Leslie Koch: wedding

My latest article on Examiner.com is a topic I hold near and dear: bachelorette parties in the Big Apple.

Many of my NYC friends are getting married and I have been to my share of bachelorette parties in recent months. It turns out the countless hours of drinking and dancing at "hen" parties have served a higher purpose: research.

In writing this story, I decided not to include any salacious details from the bachelorette parties I've attended in Manhattan. After all, what happens in the East Village stays in the East Village. Isn't that how the saying goes?

I had intended to include a photo from my own bachelorette party at the Awesome 80s Prom. (Note: it was G-rated, so I'm not breaking the Girl's Code). However, the photo did not appear in the published article because of problems with the new Examiner website.

Here it is, exclusively for readers of LeslieTravel! (Well, at least until Examiner fixes its Pub Tool).

Leslie (in pink hat) and friends with an actor at the Awesome 80s Prom in Manhattan.

Scroll down for an excerpt of the "NYC Bachelorette Parties" article. The full text appears in my NY Destinations column.

Manhattan bachelorette parties for every type of bride
by Leslie Koch
Originally published in NY Destinations column on Examiner.com

Planning a bachelorette party in New York City can be a challenge-- even for the most nightlife-savvy Maid of Honor. With thousands of bars and clubs to choose from, the planning process can be overwhelming.

Will your bashful bride enjoy a racy All Male revue? Or will she cower on stage eyeing the 'exit' signs?

And where can you possibly take your outrageous college roommate who is barely ready to settle down to a life of wedded bliss?

Fortunately, Manhattan offers bachelorette party options for every type of bride. Whether tame, adventurous or downright wild, your bride will have the night of her life at the following venues...

>> Keep reading on Examiner.com

I survived Yellowstone in the summer of 2010.

Ordinarily, this would be nothing to boast about. But this summer season was punctuated by a deadly bear attack just outside of the park, a trio of escaped convicts on the run, and a record number of visitors in July.

And it's not over yet!

The triple threat of bears, convicts and crowds has not diminished the appeal of this iconic American destination.

But it does add to the excitement of visiting a national park known for its untouched landscape, wild animals and implicit dangers.

Yellowstone National Park is beautiful-- and deadly.

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, August 2010. (photo: Leslie Koch)

When bears attack

When my husband and I chose to honeymoon in Yellowstone National Park we knew it would be an adventure. We weren't interested in the standard honeymoon-- Caribbean beaches, Tahitian luxury or Italian villas. We'd already traveled around the world (literally) and were ready to explore the US.

Besides, what could be more exotic to a couple of New Yorkers than camping in the woods without cell phone or Internet service and possibly being eaten by a grizzly bear?

Yellowstone National Park is "bear country." August 2010. (photo: Leslie Koch)

In fact, bears were on my mind when I arrived in Yellowstone on August 2.

A few days earlier, on July 28, a family of grizzly bears killed a man and injured two others at a campsite just north of Yellowstone National Park. The victims had been camping at Gallatin National Forest in Montana and were asleep in their tents when the attacks occurred. A few days later, the mother bear was caught and euthanized. Her cubs (who reportedly fed on the victim) were sent to a zoo.

According to news reports, the victims had taken proper steps to prevent bear encounters, like leaving all food outside of their tents.

While deadly bear attacks are not common in Yellowstone, this incident had me on high alert. My fears were not assuaged by the signs posted all over Yellowstone, warning of wildlife attacks.

I poured over the bear literature provided at the Yellowstone entry gate. The official newspaper, Yellowstone Today, warns visitors to stay 100 yards away from bears and advises hikers to "make loud noises, shout or sing" on trails.

If a bear charges you, the National Park Service recommends standing your ground. And if the bear physically attacks you? Don't run or climb a tree. You're supposed to crouch down into the fetal position and protect your neck.

Of course, there are different rules for brown and black bears, and none of the park rangers seemed to agree on the usefulness of bear spray.

My head was throbbing as I tried to sort out the instructions. I was pretty sure that if I did encounter a bear, I would have no idea how to react. And I certainly wouldn't stay calm if a half-ton beast started to charge me.

Hiking in bear country

When Jake (my fearless husband) insisted on hiking in "bear country" on our first day in Yellowstone, I was apprehensive. I pointed out that the Riddle Lake Hike was a in a "bear management area," according to the hiking trails brochure.

In a clever move, Jake suggested we drive to the trail head and then I could decide whether or not to go on the hike. When we arrived at the parking area I was reassured to see a half dozen cars and a family with small children. If these parents can risk their kids' lives on a hike, I rationalized, then how could I stay behind?

The author and her husband survive Yellowstone. (photo: Leslie Koch)

Still, I insisted on jabbering loudly about bears and celebrity gossip during the entire walk. I occasionally broke into a Lady Gaga song, much to Jake's embarrassment.

I must have succeeded at annoying the wildlife with my chatter since we did not see any large mammals (excluding a few heartland tourists) and made it to the beautiful lake without incident.

Close encounter

As it turned out, we didn't see any bears during our four nights in Yellowstone.

However, I did have a close encounter with a bear skin at an information center just east of the park. A friendly volunteer, Dave Leslie, 78, greeted us in the parking lot and invited us to pose for photos holding a grizzly pelt. He draped it across my torso and positioned the sharp claws against my throat.

Photo-op at the bear information center in Shoshone National Forest
outside of Yellowstone National Park, August 2010. (photo: Leslie Koch)

We kept expecting Dave to ask for a tip or at least a donation, but after taking our photo he bid us goodbye with a handshake and scurried over to the next group of tourists.

After worrying about bears for the better part of a week, I was actually a bit disappointed we didn't spot any bears on our Yellowstone trip. It would have been great to see a live grizzly-- from a distance, of course.

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