How To Plan a Goddess-Tier Glamping Trip This Summer

*this is a template to showcase my content writing skills.*

Rather than feel like a guest star on Survivor this camping season, let me walk you through my experienced guide to planning a goddess–tier "glamping" trip!

I begin with a divination ritual.

Visualization.

A mental rehearsal of the whole weekend, before I even step into the woods.

Will I swim in the cold lake? Sip whiskey drafts after s'mores? I research the weather, wifi, activities, and regulations of the campground. I pack with all that info in mind. And for you my dear, I typed out a free, printable packing list at the end—👀

Whenever I stay at my favorite campground, I'm in and out of its irresistable river all day. I recommend you bring a bikini coverup if you're going to take a dip. I bring several low rise skirts, which turn any two–piece swimsuit into an outfit. Wrap dresses, wool socks, and cargo pants are always in my wardrobe as well— any clothing that caters to a change of plans.

Pack according to the weather and activities, but prepare for warmer or cooler temps. Be sure to bring your hairbrush, conditioner, oils, and shampoo! Avoid those brutal post–swim tangles.

I use the reusable Trader Joe's totes for carrying everything, especially clothes. For a 2–night stay, I stuff two of them full of potential outfits. I can sort through them easier than a backpack.

Schedule main mealtimes. Plan to eat the most perishable food first: eggs, meat, milk.. Freeze whatever is OK to freeze, burgers and such, before packing it into an ice–pack lined cooler. Bring bagged snacks and charcuterie to minimize cooking.

Prepare everything you can beforehand, down to the smallest detail. Once you're on site, everything that was easy to do in your kitchen becomes 10x more awkward! Chop chocolate into squares. Shred cheddar. Slice butter, cutlets, and vegetables. Mix marinades. Pour eggless pancake🥞 batter into condiment dispensers for messless frying.

Once for my family, I prebaked meatballs, then tossed them in marinara over the coals in a cast iron pan.

"Why are we eating better than we eat at home?", they raved over my parmesan sprinkled subs.

Seal and store all food in your vehicle at night, to keep it safe from four–legged campers.

If you're using coal to cook, I recommend paper mache fire starters, made only from recycled paper. Put paper scraps into a blender, pouring in enough water to turn it into chunky batter. Squeeze that slush into cookie shapes and sun dry them. These starters catch flame speedily but don't burn out before lighting up the coal.

The sleep is what makes or breaks a camping trip! The gulf between camping and glamping. If you can't catch a wink, it won't matter how enjoyable the softball or s'more martinis were.

Sweep the pebbles off your tenting spot, which should be on the highest ground. If it's going to rain, tie a tarp slanted tautly towards the back of the tent among the tree branches above. Never leave the tent door open, or you'll invite bug roommates.

Swap sleeping bags for bedding, all atop an air mattress. Per my recipe below, you might instead sandwich the sleeping bags between the blanket and fitted sheet.

In further support of good sleep, pack melatonin gummies and a soothing room spray. Spritz your home sheets a few nights before you leave, then your tent once you're there, so as to feel grounded in the new place. I go for cedar or lavender scents.

Roll out one rug in the tent, and a small one outside the door to wipe off shoes. String lights, torches, or candles will really lend to that Arabian Nights atmosphere as well.

Turn your campfire circle into a cinema with a projector and white sheet. Or a concert pit, if any musicians among your crowd wanna bring their instruments. My best memories include hearing my dad play gentle Beatles' instrumentals on his guitar as I drifted into golden slumbers.

Lastly, before you break off your secure relationship with home wifi—

Screenshot any maps, movies, knowledge, or recipes you want, even if the place has a hotspot. Download your favorite playlists— plus white noise tracks to drown out cicadas or night owls.

One more priceless hack, y'all..

With cheap phosphorescent paint, put little dots on your flashlight, phone case, pepper spray, tent zipper.. You won't be fumbling for stuff in the dark.

Thanks for reading!

Grab your FREE printable packing checklist!