Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Exploring Wyoming & Montana

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It’s hard to recap a beautiful 11-day trip to three national parks, but, of course, I’m going to try! 

Let’s start at the beginning: We flew into Salt Lake City on July 22 and drove to the Grand Tetons. Along the way, we had a delicious dinner at Union Grill in Ogden, Utah, and then shopped for some groceries and a $17 Igloo cooler at Walmart in Ogden that had a beautiful view from the parking lot. 

We had a great first day in the Tetons. We took the shuttle across Jenny Lake and hiked to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. We had a picnic lunch at String Lake, where we regretted we weren’t prepared to swim. We drove down the road and briefly explored Menors Ferry. Then we came back to Teton Village, where we stayed on Rachel Way, and rode the aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, where we had delicious waffles — one mixed berry cobbler and one peanut butter and bacon! Then had dinner at the Mangy Moose in Teton Village. 

Day 3 – Tetons & Yellowstone

We started Day #3 with a 13-mile scenic boat tour on the Snake River with Dave Hansen Whitewater and Scenic River Trips. Then we had lunch at Snake River Brewing while we were in Jackson, WY. We finished up our self-guided tour of the Tetons with stops at Mormon Row, Snake River Overlook, and Oxbow Bend. 

Such beautiful views! And good information, thanks to GuideAlong, which I highly recommend for guided driving tours. Download driving tours that work even in national parks that don’t have good cell service.

We left the Tetons that afternoon and headed into Yellowstone National Park! We headed north from the Tetons, came into the south entrance of Yellowstone, and stopped to see Lewis Canyon before we came to our townhouse in West Yellowstone. We had dinner at a pizza place that didn’t have a wait and huckleberry ice cream from City Creamery.

Day 4 – Yellowstone

Day 4 was another good day … and we finished with 17,000+ steps! 

We started with the roadside Gibbon Falls and Beryl Springs, then hiked about a mile around the Artists Paintpots, and walked more around the Porcelain Basin Trail at Norris Geyser Basin. 

Then we went off-road into the backcountry with a “secret” hike to Little Gibbon Falls. I really loved it, but my kids had lots of nervous feelings about it because we only saw six other people the whole 1.4 miles. It was lovely and felt adventurous. 

We met up with my Uncle Rick and Mom in Mammoth for a picnic lunch, a history tour courtesy former park ranger Uncle Rick, some hot springs site seeing, and the Roosevelt Arch. We also saw our first wildlife that wasn’t birds — two separate elk. Mom joined us for the rest of our trip. 

For dinner, we came back to The Buffalo Bar in West Yellowstone and then finished the night with more huckleberry ice cream from City Creamery.

Day 5 – Yellowstone

We had another good day in Yellowstone. Day 5 was filled with lots of hydrothermal sites and 15,000+ steps. 

We drove along Firehole Canyon Scenic Drive, walked around the Midway Geyser Basin, and then hiked to see an even grander view of Grand Prismatic. Then we spent longer than I expected at Old Faithful, where we saw the geyser erupt close up and from a distance. We also walked around Geyser Hill, had a picnic lunch, looked inside Old Faithful Inn, and did some souvenir shopping. 

We had some “rest time” today back at our West Yellowstone townhouse and then went to Canyon Street Grill and, yes, of course, had ice cream at City Creamery. Then we played our new Trekking the National Parks board game. 

Day 6 – Yellowstone

Day 6 of our vacation took us to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Yellowstone Lake. Such beautiful drives and sites! 

We started with the North Rim Scenic Drive, including Brink of the Lower Falls hike and Lookout Point. We meandered around the interesting Canyon Village Education Center and then visited Artist Point on the canyon’s south rim. 

We lunched at a picnic table at Bridge Bay Marina, where we also saw five elk playing in Yellowstone Lake. Then we stopped at Fishing Bridge and hiked on Pelican Creek Nature Trail, which lead us to a sandy lake beach. Ben and Rachel played in the water there — something they’ve been wanting to do. These were definitely lesser-known locations, but I really loved this part of the park. 

Driving through Hayden Valley twice was also enjoyable — such pretty landscape! We did see a few bison. Dinner was back in West Yellowstone again, this time at Beartooth Barbecue, which was so yummy! And, yes, we followed that with ice cream from City Creamery. 

