My boyfriend and I recently went on a camping trip with two of our friends from home, who are also a couple. It was like going on a double date at one of the world’s seven wonders. Badass. Neither of us had been before and we had an amazing, awe-inspired, fun-filled trip. We also chowed down on tri-tip, smoked salmon, and cucumber/tomato/feta salad, all made by us at our campsite. Hey, you can take the girl out of the Gourmet Ghetto, but you can’t take the Gourmet Ghetto out of the girl.
Amazingness aside, between the ticks we found on our shoes, tent, and selves, the heat rash, the rather large spider I found in my hair, the woman in the shower stall next to me who proceeded to pee and flood my shower stall, and the potentially bubonic plague infested squirrels who sneakily opened our tent’s zippers and snuck in, I have come to one solid conclusion. I am a mothafuckin city girl.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the outdoors and consider myself the adventurous type. I’m down for hiking, jumping off that 50 foot cliff into the ocean, night diving with giant manta rays, and swimming out into the ocean a couple miles (all the while on the look out for sharks) so I can swim with dolphins. And all this I’ve done with gusto. The difference between this trip and those instances being that at the end of the day, I like to have a clean shower to get off the sweat and grime and a good night’s rest in an actual bed, so I’m ready to do it all again the next day. Shit, it doesn’t need to be the four seasons. A tick-free motel would suit me just fine.
My boyfriend loves camping. Like really. So I know he was a bit on the disappointed side when it became apparent that I’m nothing like Annie Oakley, and probably much more like her hotter, better groomed step-sister, Aurora Oakley, who enjoys fine-dining and squeals over flash deals on Gilt.com. But he’s such a doll. He told me he appreciated my effort and that next time we come to the Grand Canyon we can stay in a cushy lodge. And I told him, “Marry me.”
All in all, I’m glad I got the full experience. The important thing was that we had an amazing time with friends. Between the 4 billion year old canyon and the infinite stars, you can’t help but feel like a little speck of dust that somehow got lucky enough to experience this natural wonder. So without further adieu, a few choice pics from our GC trip.
Yes, we managed to fit it all. And 4 bodies.
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| Watch Tower at the east rim of the canyon |
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| Our adorable REI tent! |
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| Last sunset at the canyon |
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| Native American art in the watch tower |
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| Cacti! |
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| Some light reading while camping |
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
WTFab
Sunday 24th of June 2012
Haha omg, I didn't even have to deal with pit toilets!! That sounds miserable. =(
MizzJ
Sunday 24th of June 2012
hahah I totally get you. I'm also always down for adventure, but only if there's a nice sanitized, AC'd room awaiting me later. And pit toilets? F that! What is the point of man's progress if we just voluntarily put ourselves back into primitive environments? :p
WTFab
Sunday 24th of June 2012
LoL Oana, when I wrote that I knew only a select few would truly appreciate it. And thx, glad ya liked it!
Oana
Saturday 23rd of June 2012
"He likes camping. Like really." I lol-ed so hard when I read that!
Very nice post. ;)