The Great Family Western Adventure - Day 5 or Who Knew Driving Could Be This Much Fun?

Day five of vacation was Father's Day. Early in the morning, the kid's and LeAnn gave me some great gifts. A vacation like this, really makes you appreciate your family. The kids were awesome on this trip with only a few dust ups. Today was a travel day, as the agenda was to travel across Wyoming to Cody. We have done a really good job on this trip to have stops and sight-seeing trips planned along the way. Today we are going to stop at Devils Tower National Monument, drive across the Big Horn Mountains, and into Cody in time for some sight-seeing there.

We got a fairly early start on the day. Checked out of the cabins, got something for breakfast, and gassed up the car. We headed up through some really small and interesting small towns on our way back to the interstate. Once back on the interstate, we headed west again and soon crossed over into Wyoming.

Soon we exited the interstate and headed about twenty miles north to Devils Tower. We were lucky, as this was a Fee Free Weekend for the National Parks and National Monuments. So we got in for free. Ever since I watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind, I have wanted to visit Devils Tower. You can see the Tower for miles around. I think we were about six miles from the park, when we got our first glimpse of the Tower. The first thing you notice, is just how enormous the Tower is. It is truly awe-inspiring. There is a trail that goes around the entire base. It takes a little while but it is well worth the small amount of effort it takes. What was surprising was that on the far side of the Tower, there is a cliff there. It overlooks the prairie below. It was beautiful. While we were there, about six guys were climbing the tower. It was hard not to stop and just watch them work their way up the side of the Tower.

A side note about this part of this trip. Aunt Jessica had given Abby and Ian each an activity book for vacations. They both took their books and worked on them and it was something they used to pass the time away. One of the activities in Ian's book, was to find the license plates from each state. Ian didn't start this activity until we crossed the Wyoming state line. Ian found over half the license plates in the parking lot of the Devils Tower Monument. We did finally find all the state license plate before we got home.

We then headed even further west. We had decided to take the drive over and through the Big Horn Mountains. We had heard several stories about this drive. From the winding roads with no guard rails separating you from the valley below, to how beautiful it was. But, I must admit, as the mountains and the snow-capped peaks loomed above us, I had a few moments of anxiety. But no worries, it was an amazing drive. We got some really great shots. The road was crazy, but nothing to hard to handle. We were able to to watch a rain storm go across a valley below us, drive among snow, and wind around peaks. Coming down the western side of the mountain range was amazing. We had the opportunity to drive a beautiful canyon with a rushing river right beside the car. It was amazing.

Then it was on to Cody. We didn't get in to Cody as early as we wanted, because of the time we spent at Devils Tower. But we had enough time to walk the main drag of the town and have Father's Day dinner at the Irma Grill and Restaurant and the Irma Hotel. This hotel was built by Buffalo Bill Cody and named after his daughter, Irma. It was just beautiful and the food great. The waitress was really great with the kids and took Abby over to buffet desert table and let her get some cake even though Abby didn't eat from the buffet. Ian opted out of dessert.

With or bellies full, we headed back to the hotel for showers and bed. It was a long, but wonderful Father's Day. And we were so happy to finally make it to Cody. It is hard to believe how much we have already done on this vacation, and we aren't even half way through yet. This truly was an amazing vacation.