
posted by theora55 at 2:56 PM on April 17, 2013
posted by theora55 at 2:56 PM on April 17, 2013
Ping pong, bowling or biking. Look for one of those multi-person bikes that have like 8 riders.
posted by hooray at 10:20 PM on April 17, 2013
posted by hooray at 10:20 PM on April 17, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ollie at 11:11 AM on April 17, 2013