The obvious article here is New York City, right? I’m not going to write about it though because If you can’t find something to do in New York City, you’ve got a bigger problem. It has world class food, great nightlife, tons of venues for music and bands, an unreal sports scene, the Big East Tournament, and literally everything else as long as you have some coin. There, Done.
Location: Alternatively, A unique and still super fun location for a Bach party in the great State of New York is Saratoga Springs. This place feels sophisticated and reckless at the same time and in the right ways. On one hand, it's upstate New York and it's beautiful. On the other, Saratoga Springs has a documented history of horse racing and gambling along with good booze and culture.
You should try and stay at the Saratoga Casino Hotel, downtown, or off in a cabin in the woods. There are some great accommodations in Cambridge, NY that are not too far away.
The Hook: Saratoga Springs is famous for its horse racing and has a long history at the races. If you’re betting, or just watching, the horse races are a wild and super unique activity to plan your trip around. They even have Harness Racing which is basically just racing around in those chariots from Gladiator, who doesn’t like that? You can watch close to the track, in the stands, or go full Peaky Blinders and watch from the dining room, cigarette in hand. If your desire for gambling is not satiated at the track, the Saratoga Casino Hotel has tons of tables, machines, and often live music with space to dance.
Time Wasters: A great way to waste some time in Saratoga is to just walk around. This is a very walkable, very vibe-y town full of shops to stop in and food to eat. If you’re looking for a drink between activities stop by The Bourbon Room for some of their signature cocktails. Saratoga also has tons and tons of breweries like Whitman Brewing, Racing City Brewing, and Artisanal Brew. Try to hit all three while you’re waiting for the horse races to start! If you’re planning a trip during the summer months there’s tons of live music to check out and even outdoor comedy shows. See what’s going on in the park if you’re looking to be entertained. And who doesn’t love a town on the water? Saratoga Lake offers everything you can imagine from boat rentals & tours, kayaks, paddle boards and tons of other activities for you and the boys to get a little wet and wild.
Tips for the Perfect Trip: The big one here is to book everything early during the racing season, which is all of July through September. Things fill up quickly so make sure to plan ahead. Also, pack for all kinds of weather. Upstate NY can be unpredictable especially by a body of water (Saratoga Lake) so pack swim trunks and sweatshirts. Renting a car is probably not the best idea for this town. Rideshares are cheap and most locations are a good walking distance. Plus this is a small town so parking is bound to be a nightmare.
The Golf:
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Saratoga National Golf Club (~$80) – #1 public course in the state by golf week and golf digest
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The Equinox (~$100) – 71.3 rating by GolfPass
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No Topgolf! but they have a cool looking sim called The Bunker
Not sold on New York? Click HERE to view the entire catalog of BachTix Bachelor Party Guides!