Day 3 in Yellowstone - Lake Yellowstone

Yellowstone Lake is absolutely beautiful!  You can see nothing but water for as far as you can see with the occasional pop of land covered with trees.  It is so peaceful.  The day of our visit, the air was quite smoky from wildfires in Jackson so we weren't able to see some of the sites that are normally part of the lake tour.  All of that aside, we enjoyed our one-hour tour on Lake Queen II.  

We spent about half the day at the marina, enjoying lunch and checking out the gift shop.  We strolled along the boardwalks in the marina and watched the Ravens and lone buffalo that graced us with their presence.  

Closing Out Day 2 with Dinner at Cafe Sabor and Music from Waiting For James

 Day 2 is in the history books.  It was a full day and a fun day for sure.  

Dinner at Cafe Sabor was delicious!  We finished out the evening with an outdoor concert by Waiting for James.  A family band who travels.  They are fantastic!  Dawn and Quinn (Mom and Dad), Cameron, Olivia and James started their band during COVID and have continued since.  Such talent!

Enjoy a sampling of their music.

https://youtu.be/vMSnepBC-g4?si=cRxCNP5tyMVwQdZB

Here are a couple of pictures of their family band.

Day 2 - Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs was a chosen destination.  I'd read so much about it and seen pictures of the orange and white hillside with hot water spilling down.  It's a huge area that's been created over decades and decades of heat and chemical reactions.  It's truly a marvel!  If you ever have the chance to visit the park, be sure to make this stop one of the top of your list. 

     

Day 2 - Artist Paint Pots

We found another beauty along the way to Mammoth Hot Springs.  It is Artist Paint Pots.  It's very colorful.  Have a look at this wonder.   We found lots of blue and red bleeding into the landscape.  There are lots of signs everywhere reminding us to stay on the boardwalks for our own safety.  There are hot spots all over Yellowstone National Park.  As much as I wanted to venture off the trail to find a new rock for my collection, I stuck to the provided trail.  (That's remarkable self-control for me.)

Day 2 - Beryl Springs

What a beautiful accident this stop was.  We saw a pull-out with some steaming pots off to the side of the road so we decided to pull over and have a look.  I' m so glad we did.  We found Beryl Springs, named for the mineral.  They were a beautiful blue color filled with steaming, hissing and boiling water.  Just when you think you won't see something you've never seen before, there is another surprise to be found in this National Park.  It is a wonder!

 

Day 2 - Gibbons Falls

What a great way to start day 2.  Gibbons Falls is a beautiful waterfall surrounded by mountains and trees.  It's a really fantastic area!  We saw our first wildlife of the day as well.  A super cute squirrel and a teeny tiny chipmunk were there to greet us.

  

A Visit to Old Faithful Inn

Although we didn't have reservations at Old Faithful Inn, we did stop in to admire the architecture and share in the entertainment.  We took a moment to admire the 76-foot fireplace, the multi-story lobby, and the fiddle player playing "You Lift Me Up".  It is a grand place for sure, and it's named for the gorgeous geyser nearby.

The log construction and stone accents are dotted with bright lights that make it a warm and welcoming space.  There are lots of refreshments available inside too.

Day 1 - Next Stop - Old Faithful

 Old Faithful

She is a beauty!  Old Faithful never lets us down.  Approximately every ninety minutes gorgeous steamy water shoots from this geyser about 100 feet in the air for about 2 minutes.  I can't begin to tell you the number of people who were there to watch her wonder and we are here during a slower period of time.  We had a wonderfully close up view of this splendor.  I could sit and watch this every day for the rest of my life.  It is an experience beyond words.  I'm hoping the video I took will upload here so you'll be able to share in the experience.  

Yellowstone - Day 1 - Fountain Paint Pots

 Fountain Paint Pots

Our first stop in Yellowstone National Park was Fountain Paint Pots.  To say this is really cool is a total understatement.  These steamy, bubbling, colorful pools are amazing.  There are warning signs all over the place to remind you not to step off the boardwalk because you could be scalded or burned by sulfuric acid.  You don't have to tell me twice.

There is a stark contrast in this area between the green pine trees surrounding us and the steaming water and smell of Sulphur.  Next to nothing can live where this hot water runs and the silica turns the land to white or one of another bright orange or red.

In some spots the water is replaced by bubbling mud like these.  There is no shortage of unusual things to see in this park.

The Cabin in Island Park Did Not Disappoint

We finally made it to our cabin in Island Park.  It's spacious and well furnished.  It is just what we expected from the photos our host sent to us.  If anyone plans to come this direction, be sure to reach out and I'll put you in touch with our host, Chris.  This has been seamless and a great experience so far.  The beds are comfy, everything is clean, and the kitchen is well stocked with equipment for preparing meals.

The hot tub and grill on the back porch are clean and ready to use.  We couldn't ask for more.  

    

    

PS:  The scenery isn't bad either.

Today is the Day We Arrive In Island Park, ID

 

We left Buffalo, Wyoming headed for Island Park, ID Monday morning.  Just 421 more miles to go.  Ugh!  I know we've covered a LOT of miles to reach our destination, but I can't say enough just how beautiful the scenery we've seen along the way is.  We really do have a gorgeous country.  The mountains, the trees, the blue sky with puffy clouds are just stunning.  I could look at them forever.  

Trust me . . . I took enough pictures that I will be able to look at this scenery forever.  

I know, this one resembles Devil's Tower, but it's not.  It's just another mountainside along Interstate 90 as we approached Bozeman, Montana.  Yes, we finally made it into Montana.  

