Let’s Go For a Drive

It’s been 10 years! Nathan & I have wanted to do this trip for the last few years, so it seem the perfect occasion…well, before March anyway. I waited until the last minute to book everything just in case there were COVID-19 stipulations & regulations, but the states we were planning to go to had the fewest # of cases, so we weren’t to worried about it.

We had 2 major rules: Try to avoid the interstates & “Mom & Pop” restaurants before fast food chains… So, let’s go for a drive….

DAY 1 :: Friday, May 29 - Lincoln, Nebraska :: Just Passing Through

435 miles
6 hours, 17 minutes

Nothing too crazy… but LOTS of wind farms…. We stayed in the Sleep Inn & Suites . We got a delicious pizza at Valentino’s that had cream cheese on it….weird, but #gamechanger. Took a nice little walk to the HyVee next store (I forgot deodorant…who’s surprised).

DAY 2 :: Saturday, May 30 - Estes Park, Colorado :: Take Me to the Mountains

508 miles
7 hours, 25 minutes

While we were driving, we discovered our VRBO (a rental company & not a an individual person/family) canceled our stay because of the ever-changing CDC regulations for the state of Colorado. So, we switched our stay from Nederland, CO to Estes Park. I’ve been there a couple times, and I found a hotel on Hotels.com with a balcony, Coyote Mountain Lodge. #winning PLUS we were closer to the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park.

HIGHLIGHT: We got to eat in an ACTUAL restaurant, Lonigans! AND the balcony! #bestillmyheart

DAY 3 :: Sunday, May 31 - Estes Park, Colorado :: Let’s Explore… After We Eat

I looked around on Pinterest & over and over again I heard of Cinnamon’s Bakery….making LOTS of amazing different types of cinnamon rolls that sell out if you’re not there before 8am! We got the original, salted caramel, lemon & sticky pecan. Guys… AMAZING!

THEN, we explored Rocky Mountain National Park. We walked around (and over the snow!) Bear Lake, then up the trails to Alberta Falls. Did you know that 1 mile UP is way different a mile walk next to the cornfields? #ugh!

We replenished our strength with another place I found online, Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ. The smoked meat was GREAT & the sausage was HOT! So good. After lunch, we seriously did NOTHING the rest of the day. Like NOTHING!

DAY 4 :: Monday, June 1 - Cody, Wyoming :: Peace During the Chaos

461 miles
7 hours, 25 minutes

On the drive, we stopped at a Purina Feed Store, a place we found on our route, The White Horse Feed Store. Super cool to walk around & we chatted with the owners of 23 years. They let us know of their market AND gave us a great recommendation for dinner.

After we got to our AMAZING little red cabin tucked in between the mountains, I calmed Ruthie down at home. She was SO scared of the riots going on & was nervous they would come to Princeville. Then we headed out to the recommended spot, Buffalo Bill’s Erma Hotel, home of the AMAZING Prime Rib… and that it was!

DAY 5 :: Tuesday, June 2 - Bigfork, Montana :: We Made It!

On our drive, Nathan found his HOMELAND! As we were driving, Montana proved to be the perfect combo of farmland & mountains. When we got to our spot, it was HEAVENLY! I could have slept outside if it weren’t for the mosquitos. (Here’s the place we stayed. LOVED IT!)

DAY 6 :: Wednesday, June 3 - Bigfork, Montana :: Lazy Day/Laundry Day

We were lazy ALL. DAY. LONG. We took our clothes to the laundry mat, & then SAT by the lake for HOURS. When we finally perked up & heard our stomach growling we went to Burgertown…rule of thumb… if the parking lot is ALWAYS full at a restaurant, then you go! SO good. Onion rings were amazing.

AT HOME: We found out the girls had charged over $45 in games on their tablets…oh, boy! THEN… Ruthie fell down on Roller blades &, come to find out later, bursted her radial bone next to her growth plate in her right wrist.

DAY 7 :: Thursday, June 4 - Custer, Montana :: Let’s Camp

465 miles
7 hours, 2 minutes

I was so excited about this night. I had everything set up for a great night at a small property in the mountains. We ate at Beartooth Grill. (Nathan has Chicken Fried Steak Strips & I had a Salmon Salad…both good) Camping ended up being WAY too cold & we had the car on by 3:30a. Not to mention the fact that i may have forgotten pillows & blankets. (oops) We DID NOT sleep well…. We were so miserable, in fact, that I didn’t take pictures.

DAY 8 :: Friday, June 5 - Chamberlin, South Dakota :: Change of Plans

564 miles
7 hours, 37 minutes

We made a few pit stops along the drive at Crazy Horse Memorial & Wall Drug (I mean who can’t after seeing all those signs… it worked!). When we got to Chamberlin, the scenery was looking familiar. The view over the Missouri river was amazing. We ate at the Upper Crust…SUPER good! All the nourishment we needed for our final drive home.

(Note: We were going to camp this night also, but we changed that REAL FAST!).

DAY 9 :: Saturday, June 6 - Let’s Go Home

648 miles
9 hours, 27 minutes

The longest drive yet, but we were ready to get home…. but not without a stop at the hayfields. #eyeroll

TOTAL MILES: 3,555 (plus all the extras through through Rocky Mountain National Park & exploring; we ended up over 4,000) and we averaged about 52 hours in the car.

All in all, FANTASTIC trip. We did LOTS of business planning & dreaming…LOTS of sleeping. When we got back into reality, we were overwhelmed, but confident that we need to do better about disconnecting sometimes.

We are open books about the trip so leave your questions in the comments. Oh Montana….we love you.