The moment I got back from France, San Francisco was in peak “summer” mode — which, of course, means cold, windy, sometimes rainy, and foggy, foggy, foggy. Meanwhile, Instagram told me that everyone but me was basking in sunny skies, and I immediately felt the need to escape the city and get into nature.

One of my best girlfriends, Meridith, is a badass, hardworking woman in NYC — and a seasoned fly-fisher who’s been casting lines for nearly a decade. When we shared our upcoming three-month travel schedules — as one does when you’re an organized, efficiency queen — we realized there was an opportunity overlap in a place I’d been dying to visit: Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Meridith sent me a Google Sheet with our itinerary, budget, and inspiration photos. And when I say women are staying single longer because they can’t find equal partners, this is what I mean. Meanwhile, my girlfriends are out here speaking my love language with their whole chest.

I booked flights immediately, and we started planning our camp. After last year’s PNW and Colorado road trips, I’ve been committed to spending my summers by lakes, rivers, mountains, and sunshine. Nothing makes me feel more alive or more restored than being outdoors. Here’s how it went:

Day 1: south fork lodge

Morning: flying over the tetons

Meridith arrived a day early to spend a full day fly-fishing at South Fork Lodge — a beautiful boutique hotel on the Snake River with a restaurant and bar (partly owned by Jimmy Kimmel, apparently). My girl caught 30 fish! Color me impressed.

Though I travel often, I’ve been more of a country-hopper. Lately, I’ve made a point to explore more of the U.S. and its incredible National Parks. Landing in Jackson over the Tetons genuinely took my breath away. The sheer scale of the mountains, the flat plains leading up to them, and the sunlight streaming into my plane window — I got emotional.

After picking up our Turo-rented Range Rover, I drove through Jackson before heading over the pass to Swan Valley. My favorite stop? A street called “Gros Ventre” (literally big belly in French). I texted my dad a photo, and he replied that he and my brother had taken the same one on their Yellowstone road trip years ago. That’s one of my favorite parts of travel: places connect us across time.

I met up with Mer, and we grabbed drinks at Snake Valley Roadhouse Bar and Grill, stocked up at the Swan Valley General Store, and set up camp at The Park at Swan Valley. Everything we needed was within half a mile: cozy tent setup, fire pit for s’mores, and clear Idaho night skies — plus a lodge with bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen nearby. Luxury camping at its finest.

evening: dinner at south fork lodge

Since Meridith had fished there, we scored a reservation on the back patio. The meal? Unforgettable. The grilled blue snapper with saffron sauce was incredible, and the lemon posset with cucumber granita was the kind of dessert that feels simple but is secretly complex. Between the food, the atmosphere, and the company, it was the perfect first night.

Day 2: palisades creek trail

Morning: getting sweaty

Saturday morning, we popped into our new favorite Swan Valley General Store for protein bars and trail snacks. Got chai and donuts at the absolute cutest drive-through (women-owned) coffee shop across the street, Slow Drift Coffee Shop, and headed out for our hike on Palisades Creek Trailhead to the Lower Palisades Lake.

The Palisades Creek hike is nine miles of rivers, bridges, waterfalls, and alpine magic, ending at a lake that begs for a quick dip. Mer crushed it, even pausing mid-hike to help a fellow angler with his fish.

evening: jackson rodeo

After a quick shower and change back at our campsite, we headed over the pass to Jackson. Started our evening with a photo under the iconic elk antler arches in the town square, and walked around some shops. Popped into Millionaire Cowboy Bar for a mini corndog snack, while we waited for a seat at King Sushi, it was worth it. Then, we headed over to the Jackson Hole Rodeo! If you’re not going full cowgirl while you’re in Wyoming, what are you even doing? This was my first Rodeo experience, and I had mixed feelings between the immense skill that these men and women displayed and these poor horsies that I’d rather see living free in the plains, but a time was had nonetheless. After the bleacher seats full of families didn’t deliver, we found ourselves near the bar where the gaggle of hot men and women on bachelor and bachelorettes could be found, and if that wasn’t the real show. Highlight for me is tied between the $100 Mer found on the way back to the car or the windows down, belting of NO BROKE BOYS, NO NEW FRIENDS, as we made our way back to Millionaire Cowboy Bar. Peak, girlhood.

When we got back to camp, Meridith built me a fire, and we had a few s’mores before cuddling up in our mini tent and falling right to sleep.

Day 3: Jackson Hole

Morning: exploring downtown jackson

Sunday morning, we packed up camp in Idaho, stopped at Slow Drift one last time, and crossed the pass again to spend a lovely, drizzly morning walking around downtown Jackson. Not before a stop for the obligatory photo under the Grand Teton park sign, and some roadside stops to take in the vast beauty that is Grand Teton National Park and the Snake River.

We stopped into some beautiful shops, and I got a hat at Wild Cargo, an adorable men’s clothing store started by 3 buddies. Gave the owner a hard time that ‘Boy stores don’t have mirrors?’ and was on my way. Had a little chai tea and chocolate croissant (I am who I am) at Persephone Bakery, and then we got settled at our next “camp” at the Virginian, which technically didn’t allow tents… but the sweet staff let us car-camp in the Range Rover. With pillows and mats, it turned into the coziest fort. Still camping in my book.

evening: marcus king band

After a lovely and needed nap time, the girls were back in action. And the universe was on our side. Meridith’s friends were unfortunately sick and couldn’t make it to the show we were planning to attend, so they offered us their VIP tickets. Talk about an upgrade. Meridith had sent me Marucs King on Spotify, so I had been listening all week to prepare for this show, but I could not have prepared myself for the visual that is this man. We got to skip the world’s longest line for the gondola to the top of Snow King Mountain, had access to free food and drink in the tent (needed with the wind chill when we arrived), and shared a front row seat (or stand) to this marvelous music together. Live music, under the lights, a slight rain coming in from the west, and your disco cowgirl by your side. Does life get any better than this?