It’s such a simple pleasure and it was so taken for granted until March, 2020. So when the very first “dine-in” meal was enjoyed on the first day of this 2020 Road Trip, all the joys of going somewhere to sit and enjoy food and company were appreciated that much more. The thought of dining at a restaurant wasn’t even considered when we made the quick decision to visit national parks — but no question a welcome bonus. As for accommodations, it was Marriott brands except for Jackson Hole. Easy bookings, inexpensive, pristine. But those hot breakfasts included? No more. Coffee and cereal, etc., were available. By the way, when you ask for a refill at a restaurant, it’s a fresh glass — no more passed pitchers of water or ice tea. New realities.
First stop was Henderson, NV, to visit LA transplants (about a year ago) and see their new home. Lovely neighborhood, gorgeous home, and under four hours door to door which is great time considering it was the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend. The group was positively giddy sitting together (outside) at their nearby club with an expansive view of Las Vegas below. Overall, a great start to the trip.
From there it was a lengthy haul to Salt Lake City for the first overnight. I’m always surprised when a random search yields a terrific restaurant find, as was the case with Osteria Amore near the campus of the University of Utah “Utes.” How a family from Palermo, Sicily, ends up in this region cooking delicious and authentic food is fascinating. Between the language barrier and face masks, we never got the whole story but were happy finding the place.
After a brief drive through downtown SLC, it was off to the next stop, Jackson Hole, WY, for night two. We drove north to Idaho and then headed east/north up along the gorgeous Snake River. I hadn’t driven in snow for some time so that was “fun.” Credit the hubby for providing great entertainment along with the aid of modern technology: His FiiO music device has 19,000 songs and was hooked up to my car’s Bluetooth. Amazing.
Jackson Hole is a beautiful town year-round. Dinner at Local Restaurant & Bar was simply delicious! A walk around the town square and chatting up other travelers (from the proper distance) made for a splendid evening.
Day three was simply a marvel. We enjoyed driving through both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, which are basically next to each other. Most park facilities remain closed for now — no camping, dining, etc., but that didn’t affect us. We came to see the gorgeous scenery, Old Faithful, and some of the wildlife which had just begun emerging after the long winter months. Check, check, and check. More to follow from our next stop in Sheridan, WY.
