Over Fourth of July Weekend, Brody and I took a much needed vacation. Well it was just a long weekend away, but I still considered it a vacation. We haven't been able to do much this summer-with me working full time and Brody starting a new job and constantly studying for the GMAT, there hasn't been much opportunity to get away.I planned the Jackson Hole Trip as an anniversary present to the both of us. But we didn't really care for a romantic weekend just the two of us, we decided that it would be more fun to hit this outdoorsy and action filled vacation spot with some friends. (besides its a bit cheaper to go with others on a road trip) 
We left early Saturday morning and chatted the whole way up. It only took us about 4 1/2 hours which was perfect. We stopped at a cute, but very slow cafe on the way up. I felt like a city slicker in a country town, because it seemed that we were the only ones who cared that they took 1/2 to make 2 sandwiches and that they were forever in taking our orders etc. The waitress wasn't too worried either...like this was the norm.
Any way after that we checked into our nice little hotel, actually it was a hostel. Ryan, Kristen, Brody and I all shared a room and had our own bathroom so it didn't feel much like a hostel. It didn't have many amenities, but that didn't matter because we spent virtually no time in the place. 
After we arrived we got ready to go on our whitewater rafting trip. I have no pictures from this event because you couldn't bring your camera on the trip. I was a nervous wreck leading up unto this point. I was sure I was going to drown. I was very terrified..like stomach ache terrified. I managed to stay calm enough to get dressed and into the raft. We wore wet suits because the water was about 36 degrees. I was grateful for the wetsuits because cold was never an issue. While on the raft I felt a bit better, but going through the first rapid was pretty scary! I sat in the middle where they let children sit because, well i am a baby and petrified of drowning. After surviving the first two rapids I decided that I would try sitting on the side and rowing. I actually liked this much better because it gave me something to concentrate on while going through the rapids, instead of just sitting and watching. After surviving our trip, which turned out to be actually fun, we had a steak/salmon dinner looking over the river. It was quite good and the whole day was enjoyable
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. Jenny Lake- Quite beautiful
The next day we woke up and drove to the Teton National Park (1 mile away) We hiked to a water fall and enjoyed the scenery. I got some ugly tan lines on my back from the hike.
Later that day we got dressed and walked around the town. We walked through plenty of western themed stores. Brody and Ryan met a Ukranian girl, who they flirted with mercilessly in a fur store. She seemed quite upset when she noticed my ring and said I looked about 18 and not old enough to be married. Turns out that I was older than her. I guess she just liked American boys. We took lots of pictures and ate good ice cream and barbeque. Finally, we came back and watched the enjoyable firework show on the land behind our hostel. It was a perfect ending to our evening.
I loved all the bear items in this town!
Fireworks!
We had amazing and warm weather for Jackson Hole our first two days, so it was ok when we awoke to clouds on the fourth of July. We packed up and left that morning after walking around the shops nearby for a bit. Our drive home was uneventful. The trip was quite fun! We will def be returning, maybe to go skiing next time. (Brody admired the virtical feet on the ski slopes the whole time!)
