A Road Trip Like No Other: Western US Road Trip

It’s been over six months since I went on my two-week road trip with Doug and his friend, Dan, and I am just now sitting down to write about it… 

This was the trip of a lifetime, but it was also exhausting. Does that make any sense?

Two weeks on the road is a decent amount of time. Two weeks of almost daily movement. Two weeks with the same two people every single second of every single day. 

You know by now that Doug and I travel very well together, but having a third person in the mix just made it different. We realized within 24 hours of being away that we are in fact cliquey and do not travel well with others. 

This is my long-winded way of saying why I’ve put off writing about this trip. I sort of needed a break from it, but now I’m ready to share all of the amazing experiences with you 🙂 

Day 1: Las Vegas, Nevada

Day one is actually night one. We flew from New York City to Las Vegas pretty late. We went straight from the Las Vegas airport to the Tropicana, where we were staying. The Tropicana is at the end of the Strip (or the beginning, depending on how you look at it). Personally, I thought it was a great location because you were close to the Strip but you didn’t have the noise or the traffic. 

Since Las Vegas is a party city, we figured we would walk around even though it was late just to get a feel for the city. Did you know there are about 93610 sets of steps in Las Vegas? I had no idea, and I was NOT prepared. There are overpasses along the entire Strip so you can safely cross over, and almost none of the escalators worked. We wandered by the Bellagio Fountains and watched the water dance to some whimsical Italian opera before calling it a night. 

Day 2: Las Vegas, Nevada

I decided to take advantage of the fact that I am still working from home, and I worked from the pool at the Tropicana for the day. Because of the time difference, I had to wake up pretty early, but I also was done at work by 2PM. Even after a full day of work, I had a full day ahead of me. 

While I sat by the pool, tanned, relaxed, and worked, Doug and Dan decided to gamble. In the afternoon when my workday was almost done, I saw them walking up to me at the pool. I wasn’t expecting to meet up with them just yet, so I was surprised to see them. Doug walked over and said with a straight face…

“Dan had a seizure”. 

“Stop fucking with me, no he didn’t”.

“I’m dead serious. We were at the blackjack table and he just collapsed”. 

What the actual F. 

Thankfully, he was OK. Doug used to work in a hospital, so he knew exactly how to handle the situation and was able to stay cool, calm, and collected. Dan was convinced he was fine and refused to go to any sort of doctor. Not what I would have done, but great, fine, whatever. Do you.

We knew Dan had had seizures in the past, but it had been YEARS since his last one, so what were the odds it of it happening on this trip – let alone on the very first day? 

After Dan’s episode and my workday was over, we took a walk down to Margaritaville for lunch. My dad recommended we go there because, he says, “it has the best people watching on all of the Strip.” He was not wrong. There’s a deck a couple of feet higher than ground level, so you have a nice view of everyone walking past – and let me tell you, there are some characters walking around on the Vegas Strip. 

After lunch, we picked up our rental car. While waiting in line for our keys, Doug and I decided that Dan would not be allowed to drive the entire trip. Do you blame us? It sucked, because now all of the driving that originally should have been divided by three people was divided by two. 

Since we’d had a pretty exciting morning, for lack of a better word, we decided to nap before dinner to refresh ourselves. After our nap, we would walk over to MGM to have dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s. This dinner was as delicious as you would expect. I ordered myself a pasta dish and the crème brulée and one was more yummy than the next!

This was supposed to be our night to really experience Las Vegas, but now we were worried Dan was going to have another seizure, so we took it pretty light. We only gambled for about 20-30 minutes, but in that time I won $150. A great night, in my eyes. After that, we wandered around the Strip, watched the Bellagio Fountains dance to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” and called it a night. 

Day 3: Las Vegas to Arizona 

The next morning we were all pretty awake, since we hadn’t partied very hard on the Strip as we’d planned, so we checked out of the Tropicana nice and early and took a drive to the famous “Welcome to the Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. We were there decently early, probably 8 or 9 AM, and there was already a line. I could only imagine what it would look like later in the day. The line was to take photos with an Elvis impersonator that stood below the sign. Hard pass. 

