Salt Lake City, Utah- September 1st - Mom and I met up with Dad and Luke at the Salt Lake City Airport around 9pm that evening. Dad was in Minneapolis for a work thing and Luke was in Vegas for a work thing. It was a long but uneventful flight. We got up the next morning and toured around the city before heading to Jackson Hole. The Mormon Tabernacle was so beautiful. The land around it was covered in bright, colorful flowers. We couldn't pass up a few pics.
Jackson Hole, WY- we finally got to Jackson Hole that evening after a LONG day of driving. Wyoming wasn't very pretty at first- a lot of red mountains and brush. After settling into the Best Western, we decided to find something fun to do. Mom mentioned the Bar J Chuckwagon show- and I'm so glad she did. It was wonderful!! They sang western music and the food was delicious- served buffet style on tin plates!
Luke, Mom, and I had the Ribeye while Dad had the BBQ Pork- it was a delicious meal served with homemade applesauce, cornbread, baked taters, and spice cake!
Day 2 in Jackson Hole/Grand Tetons- the air was so much cooler and with no humidity in Jackson Hole! We couldn't wait to go shopping- well, Mom, Luke, and Me- that is! I found a yarn shop where I bought some local spun yarn. We stocked up on T-shirts and post cards. We went back to pick up Dad and toured the visitor center before driving around the park to take in the scenery. The Grand Tetons were so majestic! The air was hazy because of some local wild fires, but that didn't stop those mountains from showing off their splendor. We went to Jenny Lake and even stopped at the Tavern Grill for some supper. I got these HUGE nachos- that were delicious! Luke and Mom had the Bison Burger while Dad munched on a BBQ baked potato. Luke and I found fleece jackets and yet another T-shirt in the gift shop before we headed back for the night.
Dad's BBQ Tater
Luke's Bison Burger
Yum Yum Nachos!
Mom's burger and sweet tater fries
Heading into Yellowstone Day 1- the next day we packed up and headed into Yellowstone National Park. At first, we didn't think the park was much to look at because of all the wildfire destruction. It just basically looked like burnt logs to me. We drove ALL day through the Tetons and Yellowstone. We ate lunch at this little diner place in one of the lodges- where we saw a couple have the WORST table manners in the world! It was like a bad movie, but you just couldn't turn away!!!
We saw old barns, deer, & bison & moose while in Yellowstone, and even a bald eagle! We drove out to the Continental Divide- where Dad preceded to tell us how water flows one way towards the Atlantic and another way towards the Pacific at the Continental Divide. Luke decided to ask the question....well if I pee in the middle- which way will it go?!?! Really? He always amazes me!
We stayed at the Kelly Inn in West Yellowstone and ate many a dinner at the Grizzly Claw. It was the BEST Cheese Enchiladas I had ever had!
Our Bald Eagle
Elk
Moose
Continental Divide Sign- where Luke waited to get 2 cars going either direction to show where the water goes!
Day 2 in Yellowstone- we saw lots of waterfalls and even checked out Old Faithful. It was very neat. I couldn't resist taking pictures of the Inn- that is haunted!!! A bride in the 1800's was decapitated there, and they say you can see her at night- ahh...no thanks!
Another Elk
Old Faithful Inn
Everyone waiting on it to erupt. It goes off about every 90 minutes. At first I wasn't very impressed but when it finally got its full height it was pretty awesome!
Just starting out...
A little teaser....
There she blows!
Bombs away- it was pretty awesome!
While in Yellowstone we toured a bunch of Paint Pots. Some were more stinky than others- the sulfer smell in a few places was unbearable!!!! It's amazing how deep these things are, and the colors you can actually see while looking into them. The water is amazingly hot! I sure wouldn't want to fall in one of them, that's for sure!
algae in the water
Day 3 in Yellowstone- we headed to the North Entrance. We had to go around the Golden Gate Bridge- which was NOT my favorite part of the park! It was extremely high off the ground, and somehow I always ended up on the wrong side of the car because my window looked straight down!!! We went down several dirt roads and even saw Bison right on the road. We ate a picnic lunch at the north entrance- the weather was just perfect! That night, we decided to eat dinner at the Canyon Lodge- NOT a smart choice. We didn't think you could mess up a cafeteria set up, but boy were we wrong! We ordered through the line. Dad got a HUGE thing of mashed potatoes, chicken fried steak, and DRESSING?!?! The girl behind the counter didn't understand what he was saying, so instead of fixing it, she covered the WHOLE meal in gravy!!! The chicken fried steak was so spicy I couldn't even eat it. Luke got Coconut Tilapia- which was OK... we ended up going back to the Grizzly Claw in West Yellowstone for dinner #2- it was that bad!
An eagles nest- I always wanted a picture of one!
The Golden Gate Bridge- YUCK!!!!
Our portrait in the Explorer's window!
Mammoth Springs- this was just weird- it grows about a foot every year...and smelled!
For Yellowstone- on our way to the North entrance. What a neat town/army base. It has a lot of history as well as a ghost story Mom read later in the day! Gave us all the chills for sure!
A Petrified Tree- I made the joke it must be really scared...I know, Cheesy!
