Home at last!

We got in to Landenberg about 8:45 pm yesterday, completely exhausted.  It was great to sleep in our own beds and not have to get back in the car.  The past two days (Omaha to Elkhart, Indiana and Elkhart to home) were long and not terribly scenic.  To be fair, after Montana and Yellowstone, "scenic" takes on a whole new level.  

All told, we covered almost 5000 miles in 15 days.  That's a lot of time in a car (okay, a minivan).  The Odyssey (what an aptly named vehicle for this vacation) was absolutely wonderful -- comfortable, roomy, easy to drive, lots of entertainment options (movies and video games for the boys, audiobooks and XM radio for me) and large tinted windows with pull-up sun shades.  We couldn't ask for a better vehicle.  

Despite the long hours in the minivan, this trip was fantastic.  We had great adventures, spent time with generous and kind friends, saw jaw-dropping scenery and had just a terrific time. I think even Jake enjoyed it.  We are so lucky to have had this opportunity, and to have had such gorgeous weather and good fortune.  No flat tires, no injuries, no wrong turns (thank you GPS system!), no sickness, no emotional meltdowns, no lost items.  Every day we were out west was a joy, with new discoveries and new delights.  

I've posted a few more pictures on Picasa, including the ones in this post, which were taken during our drive back through South Dakota.  The pictures were taken at Wall, South Dakota (a cheesy but fun tourist trap) and Mitchell, South Dakota, home of the "world famous" corn palace (the exterior walls are decorated each year with scenes created from corn cobs and straw). I've also posted the movies Matthew took during our first day in Yellowstone.  He got some great movies of the bison and elk encounters we had. I wish the boys had taken more pictures, but they're not quite the camera bugs yet.  Hopefully, they'll get more interested as the years go on. 

Some final, random thoughts:

• Road trips in the U.S. are not only still possible, but a great way to see the beauty and variety of this country.  Besides, with the current exchange rates and increasing air fares, it's a far better option than traveling overseas.
  
• The quality and quantity of rest stops and food options vary greatly across the states.  Ohio had probably the best, while Iowa was the worst (few, infrequent places to stop).  However, Iowa had by far the cheapest gas at $3.39/gallon (it's all that taxpayer-funded ethanol).  Pennsylvania gets kudos for having Starbucks at many of the rest stops. 
• There are still not nearly enough places to get decent, healthy meals while traveling.  Eating good food makes a huge difference, as high levels of sugar and fat exacerbate car sickness and fatigue. At the beginning of the trip, we brought a lot of veggies, ham, fruit, etc.  The problem was that it lasted only about 2 days.  Having a refrigerator in your motel room is an absolute requirement if you want to take your own food.
• The Black Hills/Badlands area of South Dakota is worth at least 3-4 days on its own.  There are so many cool things to see there -- Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon, Keystone, the Badlands, Custer State Park, etc. -- that you don't want to rush through them. 
• Traveling with children can be relatively easy, as long you keep them entertained and don't expect them to be enthralled by the same things you are.  Stops at playgrounds or any place where they can run around a bit are essential. Let them pick some of the stops and destinations.  Indulge (with limits) their desire to look at and even buy cheesy tourist stuff.  Make sure they eat well, but let them have more treats than when they're at home. (It's vacation, remember?).  Always try to stay at a hotel/motel that has a pool; it made a huge difference for our kids.
• Traveling with a dog was easier than I thought, but limited the motel options.  With a little searching online, we found decent (definitely not upscale) places to stay, usually with a pool and free breakfast.  
• Everywhere we went, people were friendly and helpful.  And it's amazing how many people in the west are originally from Pennsylvania....
• Altitude and dry air definitely can take their toll.  Stay hydrated and in the shade.
• That said, when traveling through the west, spend as much time outdoors as possible.  Smell the sage and pine. Breath the crisp, clean air.  Indulge all your senses and just enjoy the beauty of place.
• When visiting Yellowstone, take time to have a picnic and a hike.  There are so many places to enjoy, you can't really go wrong with any particular place (although I would avoid the geysers, as they smell pretty awful).  And absolutely, positively go swimming in the Firehole River; it's a total blast.
• Avoid Old Faithful, unless you just have to see it.  There are many other geysers you can see that are far less crowded.
• Drive (or bike) the Beartooth Highway.  It really is one of the most scenic drives in the U.S. And stop for lunch at the top. It's worth the views and the giddiness you feel from being at 11,000 feet.
• Visit Red Lodge, Montana and stop at the City Bakery.  They make the best bagels west of Manhattan.  (They also have sinfully good sweet stuff.)

I'm sure there are other things worth mentioning that I can't remember right now, but I think I've covered the highlights in this and previous posts.  Again, this was a thoroughly worthwhile and enjoyable trip, one that I hope my children and I will talk about for the rest our lives. 

This is the final post. Hope you've enjoyed the trip as much as we have.  Again, check out the Picasa site for lots more pictures.  And feel free to leave a comment -- just click on the "comments" link at the bottom of this post (or any other post).

Brian, Adam, Matthew and Jake