Before leaving Arizona, we took a quick stop at the Hoover Dam. It’s a cool spot to check out and take a few pictures, but there isn’t much to do. You can safely walk the length of the dam along the highway, but if you’re just there for the views, there is no need for that. 

We dodged the line and went to the side of the Elvis impersonator to snap a few pictures on our own. I highly recommend doing this. We got great pictures and got to avoid the line without pissing anybody off. 

Next up, Oatman, Arizona. This small, random town was SO high on my bucket list. Do you know why? Other than it being a town along the old Route 66, there are free-roaming burros (donkeys) walking around. My parents stopped here on a road trip they did a few years back, and I had been dying to go ever since. 

We pulled up and I was not disappointed. This classic old western town was exactly what I wanted to see. Donkeys and all. This town makes you feel like you’re in an old western movie and is such a fun spot. They even have performances and “shoot-outs” in the streets throughout the day, but we were there too early, and didn’t get to see any of that. 

Back in the car, our next stop was the Hackberry General Store, which is another classic Route 66 stop. We took some photos of this retro spot, grabbed some snacks, used the (very clean) restrooms, and quickly got back on the road. 

Our next stop was to Winslow, Arizona, which I had visited back in November 2020 (you can read about that here). 

Winslow, another Route 66 destination, was made famous by a song called “Take It Easy” by The Eagles. You can stand on the corner with a statue of Glenn Frey, who wrote the song. 

Across from the famous corner is a restaurant called Sipp Shoppe. I stopped here last time I was in Winslow and remembered it being delicious, so I convinced the guys that was where we should go for lunch. This classic-style eatery only enhanced the retro vibes we were having on our old Route 66 portion of the trip.

Have you seen enough Arizona yet? Us either. 

Next up: The Meteor Crater right outside of Winslow. It costs $22 per person to enter this attraction. Spoiler alert: it is not worth it. 

It’s just a giant hole in the ground. Nothing great. The museum was pretty cool, but it is small, so I’m still trying to figure out how they go about charging $22 per person and still sleep ok at night. 

Our last stop in Arizona for the day was Flagstaff, another place I visited back in November 2020. For dinner we went to Salsa Brava, and it was as delicious as I remembered from last time. For those of you who don’t know, Guy Fieri visited Salsa Brava in Flagstaff on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so it’s kind of famous! 

After dinner, we went to the Lowell Observatory. Lowell is an amazing place to see the stars and cosmos through some powerful telescopes while learning all about them. It was pretty cool to see, but again, it was a little pricey for what we got to experience. If you are visiting the outdoor deck, be sure to dress warm. It gets COLD up there at night. 

Day 4: Grand Canyon, Arizona

The drive to the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff takes approximately 3 hours, so if you’re staying in Flagstaff like we did, be sure to leave nice and early. 

Our itinerary for today was just a list of hikes. We figured we’d start with one and see how we felt after. We started with the Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point and Cedar Ridge. I highly recommend this trail. It offers some great views and isn’t too difficult of a hike if you’re a beginner, but isn’t too easy either. There are some steep uphill spots, but you can do it!

We got some pretty gnarly sunburn, and the hike took longer than expected, so we ditched the list of hikes we had and just did the one. 

We drove back to the Grand Canyon Village, which is where our hotel was located. I have to be honest – there aren’t really any great food spots here. We ended up just grabbing McDonald’s after checking out the menu at a few places and deciding to pass on them. The McDonald’s there is VERY expensive. It was something like $50 just for the three of us, and trust me, didn’t get anything too crazy.

Day 5: Grand Canyon, Arizona

Doug was convinced we needed two days at the Grand Canyon, which is why we planned two days here, but he quickly realized that the one full day we spent here was enough. 

We decided to take it easy and “hike” the South Rim trail. This “trail” is basically just a sidewalk along the edge of the Canyon with some viewpoints along the way. It’s great for anyone visiting with kids, strollers, wheelchairs, etc. You can experience the amazing views of the Canyon without hiking through the dirt and trails. 

After our walk along the South Rim, we drove through the “Scenic Route” drive. It wasn’t scenic, don’t be fooled. Skip it.

