Cowboy West

Wow, has it already been a year since we went on our favorite vacation? It seems like yesterday we were planning our trip, known to the boys as Cowboy West. Our local newspaper, The Press-Register, ran an ad about vacation stories. So I wrote out our story, and we were so thrilled when they published it on the front page of the neighbors section. Here's our story!
Family's 'Cowboy West' trip was wonder-filled adventure
For our vacation, the Stoots family-Kevin, Jolene, Myles, 5, and Connor, 3- took a trip to what our boys called "Cowboy West". For months we carefully planned a trip that would take us out West, where we could use our pop-up camper. It all started out with a nonstop drive to Colorado Springs, Colorado. While there, we visited the Garden of Gods and took the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak. Pikes Peak is 14,110 feet, and it was chilly. Our next stop after that was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Here we went on a chuck wagon meal dinner show at the Bar T 5 Ranch. We rode on a replica-covered wagon that was pulled by two horses, Jack and Jill. After this outing, every horse we saw the rest of the trip was affectionately known as "Jack and Jill". It was also here that we visited our first national park, Grand Teton. After leaving the Grand Tetons, we traveled to the much anticipated destination of Yellowstone National Park. It was here that we saw wildlife in the wide open. Our boys loved it. We saw buffalo, antelope, a moose, a coyote, elk, and a bald eagle. The scariest part of our adventure happened when a buffalo that was going up a sand embankment decided that he didn't want to go up anymore and came straight toward our van. He looked at us head on and then decided to go around us. Needless to say, both boys were screaming as he walked by. We also took our boys on an overnight camp in the backcountry. It was their first overnight backpacking trip. They loved throwing rocks in the lake and eating over the campfire. Of course, we couldn't go to Yellowstone without seeing Old Faithful. It was an amazing sight, and the geysers had a smell that we'll never forget. After leaving Yellowstone, we drove the Beartooth Highway and made a one-night stop in Montana for some rest and relaxation. We made a pit stop for the boys to play in the snow that was left over from the winter. We then headed to Cody, Wyoming, where we went to the rodeo on the Fourth of July. Earlier that day, we went to a parade that featured Olympic skiing medalist Picabo Street as the grand marshall. We also visited the Buffalo Bill Museum. Our last destination stop was in South Dakota, where we visited Mount Rushmore. The boys also went in on their first cave experience when we visited Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns. It was 110 steps down (and, of course, 110 steps back up). There are many more stores that we could tell, but there's just not enough space. This was definitely the best vacation that we've ever taken. And, after 4,780 miles, it's good not to hear "Are we there yet?" and "When will we be there?".
I am so grateful that I sent in our story because it's an adventure that I never want to forget!