Jackson Hole

Before I can tell you about our Yellowstone adventure, I have to tell you about the first place we visited after we got off the plane.

Jackson Hole, WY.

This is where "a couple of pictures, a great meal, and a couple of tears" that I referenced in my last post took place.

(Actually, all of those things happened every single day.....but Jackson Hole was where it all began. ) 

I'm sentimental.  I'm dramatic.  And I was OVERWHELMED with happiness.  

I teared up the minute we landed.  This was my dream trip.  One that I had been thinking about for YEARS.  One that I had been anticipating since last summer when my Mom made reservations.

This was my first time ALONE on an adventure with my parents since I was 2 1/2.

It was a trip that I knew I was always going treasure.

Those emotions + what I saw when I got off the plane = I can't really think of a word that does it justice... but lets just say that I was blown away.

BLOWN AWAY.

This is taken from the parking lot of the airport.

We were surrounded by mountains and clear, beautiful skies as far as the eye could see.

I couldn't imagine any one ever not wanting to live there.

Except for maybe because of the harsh winters.  But I believe the scenery could help me to forget about the fact that I am freezing to death.

Right next to the airport was this.....

An entrance to Grand Teton National Park.

I felt that I needed to be pinched to believe this was really happening.  But just a regular pinch... NOT a Christmas pinch.  I hate those!

Dad drove by so I could get a picture ( 1 of almost 1000 that I ended up taking during the week) but we were saving the park for another day.

Because...

We were on a mission.  To visit the town of Jackson Hole, WY and eat at the famous Silver Dollar Bar and Grill located in the Wort Hotel.  It was Dave's suggestion based on the experiences he had while visiting Yellowstone ( with Laura!)  during a summer in college.

The lobby...                       

  

The Saloon...

A napkin...

There was so much history posted all over the walls - in pictures and in stories.  Even in the bathroom!
I finally had a reason to enjoy going to the bathroom... even if I had to travel eleventy million miles to experience it.

The restaurant was set up like a saloon with thousands of silver dollars lining the bar.... which is obviously how it got its name.

Unfortunately, the only one that moseyed through the saloon doors was my Mom.  I was really hoping to be challenged to a gun fight.

Or kidnapped by a posse of cowboys that needed a home cooked meal.

Speaking of meals...

Our meal consisted of:

Elk Loin Gyro

Cod sandwich with beer battered onion rings.

And their signature item:  The bison burger with bleu cheese!

We shared a little with each other and all were DELICIOUS!  The elk gyro was my favorite, though.

Next up on our to-do list was the Antler Arches...

There was an arch located at each entrance to the park - for a total of four.

The town was full of people!  There were so many things to do and it looked like a fun place to even stay for a couple of nights.

Especially  because of this...

I'm sure it was full of amazing things.  Specifically cowboys!

Has any one picked up on my obsession yet?

We walked around for a minute or five... but we had somewhere we needed to be.  The Old Faithful Inn.  It was calling our name.

Back in the car and back on the road we went.... with nothing but this glorious view for the next hour...

We had been up since 3:30 a.m. at this point but I was too excited to sleep.  I didn't want to miss a second.

Up Next:  The Old Faithful Inn.