By Erin
As a travel advisor, one of my favorite things to do is experience destinations firsthand. Every trip teaches me something new, gives me ideas to share with my clients, and reminds me that travel isn’t just about where you go—it’s about the journey, the unexpected moments, and the memories you make along the way.
Our recent family adventure through California, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana was the perfect example of that.
Like many great adventures, ours didn’t begin exactly as planned.
Our flight from Houston to San Francisco was delayed for several hours, and we had to make not one, but two gate changes at IAH—both on opposite sides of the airport! Thankfully, we eventually made it to San Francisco, where we spent the night at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Downtown. It was a wonderful place to recharge before the next leg of our journey and was just a short walk from the iconic “Heart of San Francisco” sign.
The next morning, we boarded Amtrak’s California Zephyr for the trip to Salt Lake City, and it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the entire vacation.
I spent hours in the observation car with a good book, watching some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen from a train. What amazed me most was how dramatically the landscape changed throughout the day. We traveled from the forests and mountains of Northern California through the deserts of Nevada and into the rugged beauty of Utah. It truly felt like traveling through several different worlds in a single day, and it reminded me that sometimes the journey itself becomes one of the best parts of the vacation.
We finally rolled into Salt Lake City around 3:00 a.m., grabbed a cab to the Hilton Salt Lake City Center, and caught a few hours of sleep before picking up our rental car.
Or at least that was the plan.
Although we had prepaid our rental car three months in advance, Avis had no vehicles available when we arrived. A conference in town had left the airport location short on cars, and we spent the next several hours waiting and hoping something would become available. Eventually, someone returned a Jeep Rubicon. Looking at our group of four, five suitcases, and my dad’s wheelchair, we weren’t convinced everything would fit. Somehow, thanks to Madison and Jackson’s impressive game of luggage Tetris, it all squeezed in. A computer outage delayed us one final time, but once we finally hit the road, all of the frustration quickly disappeared.
The drive from Salt Lake City through Utah, Idaho, and into Wyoming was absolutely breathtaking. Every state offered something different, and two towns immediately caught my attention: Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, and Afton, Wyoming. Both left me thinking, “I’d love to come back and spend more time here.”
By the time we reached Jackson Hole, it was late enough that almost every restaurant had already closed, but the next morning made up for it in every possible way.
We met our guide, Bob Adams, from Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris for a private wildlife tour through Grand Teton National Park. It was just the four of us—my dad, my two kids, and me— which made the experience feel incredibly personal.
Bob wasn’t just an exceptional guide; he’s also a professional wildlife photographer, and his knowledge of the area was amazing. Throughout the morning, we spotted elk crossing toward the Snake River, pronghorn antelope, a coyote, plenty of bison, and countless birds. We even searched for a well-known grizzly bear named Bruno, who had been spotted the day before. Although Bruno decided not to appear for us, the peaceful valley where we searched became one of my favorite moments of the trip. Surrounded by towering mountains, birdsong, and complete silence, it was a reminder of how special it can be to simply slow down and appreciate where you are.
After our tour, Bob recommended taking the scenic back roads through Grand Teton National Park on our way to Yellowstone. Not only did we avoid a massive traffic jam, but we were treated to some of the most beautiful scenery of the entire trip.
Another unexpected highlight came when we discovered that my dad, as a veteran, qualifies for a lifetime National Parks Pass. The pass allows him and up to three passengers traveling with him to enter America’s national parks free of charge. I love that our National Park Service recognizes veterans in such a meaningful way.
That evening, we checked into Grant Village inside Yellowstone National Park and enjoyed dinner overlooking Yellowstone Lake. Everything about the lodge felt exactly as a national park lodge should—comfortable, rustic, and perfectly surrounded by nature.
The next morning was supposed to be one of the biggest highlights of our vacation: our guided Ring of Fire Tour through Yellowstone.
Instead, it became the biggest mistake I made during the entire trip.
The day before, I had called the Grant Village front desk to ask where and when we needed to meet our tour. I was told the tour departed at 9:15 a.m. from the registration building.
The next morning, while getting everyone ready, I noticed a missed call from the tour company, and voicemail asking me where we were.
