I once read that the average American only travels to 12 out of 50 states in their lifetime, and that’s so unfortunate. I believe that Americans underestimate what’s in their very own backyard. There is soo much natural wonder and beauty to explore here. I think a lot of states get overlooked because it may not be as popular as Florida, California, or NYC. Which I understand. Would you choose a vacation in Iowa over Hawaii?…However, I say do some research and give it a chance, you’d be surprised by what you find in the most unexpected places.
In late September I traveled to Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming for a week, and what an adventure this vacation was. It was everything I thought it would be aesthetically. Mountainous, forest-y, lots of land and cattle, but I found some interesting sights that I would have never thought existed in these states.
The Garden of a Thousand Buddha’s
A public park, botanical garden, and Buddhist center, located on the land of the Salish-Kootenai and Pend d’Oreille American Indian tribes. A Native American reservation in Montana.
The Ewam Garden of 1,000 Buddhas stands as a beacon of peace, compassion, and spiritual reflection.
One of the ideas behind the purpose of the Garden is to provide an environment that may be prone to encouraging positive transformation within those who enter.
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas was established with the intention of representing the 1000 Buddhas who believed in the Mahayana tradition.
One of the fundamental principles of Mahayana Buddhism is the concept of Bodhisattva, which refers to an enlightened being who seeks to liberate all living beings from suffering. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes compassion and the desire to help others achieve liberation.
The Garden is laid out in the shape of an eight-spoked dharma wheel, representing the eight-fold path that leads to enlightenment.
At the heart of the garden is a 24-foot statue of Yum Chenmo, also known as Prajnaparamita, the embodiment of transcendent wisdom. This central statue is surrounded by 1,000 smaller Buddha statues, each representing a pathway to enlightenment.
The one who has conquered himself is a far greater hero than the one who has defeated a thousand times a thousand men.
Buddha
These inspirational quotes I found walking along the path really resonated with me.
landscapes in wyoming
Bruneau Dunes State Park – The sand dunes in Idaho
The Craters of the Moon
Idaho Volcano
Hiking through the caves and lava fields
Elk
One of my most favorite photos. Need to print
Every meal *chefs kiss
Snake Valley Overlook
Yellowstone Park. There are 5 entrance points. Takes 2.5 hours from south entrance to the north entrance with no stops. So many amazing stop points.
Artist Point – Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon.
Excelsior Geyser – turquoise pool, Next to Grand prismatic spring
West Thumb – next to yellow stone lake, abyss pool, black pool, collapsing pool, fishing cone
Old Faithful Geyser – upper geyser basin
Beehive geyser
Morning glory pool
Biscuit Bisin – north of old faithful
(Black opal pool, jewel geyser, sapphire pool, black pearl geyser, avoca spring, shell spring, mustard spring)
First stop was at yellow stone lake .
Grand Prismatic Spring
Logistics
Travel Dates:
Hotel Stay:
Holiday inn – kalispell , 2 nights
Hilton – Idaho downtown , 2 nights
Continuum – Jackson Wyoming , 2 nights
Hilton / Marriott – Bozeman Montana, 1 night
Car rental:
National
Airports:
FCA – closest to Glacier National Park
BOI – Boise Airport
JAC – 2 hr 21 min to Yellow Stone Park
BZN – cheaper to fly out of bozeman over jackson hole airport
Costs:
Flight Cost – 1500 for 4 flights, same price for a single round trip ticket to Iceland, excluding luggage fees
Audio Tour Cost: 14.99 x 2
35 entrance fee into 2 national parks – You can purchase the national park card for 85$, receive access to all US parks for a year
Hotel Cost – I used reward points for hotel and car rental. The car rental price for the week was around 50$ and hotel cost I would say was around 1100$ , 7 nights/8 days
Restaurants
Bardenay Restaurant – grove st Boise, wings, salmon , prickly pear margarita- sauza gold, orange liqueur, house margarita mix, prickly pear cactus syrup, salted rim, lime squeeze, – 10$
Famous Dave’s BBQ – Kalispell , Texas beef brisket, Georgia chopped pork, smoked jalapeño cheddar sausage , sweet corn, red-skin potatoes
Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro – Idaho, potatoes, sausage, eggs
Big Dan the Frybread Man
Mangy Moose Steakhouse and Saloon – Jackson hole , Teton village , cherry wood smoked duck breast, confit potatoes, baby Bok choy , apricot chutney 45$
Spur – mini tuna poke tacos, avocado, seaweed, citrus soy dressing, microgreens, 14$. flatbread pizza – Italian sausage, pancetta, roasted garlic cream, arugula, goat cheese, caramelized red onion, side salad, 20$
Continuum Bar and Grill – crispy Brussels sprouts – pancetta, Parmesan, lemon – 15$ , lemon pepper chicken strips – garlic pesto aioli 16$ , wood fired roasted trout – brown butter, capers, charred asparagus 38$ , honey lavender crème Brulé 16$
Bitter Creek Ale House – Boise, bison burger, sweet potato fries
Things to do in Montana
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar – Jackson town square
Craters of the Moon
Grand Teton National Park – close to JAC airport
Yellowstone Park – 2 hr 21 min from JAC airport
Mammoth Hot Spring – 1 hr 5 min from Yellow Stone Park West Entrance
National Elf Refuge – Jackson, 17 min from JAC airport
Old Trail Town – Cody Wyoming, 55 min from Yellow Stone Park
Legend Rock Ptreoglyph Site – 1 hr 19 min from old trail
Buffalo Bill Center of the West – Cody wyoming, 6 min from Old Trail Town
Ewam Garen of 1000 Buddhas
Flathead Lake
Lake McDonald– kayaking, Montana, within Glacier National Park
Hike Grinnell Lake and Grinell Glacier – 10 mile hike Jackson town square
American computer and robotics museum – 23 min from BZN airport
Flanning Gorge National Recreational
Hot Springs State Park – too far
Things to do in Idaho
Craters of the Moon – 2 hrs 40 min from BOI
Bruneau Dunes State Park – 1hr 15min from Boise Downtown , 2 hr 18 min from crater of the moon
Freak Alley – downtown Boise
Shoshone Falls – 2 hrs 6 min from Downtown Boise
Idaho Potato Museum – 3 hrs 37 min from Downtown Boise
Popular Foods: Finger Steaks, Fry Sauce, Huckleberry, Sturgeon, Idaho Spud, The Basque Market
Additional Options
Amangañí – $$$$ (1800 for 2 nights before taxes) great spa services, open to public but on a first come serve basis, have to call day before or day of to see what’s available, certain services for guests only like the sound bath
Firebrand Hotel – whitefish Montana
Westside Drive In – American comfort, potato ice cream , Boise
Fork Restaurant
The Basque Market – Boise
Boise Fry Company
Lindy’s Steakhouse – Boise
Snake River Grill – Hagerman Idaho
Elevation 486 – Twin Falls Idaho
Pioneer Saloon – Ketchum Idaho, known for trout
Lefty’s bar and grill – Ketchum, monkey fries
The Desoto Grill – Kalispell
Recommend Restaurant’s Boise:
Alávita – Italian
The Wylder– pizza
Any other questions you have please drop in the comments below 🙂
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