Bachelor or Bachelorette Party? Tubing Makes the Perfect Addition
Austin is a highly sought-after destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties. The downtown nightlife, live music, vibrant downtown, amazing food, and generally cool, relaxed vibe make for a great way to celebrate this traditional pre-marriage rite of passage. A tubing trip adds that little something to turn the average bachelor(ette) party into a unique, unforgettable experience.
Located less than an hour away from downtown Austin, tubing on the San Marcos River offers an outdoor group activity that takes in nature and offers a break from Austin’s hustle and bustle. Texas State Tubes can pick you up and take you to the river, then drop you off when you’re finished. Trips can last as little as an hour or run as long as the afternoon. You don’t need to bring much…just a bathing suit, sunscreen, and some of your favorite beverages.
What better way to recover from last night’s hangover than sipping a little hair of the dog while floating down the river? Tubing can easily fit into a bachelor(ette) party weekend, but make sure you float the San Marcos River and not the Guadalupe. The Guadalupe River floats generally begin in New Braunsfels, which is 20+ miles further away than San Marcos and is often much more crowded, especially during peak season. You want to maximize every minute of your big weekend, and we’ll make sure you don’t lose extra time.
Here’s a suggested agenda of activities:
Friday afternoon – Guests fly in to Austin, settle into their downtown hotel.
Friday Happy Hour – Visit South Congress Avenue, one of Austin’s most popular boulevards, full of bars, restaurants, and shops.
Friday Dinner – Downtown at one of many amazing restaurants. Try La Condesa for modern Mexican cuisine, Ranch 616 for Southwestern food and the tequila bar, Blue Dahlia Bistro for a European/French experience on Austin’s eclectic East Side or check out the authentic Neapolitan pizza and one of the best wine lists in the city at Bufalina. The definitive guide to Austin’s restaurants can be found here, in the Austin Chronicle’s Restaurant Guide.
Friday After Dinner – All of the restaurant suggestions above are located in areas with solid bar scenes, so you could just walk outside after dinner and have drinks at a variety of places. Another option is to hit the nightlife along Rainey Street, an entertainment district on the south eastern edge of downtown. As a side note, The Hotel Van Zandt is located in the Rainey area as well, and it’s a great lodging option situated in a cool area.
Saturday late Morning – Grab breakfast and a quick coffee or bloody mary in the hotel bar or visit one of the many food trucks downtown, and then head over to the Texas State Tubes pickup location at Congress and 3rd Street. Depending on where you’re staying, it’s either a short walk or an even shorter ride.
Saturday Afternoon – Tubing on the San Marcos River! Rather than napping or lounging away the afternoon, take a short trip out of the city and enjoy a nice, relaxing trip tubing down the river. You can pick up the Texas State Tubes shuttle at Congress and 3rd Street downtown. Just bring your group and a cooler full of beverages, and you’re all set. Take a look at options and book here. Tubing is the perfect break to the downtown scene and will make for a unique Austin experience that the bride or groom will remember forever.
Saturday Evening – Take in some live music or hit another amazing restaurant. Do512 (512 is our area code here in Austin) is a good place to see everything that’s going on during a given weekend. For local original improv comedy show, try Esther’s Follies on 6th Street. It’s a hilarious combination of satire and political humor. And when it’s over, you’re right in the middle of the Austin nightlife.
Sunday Morning – Brunch at Fixe Southern House (the biscuits are amazing, as is the bacon) or South Congress Café (try the migas, arguably the best in town, and the deer sausage), with maybe a mimosa or bloody mary or three. Grab a quick 15 minute rideshare or taxi to the airport…and spend the flight dreaming about your next trip to Austin!