The North Entrance
Canyon Lodge
Dad's nasty meal
Well, you get the idea!
Day 4 in Yellowstone- we worked on laundry. However, the laundry machines at the Kelly Inn took forever- like 3 hours to do 2 loads!!! It was crazy! We ate lunch at the Woodside Bakery and had the best sandwiches and homemade cinnamon rolls. That afternoon, we went to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center- another favorite thing we did on the trip. This place helps bears who cannot be returned to the wild for whatever reason, and is a wolf rehab center. That night, Luke and I got the watch the wolves interact as a pack! I'll have to post those videos later.
Day 5 in Yellowstone- Dad and Luke got up super early to go shoot the sunrise. We left the Kelly Inn and headed into Yellowstone. We saw Mud Volcanos and more paint pots. Luke and I even took a trail that led to a thing called the Dragons Mouth- talk about SUPER creepy! It made noises, groans, and hisses at you. It really gave me the creeps. We ate a picnic lunch down by a stream and had to use the NASTIEST bathroom ever!!! I was so ready to use an actual real bathroom by the end of the day! Luke told Mom however something about "junk" and the bathroom- it was funny, but I won't repeat it!! We stopped by Hayden Valley (thanks to Ronnie and Sharon Barker's advice) and saw 2 coyotes playing/eating along with a whole herd of Bison! Dad made the rule that whenever you saw a wild animal, you should CALMLY say "Wildlife" so that was a lot of fun on the trip! We visited the Lakeside Lodge on Lake Yellowstone and had ice cream. You could really see a fire blazing in the distance. Lake Side Lodge did give me the creeps though- inside it reminded me of flashing back to the Titanic Days....it seemed like everyone should be in dated clothes! We stayed the next 2 nights at Grant Village.
This really looked like sizzling water- strange!
This was the Dragons Mouth- gave me the creeps!!!
Lake Yellowstone
Lakeside Lodge
Our room at the Grant Village- small but clean. No air conditioner or TV- we were roughing it!
Day 6 at Yellowstone- Luke and Dad woke up at Sunrise to go photographizing. Mom and I decided to walk down to the restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast Luke and I went to check out the East Side of the park. We saw lots of fire damage. We even saw the weirdest rock cavern...it was just plain strange- rocks everywhere as tall as you could see! We ate lunch at Lake Slyvan...a windy but pretty spot. We visited the Fishing Bridge Center and had ice cream. That night, we ate dinner at the Grant Village Restaurant with Mom and Dad. Dad and I had the meatloaf, Mom had pork chops, and Luke had a Bison Steak. It was different- tough, but tender all at the same time. After dinner we went to Hayden Valley to spot more wildlife. We saw more elk and Bison. We were stopped on the way home- in the dark by a herd of Bison on the roadway. An ambulance had to run them off the road with his sirens and lights. It was very interesting!
Bye Bye Yellowstone- Hello Idaho- we left the park and headed to Idaho. Mom wasn't feeling well and slept most of the way. We stopped at Blackfoote to see eat lunch at the Homestead Restaurant- it was a great place to eat! We also stopped to see the Idaho Potato Museum. I had really wanted to check out a cheesy potato museum- pun intended! It was really informative- and of course, I got a T-shirt and Christmas ornament. After that we headed to Atomic City- which Dad and Luke found EXTREMELY fascinating!!! Mom and I- not so much. It was a mostly restricted area with radiation and some other secret government stuff going on. We headed past there to the Crater of the Moon National Monument. Now, Dad and Luke were super excited- to me- it looked like black rocks!!! It's actually a volcano that erupted some 2,000 years ago in Idaho- and takes up a bunch of the state. They sent Astronauts there to see if they could handle walking in their suits on that before heading to the moon. After that we made the LONG, make it SUPER LONG 3 hour drive back to the hotel in Pocatello, Idaho. Which Dad read Wikipedia to us most of the way there. So much so, we named Dad Mr. Wikipedia!!! I know more about Pocatello and the sights driving there- than I care to know! LOL!
This is the world's largest pringle!
OMG- check out the potato masher exhibit!!!!
Fields of Potatoes in Idaho!
Atomic City
Crater of the Moon....black rocks!!
September 11th- going home.
It was hard for me to fly that day. I tried not to look at the news or facebook, but it was inevitable to forget what happened some 10 years ago. I was with Luke standing in Mom and Dad's bedroom on Appomattox watching the TV. We couldn't turn it off....I remember being scared as Mom and Dad were in Alaska, and we were all alone. I will never forget going to Walmart later that evening and hearing hyms being played over the loudspeaker. It's a day we shouldn't ever forget.
While sitting in the airport waiting to leave Idaho, it was very surreal for me. I kept thinking about the people on those planes- they did everything we did. Checked in their luggage, went through security, probably grabbed a bite to eat- and never did make it home. It wasn't a normal day to them, but it probably started just like every other day.
It was a wonderful vacation, but I was so ready to get home and see all of our animals! If you're still reading, it's over!!!! You can go back to your normal activities....cause praise God it's all written down and I can scrapbook it anytime!
1 comment:
I really hope I get to take my kids there someday. I have never been and it looks really neat. Sounds like a great trip. The animals are beautiful.
audra
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