There was a remarkable change in the landscape again as the state line changed.  Montana was much drier, more brown and not nearly as mountainous as Wyoming.  We were totally surprised at how fewer mountains there were in Montana.  We expected just the opposite.

Truthfully, my favorite scenery involves water amongst the trees and mountains.  It's just so tranquil.  I am beyond grateful to be making this trip again.  It's been a long time coming and it's just as wonderful as I remember as a teenager.  I hope these photos give you the urge to go west and explore the beauty these states offer.

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The Awesome Devil's Tower - What A Sight!

Now tell me Devil's Tower is not an amazing sight.  It's not hard to understand why it became our first national monument.  It is an absolutely incredible unexplainable phenomenon.  We arrived about 3:00 pm and walked the 1.6-mile trail around the entire circumference of the tower.  The scenery was breathtaking.  I can only hope that my photos will do it justice.  

We had the perfect sunny day with a clear blue sky and perfect temperature with a slight breeze to hike an often-steep trail.  Let me tell you, it was worth every ounce of effort to see this beauty in its entirety.

        

I took a million photos while we were there but can only share a few of them here.  There were forest fires here last summer so there were lots of scorched and burned trees around.  It's hard to imagine a fire destroying this area.  Fortunately, they were able to spare most of the trees.  

  

Looking down into the valley below Devil's Tower is just stunning!  What a visit!!

We had a fantastic dinner in Hulett, Wyoming and then made it to Buffalo, Wyoming before calling it a night.  We traveled a total of 553 miles on Sunday.  

We Made it to Wyoming!

Wyoming didn't disappoint!  I didn't realize that Wyoming is the least populated state per mile in the entire USA.  If it weren't for cold, snowy winters I would totally pack my things and move there.  It's so fresh and peaceful.  

Just crossing the border from South Dakota into Wyoming you notice a change in the landscape.  There are mountains that begin to rise up and the number of trees on the hillsides increased immeasurably.  

We had an incredibly beautiful afternoon to drive across the first half of Wyoming.  

The many trees on the hillsides continued for the many miles we traveled through Wyoming.  The air was clean and crisp and there was almost no humidity.  It was absolutely incredible!

 

Have a look at the photo of the approaching Devil's Tower.  Isn't it a beauty?  Just wait for the up close and personal pictures.

Sunday's Travels Continued from Sioux Falls to Devil's Tower

The landscape, changed dramatically after crossing the Missouri River.  The hills and buttes became more prominent.  We passed the Badlands which are beautiful but weren't able to get photos from the interstate.  Unfortunately, this trip didn't allow time to drive through that extraordinary area.  South Dakota is certainly a scenic state with lots to offer.  And it's family friendly.  

As we traveled across I-90 heading west, buttes were popping up adding to the scenery.  We saw tons of farmland and bales of hay dotted the fields.

As the skies cleared, we began to see more trees dotting the rocky landscape.   And the further west toward Wyoming we got, the soil began to appear more and more red.  After a rather gloomy cloudy morning, our afternoon was sunny and beautiful.  The sky was incredibly blue, and the landscape was red, green, brown and gray.  Stunning!  We didn't stop much because our goal was to spend time at Devil's Tower in Wyoming mid-afternoon.  Stay tuned for details of our visit.

We Saw A Lot of South Dakota and Wyoming Today

Our day started in Sioux Falls.  We stopped for gas before heading toward the interstate.  This beautiful fountain was across the street.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  A great way to start the day.  

The first part of the day was rather cloudy, but the scenery was still good.  Check out a couple of our photos snapped from the vehicle as we made our way west.  Our plan was to make it to Devil's Tower by early afternoon and then enjoy a nice dinner.

The eastern half of South Dakota is rather flat and mainly farmland.  I took lots of photos of old barns along the way because they fascinate me.  Believe it or not, I would love to travel the country one day just photographing old barns and sharing their histories and stories in a book.  I'm posting just one of them here as a teaser.  Our country is filled with beautiful (and some not so beautiful) old barns.

About halfway through the state, you'll find the Lewis and Clark Visitor's Center.  It provides the most beautiful view of the Missouri River you will ever find.  Enjoy the photos below.  Unfortunately, they don't do this beauty justice since it was so overcast today.  If you ever get the chance to visit in person, I highly recommend it.  It will not disappoint.  

There are lots more photos of our travels today to come.  All in all, we traveled 553 miles today and will arrive late tomorrow at our home base for the next seven days.  I can't wait!

Bags Packed - Check -- Car Loaded - Check -- On the Road

Vacation time is finally here.  I am beyond excited to begin this adventure!

7:30 AM -- Fenton, MO

Car was loaded and ready to hit the road for the first part of the journey.  First stop - Jefferson City, MO to meet my sister, Kim and her hubby, Tim.  (I know it's cute . . . their names rhyme.)

I pulled into their driveway at 9:45 AM.

Now time to load all of my bags and goodies into their van.

It's not hard to pick out my additions to the back of the van.  My luggage matches the color of my car and everyone who knows me knows my beverage of choice is Dr. Pepper.  We made a quick stop to visit with Dad before            leaving Jefferson City.  Next stop . . . Kansas City to meet up with Todd and Jory.  

All in all, I traveled 605 miles today, ending up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  We found a super nice Holiday Inn Express near the interstate with a Cracker Barrel down the street for dinner.  It was a great start to our vacation!  

Tomorrow, we'll be up and moving, heading toward Devil's Tower, Wyoming with lots to see along the way.  South Dakota has great scenery.  I love this state!  Stay tuned for more adventures.