Here we go, part three of my bachelorette party series!

What’s a maid of honor to do when her bride’s the kinda gal who thinks winetasting and spa treatments are all a big snooze?  Today we’ll be talking about ideas for the adventurous bride!

The adventurous bride couldn’t be more in luck.  Although Washington DC may seem like a button-down nerd-fest (the kind of place where the celebrities are politicians instead of athletes and movie stars), in reality there are quite a few adventuresome opportunities in the area.

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Let’s start with Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia — a surprisingly short hour-and-a-half drive DC (well, surprising to a California girl who can’t fathom driving less than four hours to enter the next state over).  Harper’s Ferry offers a wide variety of outdoorsy activities, ranging from tubing (also known as “lazy river floating”… and yes, that’s as awesome on a sweltering day as it sounds) to whitewater rafting, so you can tailor your trip to your attendees.  In fact, the choices abound — River & Trail Outfitters offers tubing, rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking, canoeing, and rock-climbing.  I daresay you’ll be able to find something for everyone!

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What about something a little closer to home?  Potomac Paddle Sports offers kayaking lessons, as well as 3- to 4-hour kayaking tours, such as Discover the Potomac, Capitol Monuments, and even a night tour, which sounds amazing.  Or, for the outdoorsy bride whose bridesmaids are slightly less adventurous, a guided bike tour would be a lovely way to get some exercise and see the city, without your gals being reduced to crumpled masses of anxiety, gripping the sides of your whitewater raft with white knuckles.  Bike & Roll offers bike tours of DC and Old Town Alexandria, as well as a night tour of the monuments.  I guarantee if you live in the city, you’ve seen these folks cycle by you at some point.  So why not get out there and EARN those post-tour cocktails!

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Sigh.  I’m saving what I find to be the most thrilling option for last.  Trapeze School New York’s DC location used to be right near my office, and I would stare at the brave souls learning to fly through the air with the greatest of ease with such longing that I swear a couple of times I almost stepped off the curb and into downtown H Street without looking both ways.  TSNY DC has since moved to a new location down in Navy Yard, but they’re still offering the same amazing high-flying trapeze lessons to the public — and for ten people or less, you can even book your own private party.  You bring the cake (and your cajones), they’ll literally teach you to fly.  Now come on… who could say no to that??

Tune in next week when we cool off the adrenaline and chow down with bachelorette party ideas for the foodie bride!