After six years of unsuccessful plans to travel out west, the stars finally aligned for me to visit more rural and mountainous pastures! Five days spent exploring five new states was a momentous adventure, and I’m grateful that the passage of time found a way to integrate this into my path.
My flight from Denver to Salt Lake City was delayed, and I didn’t land until around 2 a.m. my time. It’s strange to think about how, with certain time differences, I’ve technically lived the same time twice while traversing. Northern lights faintly gleamed in the distance. It was magical seeing them for the first time—especially in the sky!
A striking, orange moon welcoming me to the west coast from DEN!
I ended up chatting with a college student named Andrew who was studying business, I laughed and told him to appreciate it while he could. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a person this tall before; he was from Michigan but had family in SLC. Airport logistics vary greatly, so I asked him where to go once we landed and he helped me scope out where the parking lot was. The adventure was about to begin!
Salt Lake City, Utah
Day I – Ogden, Utah
Morning coffee was essential after being awake for nearly 24 hours. En route and in pursuit of my caffeine fix, driving through the canyons for the first time was spellbinding! The heights and textures of the mountains left my jaw dropping. There haven’t been many times I’ve been left speechless, but this was one of them. I had been blind to the beauty of the Wasatch mountain range upon arrival since it was dark, but the wait was worth it! My first cup of coffee in Utah was at a cute little shop called ‘Grounds for Coffee‘ in their Morgan location. The colorful and cozy decor scattered throughout the cafe made it adorable! Special occasions call for specialty coffee, and I believe I got a white chocolate mocha ☻
On one wall, two maps were secured in light brown frames, allowing people to insert orange, purple, and blue pins to indicate where they were from. I was surprised to see how many people from my area had visited; it made me realize how small the world can feel at times. Pins covered hundreds of cities from all over, making the earth seem so tiny. Thousands of footsteps from all kinds of people had passed through the same location, despite the quiet atmosphere of the shop. We all sleep under the same moon—and sometimes, the wind just blows us to the same places at different times.
For lunch we stopped for at a restaurant called Slackwater. I am particularly fond of hot honey, and their hot honey pepperoni pizza may have been the best slice I’ve had the privilege of enjoying. Our waitress had the most badass spider tattoo I’ve ever seen and probed my need to get a new one!
First time on a Air Force base! One component that stood out were the saturated blue skies and how they were noticeably much more vast than those I’m used to – almost as if the space was infinite and had no beginning or end. Philly’s vantage points comprise of trees and buildings, ultimately obstructing the full scene. It’s not particularly something I thought I’d notice, but that’s the neat thing about seeing new places!
We concluded our day with a hike up to Waterfall Canyon and the views were breathtaking. Golden sunset lighting rested upon the mountains and the topography left me starry eyed. I reveled in the undisclosed and enjoyed not knowing what was at the end of the trail – leaving room to be surprised!
When we finally reached the top of the hike, a beautiful waterfall pierced my soul and its inherent love of nature. Faint rainbows gleamed at the base of the rocks, while the peaceful sound of water filled my ears. I felt so small standing before the vast mountain!
Jackson, Wyoming
Day II – Driving Through Utah, Idaho, & Jackson!
While driving back from our hike on the first day, I mentioned it was on my bucket list to visit every major city featured in The Last of Us, and I was giddy to finally check off Salt Lake City. I explained how Jackson, Wyoming, is where the story concludes. My lack of knowledge about western geography made me oblivious to how close the two cities are. It’s still about a six-hour drive, but it was doable. I always say, ‘Sometimes the best plan is having no plans,’ and this idea proved my theory. Neither of us had been to Jackson before, so I’m glad we both got to experience a new city!
The next morning, we gathered our gear and prepped for the drive to Wyoming. To properly caffeinate for the six-hour trip, I stopped at Dutch Bros for the first time! Vanilla lattes are always a suitable choice on the road. We drove through Pocatello, Idaho, listening to music as pastures of cows and horses lined the highways. Seeing the different gas station chains in each state is always interesting. I’d never heard of Maverik before visiting Utah. After living in the land of both Wawa and Sheetz, I’ve realized they’re all relative. Maverik reminded me most of Rutter’s!
After passing through Pocatello, Jackson finally welcomed us. The trip was scenic and didn’t feel like six hours at all. With good music playing and the windows rolled down, time passed much faster than on the PA Turnpike. Yellow, orange, and brown leaves covered the surrounding mountains, and the sun glistened on the lakes. I’m glad I visited during the fall to see the changing trees. I had been unsure when would be the best time to visit, but I was very happy with my choice!
When we first arrived in Jackson, we ate at a BBQ place called Bubba’s. The pulled pork was amazing, and the restaurant had a mix of cute, yet strange, anthropomorphic animal artwork as decor.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Burning off the calories from lunch was an easy task after our hike in the Tetons! The 4,000-acre national park offers indescribable views, including wildlife like bison and moose, with elevations reaching up to 13,770 feet.
The mountains in both Utah and Wyoming are alluring in their own way, but I loved comparing the differences in their shapes and contours. Stark grey and jagged, the Teton mountains surrounding Jackson Hole support a diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna. The lakes and streams mirror the stillness of the terrain, while the sound of rushing water can be heard on certain parts of the trails, adding to the land’s mysterious nature. As the day passes, the appearance of the mountains changes. In the early morning, thick clouds and mist cover the peaks, while by sunset, the trees come into clear view, painted in soft pink hues.
Growing up, you see photographs in textbooks, but nothing prepares you for how awe-inspiring these sights are in person. I was truly amazed by each angle I had the privilege of witnessing!