We headed back to GCV around lunchtime and went to Plaza Bonita, a Mexican restaurant next to our hotel. The place was super cute. The tables and chairs were all hand painted and colorful. The food, though… disgusting. We ordered quesadillas and got some enchilada looking thing with no sauce. Wouldn’t recommend. 

For dinner, we went to Yippie-E-O! Steakhouse. This might be the only good food in Grand Canyon Village. It was delicious. The cornbread was to die for, Doug’s steak was cooked perfectly, and my fried chicken was nice and flavorful. We split fried rattlesnake, so we could both try it. Not my favorite, but I can’t say I didn’t try it!

​Day 6: Arizona to Albuquerque, New Mexico

We left the Grand Canyon bright and early. After spending about a day too long there, we were running out of the doors in the morning. 

Our next destination was about 2.5 hours away in Holbrook, Arizona. Holbrook is a famous Route 66 stop and is known for its dinosaurs. Yes, you read that correctly. Dinosaurs! 

Holbrook has a bunch of dinosaur statues all throughout the town. This unique feature is a draw for tourism to the town. Most of the dinos came to town in 2007, but there are a few that are a bit older that reside in Holbrook. I was personally excited about this, so you could imagine my disappointment when we arrived and all of the statues were old and worn down and not very exciting to see. 

Thankfully, Holbrook was right outside of our next stop, Petrified Forest National Park, so we didn’t go too far out of our way going there. 

Before heading to the National Park, we stopped at Tom and Suzie’s Diner along Route 66. The food was amazing, but the atmosphere was a tad uncomfortable. Our waitress was not very friendly, and it was oddly quiet. If I’m being honest, it’s not somewhere I’d go back. 

After breakfast, we made our way to Petrified Forest. I have to be honest again here… I did not have high expectations for this stop, and I probably would have skipped it if Doug and Dan did not want to go. Fortunately, my expectations were very, very wrong, and the National Park was much cooler than I thought it would be! If you’re like me, you are just picturing a bunch of frightened trees. Apparently, trees can go through the petrification process and crystalize/fossilize in certain circumstances. I won’t bore you with the science here, but it is a pretty cool process. 

We drove through the Painted Desert at first, taking in all of the colors and views it had to offer. The Painted Desert is a vast desert with colorful mounds and mineral deposits that make up the northern section of the Petrified Forest.There were a bunch of spots marked off to stop at, so we drove through and stopped at each point to walk around and snap a couple of photos. 

We ended our day at the Petrified Forest, specifically in the Crystal Forest. Crystal Forest is flooded with broken down pieces of petrified trees. This spot is really fun to walk through and you can get a look up close and personal to the petrified wood.

After an exciting morning exploring the National Park, we had approximately 4 hours ahead of us in the car to get to Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

We were staying at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, and it was absolutely gorgeous. It had such a southwest vibe and was exactly what I would think of when someone said “Albuquerque.” The lobby had a comfortable seating area and a fireplace to make it extra cozy. Our room had a balcony and overlooked the pool and the courtyard of the hotel. 

For dinner, we decided to eat at the restaurant in the hotel, Guardano’s. Holy delicious. The margaritas were gigantic, strong, and perfect. I tried their prickly pear flavor first and then moved on to the blood orange flavor. While we sipped on these yummy margs, we ate some bangin’ chips and salsa. The salsa was super spicy, but something about it made you go back for more and more. 

We got guacamole and a quesadilla to share for appetizers, but the quesadilla was so large it could have just been dinner itself. I ordered the enchiladas for my main course, and again, the plate was so enormous that I could barely finish. 

Will full bellies, it was time for bed. What a good day. 

Day 7: Albuquerque, NM to Alamosa, Colorado

If you thought I was excited about dinner in Albuquerque, wait until you hear about the breakfast we started our day with. Another Route 66 staple: Frontier Restaurant. 

Frontier is an “order at the counter, get a number” type place, but all of the food is made fresh. It’s not fast food, it’s just done quickly and efficiently. I ordered a breakfast burrito, which was wrapped in a fresh, homemade tortilla, stuffed with an egg, hash browns and chili. I topped it with their homemade salsa, which was served hot and made the burrito even better. 

I cannot stress enough how delicious this place was. I still dream about their homemade tortillas. This is a MUST if you are in Albuquerque. 