Day 7 — Yellowstone & Livingston, MT

Our last day in Yellowstone was another good, full one. 

We saw Tower Fall, two grizzly bears on our way to Lamar Valley, lots of bison and some pronghorn in Lamar Valley, and a black bear after Lamar Valley. We had lunch at Beartooth Cafe in Cooke City before experiencing the 68-mile Beartooth Highway. We had the best huckleberry milkshakes at Whistle Stop Cafe in Columbus, MT, on the way to visit my aunt and uncle in Livingston, MT. So much beautiful scenery and finally the animals for which we’d been watching!

Day 8 — Travel through Montana 

Another travel day, but of course there are pretty views in all directions. We left Livingston, MT this morning to head north to Glacier National Park. 

We happened upon the only pitstop for many miles — Trixi’s in Ovando, MT. It was exactly what you’d think a Montana saloon would be: casino games, bar, pool table, and animal heads and beer brands as decorations. I felt like Rip and Jimmy could have walked in at any moment. And my burger and fries were delicious. I loved the whole experience! 

After checking into our cabin and the kids checking out the hot tub, we went to see the Hungry Horse Dam. Dinner was at Paul Bunyan Bar & Grill — and it was good. 

Day 9 — Glacier

We had a great first full day in Glacier. We started with eventually finding a parking spot for the Trail of the Cedars and then explored Sacred Dancing Cascade, a pretty waterfall in the shallow McDonald Creek. We also saw McDonald Falls just down the road. 

We had our picnic lunch near the Lake McDonald Lodge. Then we did a little souvenir shopping before going on our whitewater rafting trip 9 miles down the middle fork of the Flathead Creek. Great Northern Resort provided a great, family-friendly rafting trip that was perfect for my kids’ first experience. 

Instead of going back out for dinner, we did carry-out from Glacier Taphouse & Pizza and everything we had was so yummy! Huckleberry pie from The Huckleberry Patch was the much-awaited dessert. 

Day 10 — Glacier

Our last day of vacation included nearly 17,000 steps and three of my family members jumping off a rocky cliff. 

We started by driving on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The scenery was gorgeous! We stopped at Logan’s Pass, where we hiked to the Hidden Lake Overlook. The boardwalk and steps were deceiving and it was a harder-than-expected, 2.8-mile trail, but I’m glad we did it anyway. 

Then we drove to Jackson Glacier Overlook and to Sun Point, where we did a short hike to a beautiful view of St. Mary Lake. We had our picnic lunch at Sun Point and then took the shuttle a little bit west to the St. Mary Falls hike. The trail is hauntingly beautiful with lots of burned trees with newer wildflower and bush growth on the way to a gorgeous waterfall and glacier-blue water. This is where Greg, Ben, and Rachel jumped off the rocky cliff into the St. Mary River. 

We headed back to West Glacier to get cleaned up and regroup before dinner at Monaco Steakhouse & Sports Grill in Columbia Falls, MT. Then we tried to fit all the pants and sweatshirts we didn’t use back into the suitcases – and finished the huckleberry pie!

Day 11 – Travel home

We flew home from Missoula, which offered better flight times and prices than the closer Kalispell. We returned a very dirty Armada to Avis and had a smooth trip home by flying through Chicago to Nashville, where we were reunited with our minivan. 

Reflections 

In the airport, I asked my family some post-trip questions inspired by author Laura Tremaine to capture their thoughts. 

What was your favorite thing we did on this trip?

  • Greg — Driving through Lamar Valley and Beartooth Highway
  • Kristin — Jenny Lake hikes, “secret” hike in Yellowstone & rafting 
  • Cate (16) — Hot springs on Yellowstone & rafting 
  • Ben (13) — Jumping off the cliff at St Mary Falls
  • Rachel (7) — Swimming in the hot tub at Glacier rental 
  • (But after we gave initial answers we kept saying other things …)

What was the best thing we ate?

  • G — Snake River Brewing
  • K — Huckleberry ice cream in waffle cone from City Creamery 
  • C — Glacier Taphouse Pizza & Huckleberry Lemonade
  • B — Canyon Street Grill in West Yellowstone

What could we do differently next time?

