I graduated from high school 10 years ago. A fact that is both frightening and heartwarming. I am aging faster than I realize and also feel so much more myself than I did as an 18 year old in St. Louis, Missouri. I am so proud to write that I’m still very, very good friends with my high school besties. Caity, Caroline, Emily, Lauren, Maggie, Sallie, Sarah, and me. I don’t exactly know how we became a group, but the eight of us experienced the trials and tribulations of high school together and it seems nothing can tear us apart. To celebrate our 10 year anniversary, we booked an idyllic Airbnb in a town none of us had heard of - Bitely, Michigan.
Last August, I visited Caroline and Lauren in Denver. The two of them, plus Emily who was visiting her brother and new nephew, decided to anoint me as planner for our next girls’ trip. I took my role seriously and created a survey, asking my friends for location ideas, price caps, availability, and more. After everyone completed their surveys, I compiled the answers and took them to Canva dot com to create a beautiful presentation. I shared said presentation over a Zoom call, with our two most requested destinations: Michigan and Maine. After a few more questions, throwing in the options of the Poconos and an all inclusive resort in Mexico, we all became hyper fixated on an Airbnb chosen by Sarah in Bitely, Michigan.
Seven months later, I boarded a 27 minute flight from Chicago Midway to Grand Rapids. Do I think I’ll ever go to Bitely again? No. Was the trip a necessary retreat from the chaos that is life in New York City? Yes. The Airbnb was perfect, the trip was a glorious ode to female friendships, and I vowed to not plan the next one.
I can’t necessarily give you, Reader, an itinerary for Bitely, since I didn’t leave the Airbnb except for the grocery store trip. But I can plan you one hell of a Girls’ Trip.