Yellowstone or Bust!

Good thing I brought along this laptop on our trip-it gives me a chance to update the blog during this long stretch of highway between Idaho Falls and Boise!

We had a WONDERFUL time in Jackson/Yellowstone over the 4th of July holiday. Here's what we did:

We left Thursday morning after renting a minivan (yes, even Brian enjoyed the minivan and I think I have him convinced that they are pretty darn convenient) at about 10:30. It was a brand new Dodge Grand Caravan, and I have to say it was quite uncomfortable, although it had all the bells & whistles like satellite radio and power everything. Turns out the front windshield had just been replaced and it made this lovely (read: annoying) whistling sound all the way to Idaho Falls, where we traded it in for a Toyota Sienna. This one was not so new, but drove SO much nicer and was 1000 times more comfy. The foreign car wins again.

Anyway, the drive from Idaho Falls to Jackson is just breathtaking-through Star Valley and then to Driggs and over Jackson Pass. The wildflowers are in full bloom right now in the higher elevations and it was one flower after the next-brilliant yellows, reds, blues, purples, and whites. The fields of flowers we saw on this trip just seemed too beautiful and picturesque to be real.

Once we got to Jackson we headed to the Teton High Adventure Base Camp, where Brian’s sister Stacey and her husband Chuck are directors for the summer. Man, I wish I was a scout! These guys are perched right next to the Snake river in all its glory, surrounded by the mountains, and only minutes from Jackson Hole. They run the river all day, go backpacking, and play on the cope course. What fun!

Stacey & Chuck & their daughter Rachel came to town with us for dinner at Bubba’s, then we wandered through town and ended the night with an ice cream cone (which became the nightly ritual for this trip-no more ice cream for a month for us until we work it off!)

Friday morning we met Stacey & Rachel for the 4th of July parade in Jackson Hole, which was a lot of fun. Their farmer’s market had a float that actually threw corn on the cob to the crowd! It was funny. The kids loved it. Jake LOVED the loud cars and the horses. He probably signed horses 50 times. Even now, every time he hears a motorcycle he gets all excited, signs “car” and then immediately signs “horse”, like he’s expecting another parade!

After the parade we headed over to The Bunnery restaurant for lunch, which was delicious. I had a turkey & pesto type sandwich on their homemade bread and it was very yummy! I definitely recommend the place if you’re ever passing through Jackson. Their breakfast plates looked really good too.

After lunch we walked around town and then parted ways with Stacey & Rachel and drove over to Teton Village, a ski resort outside of town. The plan was to ride their tram up the mountainside and hike around, but the kids both fell asleep, so we kept driving into Grand Teton Nat’l Park, to Jenny lake. We decided to attempt the hike that goes halfway around the lake to Cascade Canyon and Hidden Falls, then take the ferry back across the lake. We had gone no more than 1/8 of a mile and there was a moose off the side of the trail! Kennedy and Jake both were really excited to see a wild animal! Kennedy was so adorable on this whole hike. She kept saying things like, “I’m a good hiker, huh mom?” and “we’re such good hikers!” Then she actually said this heartwarming tidbit, “Mom, the best part about hiking, is you.” Can you believe it? She was such a trooper and was just trailblazing along this trail going so fast and jumping over rocks and climbing hills. It started to drizzle a little but was still warm, so it was quite humid. About halfway to our destination she said she felt sick and then threw up right in the middle of the trail! I think she got a little heat exhaustion, but she still trucked right along after we rested for a while and drank some water.

This hike is absolutely beautiful-you can see the lake almost the whole time, and the trees and flowers and forest are so beautiful. When we were almost to Cascade Canyon we could hear the rush of the water coming down the canyon. You could hear the water just barreling down the canyon like thunder. I tried to take a video with my camera, so I hope it works and I’ll post it here.

We hiked up the canyon for a little while, but it was quite steep and I was worried about Kennedy, so we headed back down to wait for the ferry to take us back across the lake. While we waited in line we visited with a couple that were living the life. I’d say they were our parents age, and were traveling all over the country running rivers and doing hikes. They were headed to the Yukon next. They did say that Cascade Canyon was the most beautiful hike they’d done, and they’ve done a lot. Kennedy liked playing with the man’s hiking poles that he let her borrow.

