Day 6 & 7, Under Canvas in West Yellowstone
We left Jackpot NV with zero traffic, crossing the border into Idaho in a matter of minutes. Our first charging station was in Twin Falls, ID - and damn, I sure wish we had stayed here instead of Jackpot! The Snake River Valley is stunning. Since it was July 4, there were dozens of kayakers paddling around under the spectacular bridge.
The town is manageable and manicured, with green rolling lawns around every office park and shopping center. While we were charging, we went in search of a sporting good store where we could find a collapsible oven that would work on top of our camp stove, so we could bake Bill a belated birthday cake. Thanks to Sportman's, we found it. A stop at Starbucks for breakfast provisions, and we were on our way.
The drive through Idaho was pretty, with cute farmhouses and LOTS of cornfields as we make our way to Pocatallo, ID for our second Tesla charge of the day. It was a .8 mile walk to a grocery store so we could pick up the cake mix, eggs and dry ice for our cooler, and some other snacks. Stocked up, we headed out again, expecting to arrive in West Yellowstone with plenty of charge to last our stay and make it to the next charging station when we were ready to head into the park.
As we drive into our home for the next few days, Under Canvas, my first impression is "wow!"
A small cluster of white tents sit amid the backdrop of bright green fields, smaller hills, and snowy majestic mountains in the distance. Shae, our super friendly hostess, checks us in at the main tent. There will be s'mores every night, and live music (cowboy with guitar-type and they are all GREAT!) This place is glamping at its most amazing!
We head into our tent. While I had called ahead to let them know it was Bill's birthday, they have outdone my expectations with balloons, a banner, Prosecco on ice for us and huckleberry soda (apparently huckleberry is a big thing in Montana and Wyoming) for the kids. They even gave Bill a card signed by all the staff with best wishes for his 50th. We have a 'Stargazer' tent, which has its own bathroom - though the shared facilities are immaculate and accessible. The Stargazer has a clear plastic window above the bed, so you can look at the amazing stars at night. Super cool, but resulted in the kids sleeping with us instead of in their cots. #crowded.
We settle into the chairs on our front porch, enjoy our prosecco, and chill.
Later that night, after s'mores and some fun conversation with a family from Baltimore, we proceed to freeze our asses off the first night when it dips into the 30's at night. We have a wood stove in our tent, but Bill, bless his heart, has to get up every couple hours to add wood to keep it going so our kids don't become popsicles.
The sun rises spectacularly in the morning (with Bill already awake to capture it.)
We head into town to drop off laundry (thumbs up to Swan Cleaners who took our bags of dirty laundry and made it clean to the tune of about $25), charge the car, do some shopping and take in some local sights at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. They have rescued animals that can no longer survive in the wild, and we were able to see Grizzly bears, wolves, and Mackay's favorite, the ground squirrel. We also saw a pretty cool presentation about birds of prey, which included the cutest owl we've ever seen.
Heading back to Under Canvas, we spend the afternoon fishing in the nearby river. There were a about 5 beautiful trout that eluded Bill's hook, but given the number of live bugs to choose from, it's no surprise.
We spent the evening listening to live music, while Owen made a friend within minutes and they spent time playing cornhole (or else hucking the bean bags at each other with full force. Sigh...Boys.) We had some great fireside conversations with the other campers, trading stories about life and travels, and we all enjoyed the s'mores.
The next morning, we pack and get ready to head into Yellowstone, with the kids sad to leave such an amazing and peaceful spot. But we hope to find another Under Canvas to stay in the future!
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| View to the left of lookout (ignore my finger) |
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| View to the right of lookout |
The town is manageable and manicured, with green rolling lawns around every office park and shopping center. While we were charging, we went in search of a sporting good store where we could find a collapsible oven that would work on top of our camp stove, so we could bake Bill a belated birthday cake. Thanks to Sportman's, we found it. A stop at Starbucks for breakfast provisions, and we were on our way.
The drive through Idaho was pretty, with cute farmhouses and LOTS of cornfields as we make our way to Pocatallo, ID for our second Tesla charge of the day. It was a .8 mile walk to a grocery store so we could pick up the cake mix, eggs and dry ice for our cooler, and some other snacks. Stocked up, we headed out again, expecting to arrive in West Yellowstone with plenty of charge to last our stay and make it to the next charging station when we were ready to head into the park.
As we drive into our home for the next few days, Under Canvas, my first impression is "wow!"
A small cluster of white tents sit amid the backdrop of bright green fields, smaller hills, and snowy majestic mountains in the distance. Shae, our super friendly hostess, checks us in at the main tent. There will be s'mores every night, and live music (cowboy with guitar-type and they are all GREAT!) This place is glamping at its most amazing!
 |
| The view back toward the hills, where cows roam |
We head into our tent. While I had called ahead to let them know it was Bill's birthday, they have outdone my expectations with balloons, a banner, Prosecco on ice for us and huckleberry soda (apparently huckleberry is a big thing in Montana and Wyoming) for the kids. They even gave Bill a card signed by all the staff with best wishes for his 50th. We have a 'Stargazer' tent, which has its own bathroom - though the shared facilities are immaculate and accessible. The Stargazer has a clear plastic window above the bed, so you can look at the amazing stars at night. Super cool, but resulted in the kids sleeping with us instead of in their cots. #crowded.
We settle into the chairs on our front porch, enjoy our prosecco, and chill.
Later that night, after s'mores and some fun conversation with a family from Baltimore, we proceed to freeze our asses off the first night when it dips into the 30's at night. We have a wood stove in our tent, but Bill, bless his heart, has to get up every couple hours to add wood to keep it going so our kids don't become popsicles.
The sun rises spectacularly in the morning (with Bill already awake to capture it.)
We head into town to drop off laundry (thumbs up to Swan Cleaners who took our bags of dirty laundry and made it clean to the tune of about $25), charge the car, do some shopping and take in some local sights at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. They have rescued animals that can no longer survive in the wild, and we were able to see Grizzly bears, wolves, and Mackay's favorite, the ground squirrel. We also saw a pretty cool presentation about birds of prey, which included the cutest owl we've ever seen.
Heading back to Under Canvas, we spend the afternoon fishing in the nearby river. There were a about 5 beautiful trout that eluded Bill's hook, but given the number of live bugs to choose from, it's no surprise.
We spent the evening listening to live music, while Owen made a friend within minutes and they spent time playing cornhole (or else hucking the bean bags at each other with full force. Sigh...Boys.) We had some great fireside conversations with the other campers, trading stories about life and travels, and we all enjoyed the s'mores.
The next morning, we pack and get ready to head into Yellowstone, with the kids sad to leave such an amazing and peaceful spot. But we hope to find another Under Canvas to stay in the future!
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| Heading northeast from Jackpot to Under Canvas |