I’ve never felt so small
A Sea of Stars
I’ve always had a thing for stars—they’re so magical and special! I had never seen a sky with so little light pollution before. After grabbing some Dairy Queen, we drove back to the parking area where our hike began. The chilly air grazed our skin as I stood, quite literally, starry-eyed from the breathtaking views.
It doesn’t get much better than this! I’ve never been able to see the Great and Little Dipper side by side!
Setting the Bar
After stargazing, we decided to grab some drinks at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in the heart of Jackson. This place was unlike any bar I’ve been to in Philly, and I loved it! The colloquialisms and styles were vastly different from those in Center City, offering a refreshing change from my usual scene. Having people approach me in cowboy hats, saying ‘Howdy’ unironically, was both amusing and wholesome.
Yellowstone National Park
Day III – Yellowstone
Before driving to Yellowstone, we stopped for coffee at one of Jackson Hole’s popular spots, Cowboy Coffee Co! Berry-flavored coffee is my favorite, and their huckleberry latte was life changing.
Right before arriving in Yellowstone, I stopped by a lake near the entrance. I’ve always wanted to learn how to skip rocks, and finally did that day! My issue had been choosing rocks that weren’t flat enough. The mountains were smoky, and the lake was still and glassy. The sound of crunching rocks echoed as we walked along the scenic spots. It was fun to simply enjoy the scenic view and spontaneously pull over on the side of the road.
Subarus flooded the mountainous roads, it made me a proud Crosstrek owner! License plates from all over the country scattered the highways and it was interesting to see graphics I’ve never seen in person before. Utah seemed to have about five various pictorials on their state plates.
Seeing Old Faithful was a monumental experience to check off my list. I sat and watched it erupt from a fallen tree branch that had beautiful engravings on it (likely made by bugs). The imprinted lines reminded me of sgraffito on clay. Just a short distance away were the Kepler Cascades, which cascade down over 1,000 feet in a series of beautiful falls and is a part of the Firehole River, showcasing the geology of Yellowstone.
On the way back to Salt Lake, a brief interruption occurred when a herd of bison crossed the road! The picturesque view filled me with joy; this was a genuine Kodak moment and a sight I don’t get to see every day.
Exploring Greater SLC Areas!
Day IV- Park City & Provo, Utah
Park City was ADORABLE and had quaint bookshops, boutiques, and food lining the street. I’ve never seen a city quite like this, it’s a huge skiing town that is known for it’s outdoor activities. It was easy to get distracted, I could have spent hours lingering around the various unique locations!
After walking around the bookshops and ski lift areas, I stopped at High West Distillery. As much as I want to be, I’ve never been a huge whiskey person. Anyone who knows me understands that I’m a tequila woman through and through, but I was willing to try something different.
The burgers and whiskey flight were delicious! I can’t say I could taste the various flavors in each, except for the smoky option. There were four different flavor profiles: a blend of bourbons, double rye, rendezvous rye, and campfire blend!
We stopped by Provo, Utah, to grab a treat at Rockwell Ice Cream! This place reminded me of Franklin Fountain, an old-fashioned ice cream spot in Philly. It was such a cute college town and even had a film shop!
Almost pure silence enveloped us during the final sunset drive. My “tour guide” mentioned it was a typical sunset for Utah, but it was extraordinary for me. The sky was vast, and the colors were incredibly rich. I was in complete awe of the earth and her beauty. It’s hard to pinpoint the cause of my love for sunrises and sunsets; perhaps it’s because they symbolize beauty in both beginnings and endings. I’m fascinated by how the world naturally illustrates such magnificent scenes!
The next morning, I packed and prepared for the trip back home. We stopped at a diner called Sills. Historic black and white photos adorned the walls, making me wonder how those people met and what stories they had to tell. I thought my friend’s description of the pancake sizes was a bit of an exaggeration, but I laughed when I realized the truth in this statement. Their scones are also ginormous and seemed to be their staple 🙂
Now that is one hell of a pancake
Waving goodbye to SLC!
Going Home & Concluding Thoughts
I had a similar departure structure as I did on the way there, but I had a longer layover in Denver. I worked remotely at the airport and on the plane, so the time went by relatively quickly. Souvenir shops surrounded my gate, and I picked up some last-minute keepsakes, including an addition to my sticker collection! I also drank a ‘strawberry banana’ smoothie, which tasted more like acai, but it was a happy mix-up! As I walked to my gate, ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’ by John Denver played over the speakers, and it was heartwarming to see people quietly singing along. Humans are so cute, and music is a universal language. Even when I was in Yangon, Myanmar, people came together to sing that song.
On the plane from Denver back to Philly, I chatted with the woman next to me (as I tend to do) about our life journeys! She was visiting her daughter, a professional snowboarder, in Denver. I was impressed that at the age of 19, she was out there living her dream. In almost six months, I’ll be 25, and I have no idea what my future looks like, but she said that’s the exciting thing about being young.
The woman encouraged me to travel and savor these experiences while I can. Inertia is my enemy, and I’ll never stop wanting to get out there and see everything possible. I mentioned the book I’ve been writing since I was a preteen, my pen scribbling away amidst the turbulence. As we landed, I told her I’d look for her daughter, Mia, while watching the Olympics, and she said she’d keep an eye out for my book! Despite the discomfort and fear, there’s something beautifully enigmatic about not knowing what the future holds. But as we discussed, and although it sounds corny, it’s all part of the human process of growth, and everything leads us where we need to be!
I’m so grateful I had the ability to finally see the west coast and could spend this time with a friend I met by chance! This definitely won’t be my last trip out west, and the memories woven together will forever be cherished in the tapestry of my heart 🙂
Where The Wind Takes Me. 