Western Grandeur
Doug and I recently returned from a trip out west where we flew into Salt Lake City, then rented a car to drive our scenic route through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. After a couple hours drive to Idaho Falls, we spent the night in a hotel room overlooking the Snake River. The nearby Sandpiper Restaurant provided the evening fare in a cozy, fireplace lit patio overlooking the river.
Feeling refreshed, we drove northeast to Montana the next morning to spend a couple days with my friend Margaret. Similar to Ann Arbor in appeal…the town of Bozeman is a real gem of the west. Main street boasts a variety of colorful restaurants (many of which serve bison), shops, a retro Theater – The Ellen, and an Eagles Club!
After a couple days, we drove to Billings for a dinner engagement with my son-in-law’s brother. Fortunately plans weren’t ruined by a tornado that severely damaged the Rimrock Arena in Billings the day before we arrived.
The most thrilling (as in Wild Mouse amusement ride) drive of our trip occurred after we left Billings (80 degree temp) and headed to Yellowstone Park. We decided to take the Beartooth Pass, with an elevation of ~11,000 feet. As we drove up the wonderfully scenic mountainside, temperatures dropped to 32 degrees and it began to snow…just as we entered the stretch of switchbacks. It was so scary that I couldn’t look over the drop-off, but instead worked on a Sudoku puzzle. Eventually the highway curved downward and we could breathe again. Whew!
On the drive through Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks we enjoyed a non-stop panorama…with snow-capped mountains, herds of bison, and crystal-clear lakes. We could only imagine the challenges faced by wagon trains forging through Wyoming many years ago.
We saved the best for last – a visit with Doug’s daughter Priscilla, her husband Chris, and their children Noah, Sammy, Sophie, and Nicolas. It was great fun to play games with the kids, enjoy a soak at Lava Hot Springs, see Toy Story 3 in 3-D, and try to keep up with the kids in a round of miniature golf!
Doug and I recently returned from a trip out west where we flew into Salt Lake City, then rented a car to drive our scenic route through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. After a couple hours drive to Idaho Falls, we spent the night in a hotel room overlooking the Snake River. The nearby Sandpiper Restaurant provided the evening fare in a cozy, fireplace lit patio overlooking the river.
Feeling refreshed, we drove northeast to Montana the next morning to spend a couple days with my friend Margaret. Similar to Ann Arbor in appeal…the town of Bozeman is a real gem of the west. Main street boasts a variety of colorful restaurants (many of which serve bison), shops, a retro Theater – The Ellen, and an Eagles Club!
After a couple days, we drove to Billings for a dinner engagement with my son-in-law’s brother. Fortunately plans weren’t ruined by a tornado that severely damaged the Rimrock Arena in Billings the day before we arrived.
The most thrilling (as in Wild Mouse amusement ride) drive of our trip occurred after we left Billings (80 degree temp) and headed to Yellowstone Park. We decided to take the Beartooth Pass, with an elevation of ~11,000 feet. As we drove up the wonderfully scenic mountainside, temperatures dropped to 32 degrees and it began to snow…just as we entered the stretch of switchbacks. It was so scary that I couldn’t look over the drop-off, but instead worked on a Sudoku puzzle. Eventually the highway curved downward and we could breathe again. Whew!
On the drive through Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks we enjoyed a non-stop panorama…with snow-capped mountains, herds of bison, and crystal-clear lakes. We could only imagine the challenges faced by wagon trains forging through Wyoming many years ago.
We saved the best for last – a visit with Doug’s daughter Priscilla, her husband Chris, and their children Noah, Sammy, Sophie, and Nicolas. It was great fun to play games with the kids, enjoy a soak at Lava Hot Springs, see Toy Story 3 in 3-D, and try to keep up with the kids in a round of miniature golf!
Sadly, it was time to return to the Salt Lake City airport and an evening flight home. But we hope to return again next year…