After breakfast, we did a self-guided Breaking Bad tour. The TV show took place in Albuquerque, and was filmed all over the city. Doug is a big fan of the show, so he put together a list of some spots we had to see. 

1. Breaking Bad Store – The Breaking Bad store isn’t a filming location from the show but it is a pretty awesome place to start. This gift shop is a Breaking Bad fan’s paradise. There are themed knick-knacks, t-shirts, and memorabilia to purchase. Throughout the store, there are scenes from the show set up for you to take pictures of/with. Starting out your self-guided tour here sets the tone for your Breaking Bad adventure.
2. Walter White’s House – The woman who actually lives in this house is crazy to say the least. She sits outside on a lawn chair yelling at all of the cars that go by. She even yelled at someone that she was going to call the police. There were signs all over her property that read “TAKE YOUR PICTURES FROM ACROSS THE STREET”. She had a huge fence around the property as well. 
3. Dog House Drive-In – A fun stop that is featured in Breaking Bad that is 100% real! We didn’t grab any food, but from what I’ve heard the food is A+++. Dog House is featured in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, so it is a well known spot to the fandom.
4. Twisters – Or should I say Los Pollos Hermanos. A popular fast-food chain that was the front for illegal drug business.
5. Saul Goodman’s Office – Saul or Jimmy or whoever he really is. A fun final stop on the Breaking Bad tour is Saul Goodman & Associates in a random strip mall in Albuquerque.  Grab some photos and feel like you are right in the show yourself!

After we finished our mini self-guided Breaking Bad tour, it was time to start the drive to Colorado. We headed to Alamosa, which is the nearest town to Great Sand Dunes National Park. 

We arrived in Alamosa much earlier than we had planned, so we decided to move Great Sand Dunes up a day on our itinerary. 

Being at this national park is like being on another planet. For all of my Star Wars fans out there, it felt like we were on Tatooine. For all my non-Star Wars fans, look it up. 

The day we were there was particularly windy and we were not prepared. We got sand absolutely everywhere and, true story, I am STILL finding sand six months later intertwined in some clothes. 

GSDNP is such a unique place. When you imagine a national park, most people picture mountains and lots of green. Not here. This is literally JUST sand dunes. You can go sand sledding or hike to the top of the dunes. It’s just open space and sand. Based on the uniqueness alone, this is a must-add bucket list destination. 

On our way out of the national park, we saw flashing lights behind us and quickly realized we were getting pulled over. Great. Apparently, we were speeding  – in other words, there is a speed trap at the park exit where a cop waits to pull people over. The officer was not nice either, and to make things worse, we could see there were lots of speed bumps where he had said we were speeding. There was actually no way we were going 55 MPH as he claimed. Girl Scouts honor. 

But, we didn’t argue. This unpleasant experience kind of ruined the group mood, so we decided to go to the hotel to change and just head straight to dinner. Our exploring for the day was ruined.

Our mood was saved by dinner. We ate at Siam Cafe, a Thai restaurant in Alamosa, and it might have been the best Thai food I have ever eaten. I ordered the Pad Thai, since I am a basic bitch. It was saucy, had super thin noodles, and it was loaded with vegetables. All around delicious. 

Day 8: Alamosa to Denver, Colorado

We left Alamosa nice and early to make the most of our time in Denver. We were all really excited to visit Denver. Doug even had some friends there, so we were actually going to hang out with some more people! 

We grabbed a quick breakfast at IHOP, since there wasn’t much else around, and got on the road to start our 4.5-hour journey. 

I hate to say it, but I have to be honest. Surprisingly, southern Colorado is a super boring state to drive through. There is just nothing to see and it is filled with just plain fields. It was a quiet drive and the mood was still off from the speeding ticket incident the day before. 

We arrived in Denver and it was raining, so we didn’t do as much city exploring as we had all hoped. We wandered over to The Yard House for some drinks, lunch, and some unwinding. They had a ton of beers on tap to select from. The food was great and just what we needed to get our groove back. Who doesn’t get happy from fried bar food?  

Afterwards, we went back to our hotel room to hang out and hide from the rain a bit more. It was kind of nice to have an afternoon to rest instead of running around doing things. After 8 days of running around, it was needed. 

