A Chautauqua County Bachelor/Bachelorette Weekend!
Your wedding is fast approaching and the clock is winding down on your days of singlehood. It’s time to blow off some of that wedding planning steam and have fun with your best buds! The bachelor and bachelorette parties are a much anticipated rite of passage for every betrothed couple. We all know about those “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” blowouts. However, if you’re looking for something a little more low-key, a Chautauqua County weekend is the perfect option for both the bride and groom to celebrate the occasion.
Western New York has no shortage of things to keep you busy all year long, but if you’re a local, you may take for granted everything the area has to offer. Get out there and act like a tourist!! We’ve pulled together some ideas for an epic weekend that will leave you with lasting memories, and (hopefully) no arrest record!
Go Fishing
Give Fly Fishing a try! With the newly completed Westfield Water Works Dam, easy-to-fish Chautauqua Creek in Westfield is the perfect spot to snag a Steelhead when they migrate between October and April. Make a day of it and hire a guide who will provide the equipment, accommodate your skill level, and offer instruction to help you bring home more than just a “big fish story”. Check out Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide, Alberto Rey’s website for details. For additional information about fishing in Chautauqua, including charter boat options, visit Chautauqua County Visitor’s Bureau.
Go fishing for treasures! There are a variety of antique stores, gift shops and road side sales to visit around Chautauqua Lake, especially in the summer. Grab your girlfriends and see what fantastic finds await you! Some of our favorite spots are Our Little Shop, Portage Hill Art Gallery, and of course our very own Webb’s Cottage Collection, where you’ll find everything from specialty food products to Chautauqua Lake merchandise and locally crafted candles and gifts. Grab a gourmet cup of coffee while you’re there to help you shop til you drop!
Webb’s Cottage Collection
Agri-beverage Tour
Hit the unofficial “Brew and Spirits Trail!” Our local farm breweries and distilleries must use at least 75% NY State agricultural products, making the items produced unique to our area. The Southern Tier Brewing Company is a stop we’re all familiar with, but they also have a sister company called Southern Tier Distilling Company that you don’t want to miss. Tour the facilities, sample some of their products, grab a quick bite to eat and continue on. Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing is another favorite of ours for tours and tastings, as is Big Inlet Brewing which is located in a converted barn and boasts 2,300 square feet of tasting and gathering space! Many of these spots feature live music on the weekends and other seasonal events that will take your tour to the next level!
Journey up the Lake Erie Wine Trail, tour a vineyard and do some wine tasting! With 23 wineries to choose from, you’ll have no shortage of sips to swirl. A few of our faves are 21 Brix Winery (have you seen the pink elephant??), Johnson Estate Winery, and Mazza Chautauqua Cellars/Five & 20 Spirits, which is a combination winery, distillery and brewery. Check out the Lake Erie Wine Country events page to find the perfect pairing for your bachelorette weekend.
fresh air fun
In the summer, take a power boat out on Chautauqua Lake for some waterskiing, motor over to Midway State Park to race go-carts, and then dock it near Webb’s Captain’s Table and come in for drinks on the Deck.
Webb’s Deck
In the summer, take a pontoon boat out on Chautauqua Lake for some lounging on the water, go for a swim, work on your tan, and then meet up with the guys (or don’t) for drinks on Webb’s Deck.
Webb’s Deck
Chautauqua Marina offers boat and equipment rentals, has dock space, and is conveniently located across the street from Webb’s!
Webb’s Deck with Chautauqua Marina in the background
In the winter, race down the mountains at Peek’n Peak, Cockaigne, or Holiday Valley; or go snowmobiling on some of the many trails in our area. Snowmobile trails run behind Webb’s, so stop in to warm up by the fire when you’re done!
Snowmobiling
Webb’s Fireplace
In the winter, go cross-country skiing at Long Point State Park, and visit the National Comedy Center in Jamestown for a performance. Then get settled in at Maple Springs Lake Side Inn, play card games with your girls, or chat in front of the fireplace until late into the night.
Cross-Country Skiing
Golf Anyone?
Play 18 holes on a course with a view of Chautauqua Lake. Willow Run Golf Course and Chautauqua Point Golf Course are both great options!
Keep the sweating to a minimum with a quick 9 hole scramble, or play a round of mini-golf at Webb’s Year-Round Resort instead!
Webb’s mini-golf
De-stress!
Chop down that pre-wedding stress by throwing some axes at Panama Rocks! Up the ante and play “Axe Poker” or “AXCELLENT Truth or Dare” with your bros. While you’re there, take a relaxing hike through the massive rock formations to round out your jitter reducing day.
Have a Spa Day! There’s nothing like a day of pampering to help dissolve your wedding stress; and when you include a group of your best girlfriends, your worries will fall by the wayside. St. Elmo’s Spa, located inside Chautauqua Institution, is a tranquil space that offers packages perfect for the whole bridal party. After your appointment, stroll through the grounds of the Institution and take in the history, impressive architecture, charming cottages, gorgeous gardens and lake vistas.
EAT!
Meet at Webb’s Captain’s Table for a bourbon tasting, cigars, and a steak dinner. Finish with a game of billiards in the Pool Room, or set up a Casino Night!
Meet at Webb’s for a wine and cheese pairing followed by an elegant dinner party. Then head back to the Brickhouse Bed & Breakfast or a lakeside cottage rental for a grown-up slumber party, complete with chick flicks, popcorn, decadent desserts and drinks!
Call 716-753-3960 to speak with Webb’s Event Specialist about tasting menus and room reservations.
Gift Ideas
Bachelor & Bachelorette guests may want put together a nice gift for the groom/bride, to be given at the party. Or perhaps the individual being celebrated would like to give a thank you gift to the people who helped plan the event. Webb’s Cottage Collection has plenty of options to show your appreciation for these special people in your life.
Duke Cannon: Manly scents in manly packaging. Our favorite is the solid cologne, which is perfect for travel.
Thermal Mugs: Keep your coffee hot or your beer cold for hours in a steel mug that will hold up to your roughest of days.
Grilling Sauces: Stonewall Kitchen specialty marinades and dipping sauces will wow at your next barbeque.
Beer candles: Locally made from upcycled beer and liquor bottles. Candles can’t get much cooler than this.
Bottle Opener: This heavy duty guy isn’t your run-of-the-mill opener.
Sweet Grass Farm: One of several bath and body product lines we carry for women. Pre-wedding pampering is a must!
Tumblers: Staying hydrated is important for your skin’s wedding glow. Do it in style with one of these floral beauties.
Flavored Mustards: Upgrade your charcuterie board! Pair these Stonewall Kitchen specialties with a variety of cheeses and cured meats.
Wine Candles: Like our beer candles, these are locally made using upcycled wine bottles. Just as cool, but with a more feminine feel.
Picture Frames: Preserve the memories from your bachelorette weekend in a frame just for friends.
Have a blast during your bachelor and bachelorette weekend, and we hope to see you somewhere along the way! Come back next month for Bridal Shower ideas…
- Webb’s Captain’s Table