  • G — Go at a less-crowded time 
  • K — Pack less
  • C — No “secret” hikes
  • B — More steak
  • R — Sleep with mom and dad every night (not just in Glacier …)

What memory would you like to make next?

  • G — Alaska cruise
  • K — Alaska cruise
  • C — Go to Mexico and go snorkeling
  • B — Go on another Royal Caribbean Cruise
  • R — Go to Disney World or “Big Mickey Boat”

Resources

Without a doubt, I recommend you spend money on Dirt in My Shoes itineraries and GuideAlong’s audio driving tours. Both are how I planned this trip to flow in ways that made sense and allowed us to see so many glorious things. My local friends also have a business (Awestruck Family Outfitters) that could plan a fabulous trip for you.

Another way we make traveling work well is by using our Capital One Venture credit card. There are travel discounts and rewards. We get a higher percentage back in rewards when we make travel-related reservations, can cash rewards in to cover travel purchases, got reimbursed for our TSA Pre-Check application when we used this card as payment, and can book hotels and rental cars with discounted rates directly through the credit card website. Win-win, I tell you. (Learn more here!)

*****

Still want to see and know more? I shared more pictures on Facebook, if you want to browse those albums. I also have a highlight on Instagram. 

How & why to travel with kids

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We’ve always traveled with our kids. 

Cate, who is 15 now, was born in a hospital four hours away from our home, so her first nights out of the hospital were spent in a hotel while we waited for interstate adoption clearance. We flew across the world to New Zealand when she was 2! 

Both Cate and Ben, who is 13, transitioned from cribs to beds so they could be prepared for an upcoming trip. When Rachel came along, she was along for the ride to all the things, thanks to the six- and eight-year gaps with her siblings. 

They all had passports before they could read and now our two teenagers have their own Known Traveler Numbers. Getting through security quicker and without unpacking as much is definitely one way to make traveling smoother! Our international vacations have mostly been via cruise ships or to Canada. Of course, we don’t always need the TSA Pre-Check line because we certainly don’t always fly. We take lots of smaller trips for a few days to visit family, celebrate holidays, watch basketball, and see places closer to home.

For years, they’ve each packed their own travel bags with electronics, books, and whatever else they want to do along the way. Usually, I give them the number and kinds of outfits they need and they bring their clothes to me so we can consolidate suitcases and bags. Nobody wants to play Tetris or maneuver through the airport with more suitcases and bags than actual people. If we go on road trips where we’ll be in and out of different hotels and accommodations, I like to bag smaller bags to use for dirty clothes or however make sense to pack so we aren’t hauling in and out all the things at every stop.

With a family, we typically try to stay in vacation rentals because the price is usually comparable to a hotel and the space makes everyone happier. If we do need a hotel, I usually try to find a suite so at least we can spread out a little.

I want them to appreciate travel. I want them to see places that are unlike their home. I want them to experience adventures. I want them to have friends in other places. We’ve even taken our oldest two on mission trips to Guatemala. Traveling and serving can certainly go together.

I know traveling is a privilege, but I will always tell you: Take the trip. 

I say this after interruptions and cancellations have messed with us recently. We had to cancel a Disney Cruise to Alaska in July 2022 the day before we left to fly to Vancouver because one kid tested positive for COVID-19 before the cruise lines lifted testing restrictions. Our two-hour flights from Nashville to Miami and back were canceled right after Christmas 2022 when Southwest had its infamous meltdown. But we got refunded, reimbursed, and rewarded, and, yes, I booked Southwest again for an upcoming Spring Break trip. 

Sometimes traveling means early mornings or late nights or canceled flights. It means snack crumbs in the minivan and public bathrooms. Sometimes it means wrong turns, heavy traffic, and more miles than you were expecting to put on a vehicle. 

But, more importantly, traveling makes me appreciate home and let go of the stress that comes with ordinary routines and responsibilities. Traveling opens my eyes to new places and experiences, gives me a fresh perspective, and lets me have different food I didn’t have to cook. I also love documenting our travels with photos – many of which have ended up on the walls of our home. 