For dinner, we met Doug’s friends at Avanti. Avanti was a really cool spot. It is tremendous inside. You seat yourself on one of the two floors. Different waiters and waitresses walk around and take care of drink orders. You don’t really have a designated waiter or waitress the entire time. For food, there are all different restaurant stations around the restaurant you can order from and bring it back to your table. There is something for everyone here. Avanti has a really fun vibe and crowd. We ended up staying there much longer than any of us anticipated. A great spot to add to your Denver itinerary!

​​Day 9: Rocky Mountain National Park

We drove north about 2 hours to Rocky Mountain National Park as a mini day trip from Denver. But first we had to stop for breakfast, of course. One of Doug’s friends had recommended a bagel place to us the night before, so we decided to check it out. 

Remember, we are from New York, so we take our bagels very seriously. Being that his friend is a former New York resident, we trusted his judgment and made our way to Rosenburg’s, a bagel shop owned by a New Yorker. It was OK. Nothing to write home about, but not bad for a non-New York bagel.

We enjoyed our bagels as we drove up to RMNP. We arrived, and for some reason I did not expect to see snow in May, but it was still winter in the Rockies. It wasn’t too cold, but it was very snowy and the lakes were frozen. 

We did two small hikes. The first was to Bear Lake, which honestly isn’t even a hike. It’s just a few steps from the parking lot. It is a beautiful spot to visit for all the non-hikers out there! You get amazing views of the mountains and can walk all around the lake. 

The next hike was another small, relatively easy route up to Nymph Lake. Because of the snow, I knew this was my final destination, but Doug and Dan decided to hike up a little more to Dream Lake. Looking back, I wish I had just sucked it up and gone, but honestly I don’t think I had it in me at the moment. 

Once I was done admiring the views of the mountains, trees, and frozen Nymph Lake, I hiked back down to Bear Lake to take some photos and take in the views. 

Doug and Dan came back from Dream Lake a little bit later and we drove around the park a bit, looking for wildlife and taking in the views. To my surprise, we didn’t see too many animals. It makes me want to go back when it’s warmer to (1) see the park without the snow and frozen lakes, and (2) see more wildlife! 

We made our way back to Denver and decided we would go back to The Yard House for dinner. It was close to the hotel and we had really enjoyed the drinks and food there the day before, so why not. 

I decided this was my time to order a half yard beer. I knew I could finish it, so why not have the experience! I ordered the House Honey beer and it did not disappoint. The House Honey was super refreshing and went perfectly with our selection of bar food. 

For “dessert,” I tried an orange creamsicle beer. It was DELICIOUS, but definitely a good beer to end the night with. I couldn’t imagine drinking that all night without feeling sick.

After dinner we went back to the hotel for a relaxing night, but it turned into anything but. As we arrived, two girls ran in the elevator with us. Looking back, this definitely was because they were not guests and did not have key cards to access the elevators. Once we got upstairs to our floor, they also got out. Turns out they were visiting our neighbors. For a solid 30 minutes they were banging consistently on the hotel room door next to ours while yelling out for their friends.

It got so bad we had to call the front desk twice. Finally it stopped. I’m not sure if security ended came up or if the girls gave up, but it was beyond annoying. 

Day 10: Denver to Wyoming

We had a LONG drive ahead of us today. We were leaving Denver and making our way up to the Hatchet Resort in Moran, WY. The Hatchet Resort was a short drive to both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park and made the perfect spot for our next stay.

Before hitting the road we had a hearty breakfast at Denver Biscuit Company (Tennyson). Denver Biscuit Company is a unique spot. From my understanding, three separate restaurants that share the same space depending on the time of day – Denver Biscuit Company, Atomic Cowboy, and Fat Sully’s Pizza. This can be a little confusing upon arrival, because if you only know about one of the restaurants you might think you are in the wrong spot! 

The food was outrageous. The biscuits were so yum. They came with honey butter and jam. I could have eaten them all day. They were the perfect accompaniment to the eggs and bacon I ordered for breakfast. 

