Best known for bachelorettes, SLO and Santa Barbara counties can also host memorable bachelor parties 

The Central Coast is pretty well-established as a top destination for soon-to-be-brides to hold their bachelorette parties and enjoy some quality wine tasting.

But what about bachelors? San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties offer plenty to make for an equally great bachelor party.

Note: These activities by no means have to be gender specific!

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• Photo Courtesy Of Visit Morro Bay
• BIG CATCH Sport fishing in Morro Bay is a popular adventure for bachelor parties. Several local outfitters, like Virg's Landing, take private groups out on the ocean to catch rockfish, lingcod, albacore, halibut, and more.

Sport fish in Morro Bay

Launch off the coast for a day (or multiple days) of sport fishing in the open ocean. There are several local outfitters that will take your group out to catch rockfish, lingcod, albacore, halibut, and more, but Virg's Landing and Black Pearl Sportfishing are two trusted choices out of Morro Bay. They offer expeditions ranging from half-day trips to two-day overnight runs.

Camp at Lopez Lake

Enjoy SLO County's outdoors without breaking the bank at Lopez Lake. With more than 350 sites to choose from, this county campground is easy to book and doesn't lack for activities. Rent boats or Jet Skis at the marina and spend the day out on the water. Or go zip-lining at the lakeside Vista Lago Adventure Park. The lake is also just a short drive from the Village of Arroyo Grande with a variety of restaurants and bars.

Have a casino night

Test your luck with a night out at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez. With 115,000 square feet of casino space, this is the premier location to gamble on the Central Coast. Use your winnings to buy concert or comedy show tickets and enjoy some delicious food and drinks. If you spend the night, check out the renowned Alisal Ranch the next day near Solvang.

Fun at the shooting range

Find out which of your friends has the best shot and spend an afternoon at the SLO Sportsmen's Association public gun range. Located in the heart of the Chorro Valley between SLO and Morro Bay, this local range welcomes beginners and large private groups. It will provide loaner guns, shooting instructions, and even barbecue pits to make it a party.

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• File Photo By Jayson Mellom
• WILD GAME Guided hunting trips in northern SLO County also make for epic bachelor parties.

Go beer, wine, and spirit tasting

Take the group to Paso Robles for a day of beer, wine, and spirit tasting. From cabs, to IPAs, to gins, the North County has something of world-class quality for everybody to enjoy. Take a tour of Firestone Walker Brewery. Or, if you're looking for an adrenaline rush, up the ante with a scenic helicopter ride around the region starting at Cass Winery. You can also sign up at Cass for motorcycle sidecar tours, horseback rides, archery, and more fun activities.

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• File Photo By Jayson Mellom
• DUNE DRIVING A classic activity for a Central Coast-based bachelor party is to go ATV riding on the Oceano Dunes.

Ride on the Oceano Dunes

Enjoy a day carving it up in an ATV on the Oceano Dunes, the only beach in California you can still legally drive on. Rent your ATVs in town, buy a day pass at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, and enjoy the more than 1,000 acres of curvy dunes. If this activity is on your bachelor bucket list, get it done soon: The state plans to ban riding on the dunes in the next few years.

Take a hunting trip

Venture out into the remote ranchland of the Central Coast for a guided hunting trip. Buckle in for as many as five days or as few as one and hunt for quail, turkey, deer, elk, wild pigs, and more. Oak Stone Outfitters in Bradley is one local company with a suite of options to meet your group's needs. It also offers taxidermy services so you and your friends can take your trophies home. Δ

Assistant Editor Peter Johnson can be reached at [email protected].