Another way we make traveling rewarding is by using our Capital One Venture credit card. There are travel discounts and rewards. We get a higher percentage back in rewards when we make travel-related reservations, can cash rewards in to cover travel purchases, got reimbursed for our TSA Pre-Check application when we used this card as payment, and can book hotels and rental cars with discounted rates directly through the credit card website. Win-win, I tell you. (Learn more here!)

Thankfully, Greg and I are in sync with traveling philosophies and styles. Also, props to my husband for almost always driving all the miles between wherever we’re going and home. 

With our two teenagers and their younger sister, we are reaping the benefits of having traveled with our babies. Now we have big kids who appreciate a weekend getaway or major vacation. They have developed their own preferences and it’s fun to see them settle into their own as travelers. Ben and Cate would tell you our Spring Break trip in 2022 to Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, and Sedona, Arizona is their favorite. Rachel asks to go back to Disney, but I’m not so sure that’s going to happen! 

So, I tell you, take the trip. It may not be easy or convenient, but it’s always worth it. And always take lots of snacks along for the ride! 

*****

Here are some of our trips!

Taking a [spring] break

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I needed a change of scenery. After a year with a lot of days at home, I wanted to see a different backdrop to our everyday life. So we went to St. Pete Beach for Spring Break last week. So did a lot of other people. 

We planned the getaway in February when we were in the throes of covid, quarantine, snowstorms, and my mother-in-law staying at our house while recovering from heart surgery. I knew then my girls, who gave up their spaces, deserved a treat. I knew my boy needed different ground on which to roam. I knew I needed an adventure and my husband needed a break from his work, which has been incredibly busy even in a weird year. 

Greg went hunting two times. We all went to Busch Gardens one day. My girls and I went shopping one morning. But mostly we hung out at the beach, moved to the pool, and then went out for seafood. It was a welcome routine that looked different from our life in landlocked Kentucky. Plus I read three books. (See more about those here.)

I thought having covid restrictions would make Busch Gardens more enjoyable, but that wasn’t the case. It was crowded and took us more than an hour just to go through the temperature check at the front gate. And then we waited almost as long for pizza and chicken fingers lunch. We had to buy admission tickets in advance, so the crowd couldn’t have surprised Busch Gardens. But somehow it seemed to have. Many concession stands weren’t open, which meant the lines were long at the dining options available. And I’m going to wait a while before having to wear a mask at an amusement park again. 

Even so, we had a good day at Busch Gardens. The lines for rides really weren’t that bad, other than the Cheetah Run roller coaster, which we would have wanted to ride had the wait not been nearly two hours. I particularly loved Cobra’s Curse (which we all went on) and also rode the thrilling Kumba with my big kids. 

I didn’t cook all week, which was a good plan because our hotel kitchen was teeny tiny. But, goodness, we ate well so I’m going to tell you more about that. Unless noted, the restaurants are in St. Pete Beach.

  • Hurricane at Pass-a-Grille Beach — My shrimp tacos were good and there’s a rooftop option with great views. 
  • Caddy’s — We met my cousin Jen here and I ate coconut shrimp. It was a family-friendly place and the kids’ food was served on a frisbee. 
  • Shell’s Seafood — We ate at the Tampa one after we went to Busch Gardens and we all enjoyed our meals. 
  • Snappers — This is a little more upscale food-wise than our usual, but we still wore shorts & T-shirts and loved it. Greg and I really like the different food choices. I ended up getting Coconut-Cashew Crusted Mahi-Mahi, which was delicious! The kids’ pizza and grouper were also good. 
  • Crabby Bills — We loved the casual waterfront atmosphere. There’s an outdoor, rooftop option too. The hush puppies were really good.
  • Ice & Cream — We went there three nights in a row to enjoy delicious homemade ice cream & some unique flavors. I ordered Dreamsicle in a waffle cone every time. 
  • Fo’ Cheezy Twisted Meltz — The girls and I happened upon this when we walked from our hotel to the Corey Avenue Shopping District so we stopped on our way back as it was almost 11 am. It’s a fun restaurant with tasty sandwiches. 

Our break was welcomed and enjoyed thoroughly. Of course, we were glad to get settled back in at home for the last six weeks of school, soccer season, birthday season, and whatever other ordinary adventures come our way.