Tag Archives: road trip

On our epic summer road trip

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Although the summer wasn’t fully what we expected – with the Pandemic, most places and activities were shut down (including volleyball for the first time ever – how strange to truly have the summer off!).

But camping was still on the agenda (for us and everyone else in the nation it seems as well based on how busy all campgrounds were!). So in August, we set off for Yellowstone with a bunch of fun stops along the way. Because of the year we had endured so far, all 4 members of Team Hoelzle Brown were ready for some quality time together both in the car, in the trailer and exploring new places.

10 days in our home away from home!

We created some intentions early and our mantra for the trip was “KNOW BETTER, GROW BETTER”. We used this trip for some study materials in the car, interesting journal prompts, and a chance for us to restore and grow our relationships in a better direction (a few of them took some major hits early in the year).

Here are a few highlights –

  • Stopping to explore any place we wanted!
  • Pool time every where we could find it!
  • Roadside stops and breaths.
  • We set a goal of 100 miles walked/hiked and completed it on the last day!
  • Such beautiful scenery!
I was that mean Mom that made our kiddos do some learning in the car – we used these workbooks intentionally to fill in our some gaps of learning including some math and a whole lot of “real life” knowledge (that even I needed to grow better in as well).

We had friends and family along our road trip route that we couldn’t pass up the chance to see and catch up with. Here are a few of our fave meet ups!

  • We love the Englers!
  • My bestie from college!
  • Dennison crew.
  • Cousin Shelby!
  • Floating adventure.

A few places that we definitely want to return to on a future road trip include:
– Fairmont Resort in Montana (hot spring pools, water slide, RV park, and some pool side drinks for the parents)
– WSU (yearly pilgrimage perhaps?)
– Missoula – hike the M (or was it W?) and loved the KOA there!

  • Meeting the bears.
  • Ferdinands!
  • One of my favorite stops!
  • Anniversary date at the Coug.

By the time we made it home, we already started planning next year’s adventure – I am so very grateful we have our trailer this summer (and beyond for this Fall and Winter while we’re still shut down from sports and other activities) to still create such special memories.

On our first visit to Yellowstone

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And I say first, because we have already started planning our next trip back!!

Day (night)1 highlights – Gibbon Falls date night (since the kiddos were both asleep), Artists Paintpots loop (loved this one!), grizzly and bison sightings and Firehole loop. Excited for a full day in the park tomorrow!

Day 2 Yellowstone adventures – Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and all sorts of other beautiful scenery (including Scott gazing at elk more romantically than he looks at me).

Day 3 Yellowstone highlights – Norris Geyser Basin, south rim trail of Grand Canyon of YS, mammoth springs and a quick stop to play in the river while Kenz and her sore back rested after a LONG but beautiful day.

Here are a few other highlights from my over-instagramming during these couple of days….

  • Plan for next trip – more hikes!
  • The wait was worth it for this!
  • Hehe….

We can’t wait to go back once WonderGIRL’s back is in better shape – and if you’re reading this and planning a trip….my BIG recommendation would be to download the GYPSY app. It acts as a tour guide in the car with some Yellowstone information but also gives you some travel tips along the way – both myself and the kiddos loved this part and it works at all national parks!

We also loved exploring the town of West Yellowstone as well and did a little shopping, eating, hanging out at Lake Hepgen throughout our time here. What a wonderful pitstop on this epic road trip adventure and hopefully we’ll get back here as soon as we can!