Although I have much to update you guys on, I feel like I cannot miss out on sharing some trips and big events that happened in the past (including my wedding, of course!) One of the trips that I absolutely loved was going out West to Wyoming and Colorado. For context, this was back when Dillon was still my boyfriend and exactly one year ago today (May 31st, 2021).
Colorado
This was my first time going to both Wyoming and Colorado, so I was very excited for this trip. Some of Dillon’s family were also there with us which made it even better. We got an airbnb in the Carbondale area near Aspen. I loved that it was ranch style. We even saw some alpacas on the drive there (something I wouldn’t expect in Colorado)! We watched a gorgeous sunset that night and ate a yummy homemade meal back in our airbnb. The next day we headed to Aspen. Aspen in late Spring isn’t as crowded. Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve never been to Colorado before, but I can imagine Aspen, CO as being really fun in the winter with everyone skiing and doing their Winter activities! But what I loved about going this time of the year was all the gorgeous blooms everywhere! It looked beautiful.
Wyoming
On June 2nd, we headed out to Wyoming which was an 8 hour drive from Airbnb. We rented a car in Colorado so this was a mini road trip. First day there, we spent some time in Jackson Hole. I love this town! I mean, wow. The western style decor was really prevalent over here. I never really grew up watching Western movies (unlike my husband, Dillon), but I did gain a big appreciation for the West after coming here. Since we were not too far, we decided to drive to Teton National Park in the afternoon. We even saw a moose that evening! Teton National Park should be on the list for anyone visiting Wyoming. Just note that they are closed for some months of the year due to heavy snowfall. The most popular time to visit is May-September.
The following day we saw the popular old barn in Mormon Row. After a short drive, we stopped in Alta, Wyoming to see the horses with the Teton mountains in the background. I felt like I was in a movie or looking at a postcard because the view was just too pretty! Scroll down to see pictures of what I’m talking about….After that, we drove to Yellowstone National Park. Personally, in terms of beauty, I would say Teton National Park is prettier. But Yellowstone National Park has a lot more diversity in terms of what you see. They have way more wild animals there (bison, bear, moose, etc), geysers, a giant waterfall, and more. I can’t tell you which one is my favorite because they are very different.
The next day, we saw the Yellowstone geysers and hot springs. I was in awe seeing the Grand Prismatic Spring! I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It’s like a rainbow that decided to marry a hot spring and the result is the Grand Prismatic Spring. When I see things like that, I am just so grateful to live in a world with so much beauty. God is so amazing. We also saw the Old Faithful. I love that it got its name for shooting hot water “faithfully” every 90 minutes or so. Later that day we even saw a momma bear with two cubs!! I was so excited to see that at least once this trip! We then drove back to the Tetons and hiked Jenny Lake (which is so so beautiful!)
June 5th, which was 6 days into our trip, we did Jackson Hole for in the evening. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant and then went out to see the Jackson Hole Rodeo. I had so much fun that night with Dillon and his family watching the rodeo! It’s something that’s great for the whole family and they serve drinks and food. Definitely check it out if you’re in Jackson Hole. Next time I go, I’m bringing my cowgirl hat and boots!!
Colorado
June 6th, we traveled back to Colorado. After all, we flew into Denver and would be flying out from Denver so this was getting towards the end of our trip. Instead of staying in Carbondale again, we stayed in a completely different area called Grand Lake. Since we typically do airbnbs, we like to eat home cooked meals often so we’ll do groceries on our trip and make a delicious healthy meal. (I mean, not always healthy but we try haha).
On June 7th we visited the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I was shocked to see SO MUCH snow! As a Floridian, I am definitely not used to having this kind of cold in June. But feeling like a little kid again, I threw some snowballs at Dillon. That evening the whole family got together and we did a bonfire with s’mores and wine after eating tacos for dinner. Hmmm, so good!
June 8th & 9th were our last full days in Colorado before we flew home on the 10th. We had a lazy day and napped after doing so much exploring. It’s all about balance, right? I’ve learned through my trips that a good mix of exploring mixed with plenty of rest is ideal. Too much exploring will leave you needing a vacation from your vacation. Too much resting…well, I can’t say that’s bad on vacation (but I do like to explore and experience new things on trips). Anyway, then Dillon and I walked down to the lake in Grand Lake town. The rest of the trip was more relaxing as we did another bonfire, watched movies, ate grilled fish with the family. The sunset at Grand Lake was the cherry on top to a wonderful time out West.
Well, that wraps up the rest of our trip. Overall, I had a blast exploring the national parks out West with Dillon and his family! It was better than I imagined. I already can’t wait for the next time we get to go out West (I’ll make sure to bring my cowgirl hat this time!) Keep scrolling for more photos of our trip 🙂