I immediately called back.
It turned out our actual tour had departed at 8:00 a.m.
The detailed itinerary with the correct time and all of the details had been sent to Amtrak several days earlier, but I never received it from them. At the same time, I had only been looking at the summary itinerary, and under the detailed portion of it the departure time did say 8AM. Adding
to the confusion, the Grant Village employee had unknowingly given me the departure time for a completely different Ring of Fire tour. It was an honest misunderstanding, but at that moment I was convinced I had ruined one of the experiences we had been looking forward to most.
Then something wonderful happened.
When I explained what had happened to the Grant Village employee, she genuinely felt terrible, even though I told her in no way was it her fault. She then pulled out a Yellowstone map and began marking every one of her favorite places in the park. She wrote out a complete driving route, pointed out scenic roads most visitors skip, recommended her favorite coffee stop, suggested where to eat in West Yellowstone, and essentially created our own personalized Yellowstone tour.
Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Following her recommendations, we explored West Thumb, Yellowstone Lake, Bridge Bay, Canyon Village, the Upper and Lower Falls, Norris Geyser Basin, Steamboat Geyser, Monument Geyser, Artists Paint Pots, and Madison.
Some of our favorite discoveries were Virginia Cascades Drive and Firehole Falls Drive. These quiet, scenic one-way roads had almost no traffic, making it feel like we had parts of Yellowstone entirely to ourselves.
Later that afternoon, we drove through the West Entrance into the charming town of West Yellowstone before continuing into Montana. I honestly hadn’t expected we’d have time to visit Big Sky, but thanks to our unexpected change of plans, we did.
Big Sky absolutely lived up to its name.
Towering mountains, rushing rivers, dense forests, and fresh mountain air surrounded us everywhere we looked. A gentle drizzle somehow made the scenery even more beautiful. We ended the day on the way back with dinner at The Slippery Otter Pub in West Yellowstone, which quickly became everyone’s favorite restaurant of the trip.
As evening approached, we returned to Yellowstone, driving through the Lower, Middle, and Upper Geyser Basins before arriving at Old Faithful.
By pure luck, we picked the perfect bench.
As the sun began setting, Old Faithful erupted directly in front of us. When it finished, everyone watching applauded together. It was one of those travel moments that no photograph can truly capture.
As if Yellowstone wanted to give us one last surprise, we experienced nearly every type of weather imaginable in that single day—sunshine, rain, heavy rain, hail, and even patches of snow.
Our return drive to Salt Lake City was just as scenic as the drive north. We traveled through Star Valley, Dry Creek Canyon, and portions of the historic Oregon Trail before enjoying one of the best homemade lunches of the trip at The Place on Pine in Diamondville, Wyoming.
Before boarding Amtrak back to San Francisco, we spent a relaxing day exploring Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City. With its beautifully maintained themed gardens, winding walking trails, colorful flowers, and panoramic views of the Wasatch Mountains, it offered a completely different kind of beauty than the rugged landscapes we’d been exploring all week. It was the perfect way to unwind before beginning our journey home. It ended up being my dad’s and Madison’s favorite stop outside the national parks, while Jackson couldn’t stop talking about Canyon Village and Yellowstone Lake.
The train ride back to San Francisco gave us another opportunity to sit in the observation car, reflect on the adventure, and simply enjoy watching America roll past our windows. After one final overnight stay in San Francisco—and one last fantastic dinner at Zorba’s Pizza & Pasta—it was time to head home.
Looking back, it’s funny how the moments that seemed like disasters at the time became some of our favorite memories. The delayed flight didn’t stop us from enjoying San Francisco. The rental car fiasco led to one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever experienced. Missing our Yellowstone tour felt devastating in the moment, yet it led us to hidden scenic roads, Big Sky, Montana, an unforgettable meal, and a day we never could have planned ourselves.
Sometimes the best vacations aren’t the ones where everything goes according to plan.
Sometimes the best memories come from the unexpected detours, the kindness of strangers, and the adventures that were never on the itinerary.
This trip reminded me that travel isn’t about creating a perfect schedule—it’s about creating unforgettable memories. And this journey through the American West gave us more of those than I could have ever imagined.