After filling up on biscuits and jam, we hit the road for our 7.5-hour drive. At first I was dreading it, but my goodness what a beautiful state. The beautiful views made it a pretty easy drive, so I drove the entire stretch.  

During the drive we passed through Laramie, Wyoming, which is where the play The Laramie Project was set. I was so moved by this play when I first read it that I got chills down my spine thinking back to the book. For anyone who doesn’t know, the play is true-story that outlines the reaction to the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Matthew Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming who was murdered because of his sexuality. Us passing through Laramie is totally useless information but I was excited about it, so I’m including it in case there are any Laramie Project fans out there. 

After the long but beautiful drive, we arrived in Moran to check into Hatchet Resort. I cannot express how much I loved the vibe of Hatchet from the moment we pulled up. This log-cabin resort was exactly what you’d picture for your stay near Yellowstone National Park. It has a classic western, rustic feel that makes you feel more connected to the area.

Hatchet has a Wyoming gift shop in the main office, a gas station right out front, a playground in the back, a bar, and a restaurant all on their grounds. The cabin room we stayed in was quaint, classic western, and very clean. 

After gushing over the resort, we drove into Jackson Hole. The drive from Moran to Jackson Hole brings you right through Grand Teton National Park. This drive is UNREAL, especially around sunset when we were there. As you drive, you’re seeing gigantic snow-capped mountains in all of their majestic glory. You’re seeing bison grazing through the plains or maybe even crossing the street in front of you. 

We saw a bison scratch his little (huge) head on a fence and it was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. 

We arrived in Jackson Hole and like our resort, the whole town had an old-western feel to it. Jackson Town Square was in the center of the town. Each corner had these magnificent antler arches that welcome you to the square. They are perfect for a memorable photo in Jackson! I was falling more in love with Wyoming as each second passed. 

We grabbed a quick dinner at Bubba’s BBQ, which was great and just what we needed after a 7.5 hour drive. After dinner, we drove back to Hatchet to call it an early night, but we again were graced with noisy neighbors. 

The men next door insisted on yelling to each other about their big plans for Yellowstone National Park in the morning. They were SO annoying. Since our plans were also for Yellowstone in the AM, I just prayed to the universe that we wouldn’t be running into them. 

Day 11: Yellowstone National Park

***POOR PLANNING ALERT***

We left Hatchet around 8:30 AM and didn’t arrive at Yellowstone until 11:30 AM. We did not realize when planning our route that in order to access the Wyoming entrance to Yellowstone, you have to pass through Grand Teton National Park. Thankfully, we had our annual parks pass, so we didn’t have to pay to enter both, but could you imagine if we didn’t have the pass? I’d have been furious. 

Anyways, we started our day at Old Faithful, the most famous geyser in the park. We waited about 30-40 minutes for it to blow. It was pretty cool to watch, but I have to admit I had bigger expectations. Still a solid 7/10 experience. We overheard a tour guide explaining that Old Faithful wasn’t the biggest or even the most reliable geyser in the park! He said there are other geysers that erupt on a more regular schedule.

Next up: Grand Prismatic. Now this was cool. Grand Prismatic Spring is probably the most famous hot spring in all of Yellowstone National Park, and it makes perfect sense why. The colors are vibrant, it’s steamy, and it stinks like sulfur. Beautiful all around! Ok maybe not the sulfur stench as much…

We drove around to see more geysers, mud pots, and hot springs. The park has so much to see you could drive around for hours. Being that we got a late start, we didn’t get to see as much as we’d planned, so I will be going back to Yellowstone so I have more to report back in the future! 

We made our way back to Hatchet after a day of exploring Yellowstone to get ready for dinner. We drove back into Jackson Hole, and before dinner we stopped at a leather store so Dan could buy a new wallet. The man who helped us, probably the owner, told us that the restaurant we planned on going to, Gun Barrel, sometimes books up months or even years in advance. We made sure to get there right as they opened at 5:00 PM and we were able to get a seat.

I 100% understand why Gun Barrel books up so far in advance. If you are in Jackson Hole, you MUST go to Gun Barrel. The food is to die for. The aesthetic again is classic western, and you truly feel as if you are in the wild west. All of the tables and chains are rustic wood and look hand carved. There are taxidermy animals all around, so if that isn’t your vibe, maybe skip this one. 