Kennedy loved the ferry boat ride because it was her first time on a boat. Jake was asleep by this time and never woke up until we got to the van.

After the hike we headed back to Jackson to meet Stacey & Chuck for dinner at Mountain High Pizza Pie, Brian’s old stomping grounds for 4th of July dinner. I do have to say they make a great pizza, and the atmosphere is fun too.

We then headed over to Snowking Resort to stake out a spot for watching fireworks. We hung out there and the girls ran around and played while we waited for it to get dark. The fireworks were awesome, especially set against the huge mountainside.

That night Kennedy threw up in the middle of the night and had other bathroom “issues” all night. I was so worried about her, but when she finally woke up in the morning she seemed all better. I think it was all part of the heat exhaustion and a very long day for such a little girl!

Saturday morning we took off for Yellowstone! I’ll never get tired of the drive from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone. The Tetons are so amazing, with the Snake river meandering along below them. I told Brian that I want to bike from the South Entrance of Yellowstone to Jackson Hole. Any takers to do it with me?? Don’t ask me when yet, but it’s something I want to do for sure.

We stopped at Old Faithful and just missed the eruption, so decided to eat lunch there while we waited. Since we’ve been there last (4 years ago) they’ve built a few new buildings, one of which is a cafeteria, which was definitely needed. It is beautiful, in the same style as the old lodge, with huge windows facing Old Faithful. We sat and enjoyed lunch and people watching. Then we got some ice cream and went out and waited on a bench for the big show. It was great! Kennedy thought it was pretty amazing to see the water shoot that high in the sky. I sat next to an 85-year-old couple who told me of their hiking adventures for the day. They had hiked up this big mountainside just because their kids told them they couldn’t! I hope I’m that spunky when I’m 85!

After Old Faithful we headed toward West Yellowstone, where we were staying for the night. Both the kids fell asleep, but Brian and I were treated to many buffalo (one right out our window) and some elk on the drive there.

When we got to West Yellowstone we went to the Grizzly Bear & Wolf Discovery Center (this is an actual educational and conservation center, NOT like Bear World near Rexburg Idaho, which raises bear cubs for people to handle then kills them when they get too big and aren’t “cute” anymore). We saw 3 grizzlies and were also treated to one major wolf howling session! These four wolves were just laying together and decided it was time to howl, and howl they did! I took some video of that too, so hopefully it turned out.

After the Discovery Center we went to dinner at the Three Bear Lodge. This is another really good restaurant and the salad bar hit the spot!

Back at the hotel, Brian took the kids swimming while I tried to stay awake! Then it was finally time to hit the sack!

Today (Sunday) we went back into the park hoping to show the kids some wildlife. We got to see some buffalo and elk pretty close up, and Kennedy loved seeing a momma buffalo with her baby. We did the drive from Madison Junction, over to Canyon and checked out the new visitors center there. It is beautiful and so much fun! (Amy, I thought of you and all your science experiments you do with the kids. Jessica would love it there.) Then we headed to Artist’s Point to see the big Yellowstone Falls. Every time I see the falls it’s like it’s my first time seeing it. It is breathtaking to see that much water falling that far. Kennedy also loved it.

After the falls we headed down around Yellowstone Lake, then back to Mammoth and back to West Yellowstone for some lunch and ice cream from Arrowleaf (which now has a different name, but thankfully the ice cream is the same! Delicious!

Now were driving home (still) and it’s 9:11 p.m. We are almost to Burley, then it’s two and a half more hours until home! We didn’t plan on being in the park that long today, but it was worth it to see how much Kennedy and Jake enjoyed it. Jake loved all the stops we made along rivers where he could throw rocks into the water with Dad and Kennedy. Kennedy loved all the trees (“Is this treeland, mom?”) and animals, and especially the hike. Brian loved being back in his “heaven on earth”, and I loved making memories with my family. What an awesome trip. Next time we want to rent an RV and stay in Slough Creek in the north part of the park, camp by the river and listen to wolves howl all night….