Howdy strangers!
We got back late last night. Told you it was a quick trip......
We didn't really budget for a big summer trip this year, but really just found ourselves wanting to get out of town for a few days and see something ANYTHING interesting! Living in Missouri, we have to travel a full day to get close to anything remotely interesting......
We ended up making a brief drive into Rocky Mountain National Park. They had just opened the pass last Sunday that we took. The name escapes me right now....... As we drove near the top, we got to see WHY it had just opened! The snow was probably 15 feet high on the sides of the road up there. It was fascinating to see the huge snow plows sitting there and to see the massive piles of snow. Man, I'd love to see them actually clearing those roads!
I got to take some photos from what felt like the top of the world. And got some odd looks from the others around me in winter coats when I stepped out into blowing snow...... wearing shorts!
Still, I do love looking a big rocky things, so I enjoyed our brief visit.
From there, we headed north toward one of my favorite stops of the trip.... a chance to have lunch with my friend Gretchen! (scrapsofheaven). We've been email friends for years, so this was really awesome to get to meet her in person.
We started the next day with a visit to Mount Rushmore. We then took the scenic drive through Custer State park, which was wonderful. Got stuck in a bison jam and everything. It was really fun. Katie enjoyed petting the wild burros. The scenery around there was far more remarkable than I expected. I actually had hesitation about going, as we've been to the desert southwest, and I LOVE it there. I thought this might disappoint, but it really did not.
We ended the evening with a drive through Bear Country USA. We had looked all over Yellowstone for bears a few years ago, and come up empty. When we drove through South Dakota that year we joked about maybe finding them there......... this time we really did. The baby bear exhibit was one of everyone's favorite stops of the whole trip. I'm not sure how many there were, but I'd say at least 15, and they were very playful.
We stayed right outside the Badlands in Wall, SD that night and planned to hit the parks early the next day. We were up and out early...... but the weather was very non-cooperative. There was a dense fog that took some time to burn off. Eventually we were treated to clearing skies and some remarkable views to end our trip.
We drove all the way home from South Dakota yesterday. Aside from finding I-29 closed for flooding, it was an uneventful drive home.
Today I'm regrouping before starting back on some work tomorrow.
Soooooooo......... thanks again for everyone's patience. I hope to be updating my trip report again soon. And when I get all my photos from this trip downloaded and edited, I'll post a few here.
Part of me wants to take my time getting the next day of this trip report done, as it's the last full day of the trip.......
I'm once again caught up on your updates but I had to skip the chatter.
I am once again in awe of your pictures. I'm so glad Katie did the pick a pearl. My girls loved it too. Now you have to do it too. It took several trip for me to do it but I finally did this last trip.
You did really well with the graduation pictures. It's so hard to get good shots.
Robbie's senior photos you took look great too. I hope the professional pictures turn out good too.
Thanks Vanessa!
So what did you do with your pearl once you picked one too?
And thanks for the nice comments on the photos.
I'm going to shed lurk-status once again and chime in!! I went to Estes Park a few years ago in June for my birthday, and I had a FANTASTIC time!!! My friend and I did most of the things that DISNEYaddict4evr suggested, and I can give you my opinions if you're interested!
Butterfly Pavillion: great! If you've gone to any other butterfly exhibit you'll know they're pretty much the same, but the experience never gets old for me.
Stanley Hotel: really cool to explore, very beautiful, but the "ghost tour" is kind of hokey and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are into that kind of thing. Example: (Tour guide) "*gasp* What was that? Did anyone get a picture of my left pantleg just now? I think so-and-so ghost just tugged on it! She is known to cause mischief!"
Cabin: there are TONS of cabins in the area, we didn't stay at the ones DISNEYaddict4evr recommended but they were similar, right on the river. Loved it!
Downtown Estes Park: very cute, lots of shops and things to see and do.
Bear Lake Area: my friend surprised me with a guided hike to Cub Lake, which was super fun. There were lots of families hiking by themselves, though, so you don't need a guide at all. The wildlife and views were amazing!
We also drove further in to Rocky Mountain nat'l park but I started to get some altitude sickness so we turned around at one of the rest stops and came back down.
If you want scenery, Estes Park is perfect!
I want to go back someday and stay longer.
First off.....
to my trip report! You know........ now that I've shown back up again.........
All of that stuff sounds awesome. But honestly, we never stay in one place long enough to do all the interesting little stuff. Mostly I just like to go see big rocks........ errrr......... interesting landscape. I just can't get enough of it. There are still so many areas of the country we haven't seen, and I want to see and photograph it all. Can't do that and stay in one place very long. Especially if I ALSO want to go to Disney once a year!
My husband would probably love the Stanley Hotel. He'd probably love the tour too. It just wasn't in the budget this time. This was definitely a budget endeavor!
I also think Estes is a great idea! You would have to drive right past my house to get there from Denver. We are about 30 minutes outside of Estes. Maybe we could FINALLY meet for that coffee we always talk about.
Sounds like a great plan. We should do that sometime. No...... wait......... we DID!
It was so awesome to meet you after....... HOW many emails? No... wait....... don't count. I'd be embarrassed to fess up the number.........
I'm a little late for the party but luvin your trip report. Luvin all your disney outfits and dresses!
That's kinda a bummer what happened to your princess of the day and I would be so mad if my tickets didn't work after waiting to get in for so long
Luv the picture with Stitch from DHS and I so want the Snowman Mickey!
The look she is giving you in your first Magic Kingdom day is so funny!
Like how dare you!!
I have learnt something from reading trip reports now.. If you sit on the "other" side of the road the castle is in your parade pics as well
We normally either sit where the soliders were or in front of the castle!
How cool that you keep getting the same fairy god-mother every trip!
When we were there in September the 3:00 parade in MK came from Frontierland as well but it was mapped to come that way.
What amazing pixie dust you got at the Xmas party with all three princesses and princes!
Hi! And
!!!!!!
It really was an odd day for us at DHS. The rest of the trip more than made up for it, but still an odd start. I think we'll make it back this December as well. I thought I might stop by Guest Relations at DHS and tell them what happened last year and see if there's any way they could arrange a meeting with Gaston this time. My personal philosophy...... I can always ask....... they can always say no. Can't hurt, right?
I have to say, I usually pick our parade spots based on the view I want for my photos. The only view really left on my "Disney parade photography to-do list" is the view from upstairs at the train station. I've seen photos taken from that perspecitve and really love them. I hear those spots fill up early though, so I'll really have to plan for that one....
We're getting closer to putting together a brief drive into Colorado (just to do the scenic drive into the Mountains. We've only gone straight through on I-70 on our way west before) then up through the Badlands. Probably no time for Rushmore this time, unless it's just a quick drive-by...... 
so here it goes…
Life sucked for months after that happened... see that elk shot I was SO proud of that shot... all gone... all gone. 
Anywho, enjoy and I hope you like what I suggest for your family