To start this meal, Doug ordered us some bison carpaccio as an appetizer. I took a bite and my mouth just began watering. I wish I could have eaten the whole plate. Unfortunately my stomach and red meat aren’t friends so I could only have a taste. It was the most tender meat I have ever had in my life. 

For dinner, I ordered the whiskey pork chop, Doug ordered elk, and Dan ordered bison. All so different and all so delicious. 

For dessert we ordered some chocolate cake that was SO good that we ended up ordering a second slice. One was not enough to share because of how delicious it was. The perfect end to a perfect meal.

Day 12: Grand Teton National Park

We decided it was time to try the restaurant at the Hatchet Resort, so for breakfast we went to the Hatchet Grill. Being that it was a hotel restaurant, our expectations were pretty low, but we were pleasantly surprised! I ordered a breakfast sandwich, and it was HUGE. It came on a giant, yummy croissant. My favorite! 

On to Grand Teton. 

This national park is hands down one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my entire life. I could stare at those mountains forever. 

On our drive through Grand Teton, we were lucky enough to see a grizzly bear and her three cubs near Pilgrim Lake. They were very far away and hard to see, but thankfully we had binoculars. Doug had made fun of me for packing them originally, but he was thankful I had them when we were able to get a better view of the bears.

The grizzly we saw happened to be the famous Grizzly 399. Grizzly 399 has made herself famous by inhabiting near main roads and more developed areas. This has given visitors and residents of the area constant access to watching Grizzly 399 live her life and raise her cubs. The government authorities and preservation teams are in constant battle against the right things to do when it comes to Grizzly 399. A few of her cubs have been euthanized and Grizzly 399 and her family are in constant danger while just trying to live their lives. There are a bunch of conservation efforts and amazing information on Grizzly 399 and other bears throughout the national parks. Check out @Grizzly399 on Instagram to get more info or support these adorable creatures.

After getting over the fact that we just saw some beautiful bears, we took a scenic drive to Jenny Lake. The water at the lake is crystal blue. It almost doesn’t look real. We had originally planned on doing some small hikes around the lake, but it was rainy and foggy all morning, so we ended up just taking in the sights around the lake and during the drive. 

After we drove all around the park, we decided to make our way to Salt Lake City for our final night on this road trip. We had a few hours to drive and it poured the entire time, so it was a rough drive. 

We were staying at a La Quinta Inn in Salt Lake City. That was our biggest mistake. What a shit hole. Our first room stunk of cigarettes despite being a non-smoking room. We requested a new room, which they were not easy about. We walked into the new room and the bathroom was filthy. It was disgusting. I will never stay at a La Quinta Inn or recommend them to friends just based on how gross everything was and how unpleasant the staff was. Strike one.

The actual city was also a shit hole. It was dirty and just did not have a good vibe. We even saw people doing drugs at the gas station. It was bad. 

We went to Red Rock Brewery for dinner. Doug and I were in desperate need of a drink after the hotel debacle. Another disappointment. The floors were sticky, the food was mediocre, and the staff again wasn’t pleasant. Strike two.

After dinner, we wanted to see the famous Mormon church, Salt Lake Temple. Of course, it was under renovations and completely covered in scaffolding. Strike three. 

Salt Lake City, I will not miss you. 

Day 13: Salt Lake City

On our last day we had a few hours to kill before our flight, and I really wanted to make the most of it. I convinced the guys to go to the Red Butte Garden. This is probably the only redeemable quality in SLC. This arboretum/botanical garden had flowers of all colors and sizes. It was really beautiful, and a great way to end the trip. I still think about the beautiful waterfall surrounded by the vibrant greens and bright pinks of the flowers surrounding it.

Before heading to the airport, we had one final meal together at iHop. After our dinner experience, we just didn’t want anymore food disappointment. At least at a chain, you know what you’re getting. 

And just like that, 3,000+ miles later, our two-week western road trip had come to an end. This trip was jam-packed, exhausting, and one of the best experiences of my life. A two-week road trip is a lot. It is a long time in a car, but the memories you make, the sights you see, and the experiences you have make every moment in the car worth it.

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