Traveling with the Jones

During my recent road trip, one of my best friends and I drove from New Mexico, to Oklahoma, then to Texas, and back home again.  About halfway to Oklahoma, we realized that we were not as prepared as we thought we were.

Sure we had our bags packed, a map and some cash in our pockets, but we did not know the address to where we were going, a plan for what all we would do once we got there, or even when exactly we would be headed home.

The freedom and lack of schedule truly made the road trip a great adventure!

The miles of that trip totaled over 2,000 in a ten day span; which meant there was a lot of time for conversation.

A friend once told me that you go through several stages during a road trip; and I found out just how correct that statement was.  So from personal experience, here they are:

3 Emotional Stages You Experience On A Road Trip!

1. Happy Dance – This is when your trip is just beginning.  Maybe you just filled up the car on the way out of town, or made one last drink stop; but now you are pumped and ready to roll.  The excitement for the trip has been building all week and this is finally the time to let it all out.  The music is cranked up, the windows are down and hands are flying in the air.

2. Memory Lane – We all enjoy those trips down memory lane, and when is a better time than being locked in a car full of people for thousands of miles.  This is the time in the trip full of the “remember whens.”  Reminiscing about past experiences and fun times that everyone shared together.  Full of both laughter and tears this stage of the trip is hard to avoid.

3. Deep Water – This is the stage of the trip where all of life’s questions beg to be answered.  The “what ifs” and “how comes” are brought into the open and somehow you are able to find the answers.  You begin to see the big picture of why things are the way they are.

Can you relate to any of these?  Is there anything you would add to this list?

Taysha Ham hails from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

A student at New Mexico State University, Taysha is majoring in agricultural communications with a minor in journalism.

This summer she is completing a social media internship for Venture Time Travel.

Why not check out these other posts by Taysha “;.

•  Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
• 8 Things You Must Do While in London, England
• 7 Steps To Prepare For Your First Trip Abroad

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Even before I headed out on my western adventure, I had heard about the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

After talking with many friends and colleagues, I was given the advice to stop at the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar when I visited Jackson, Wyoming.

 

After a quick stop at the hotel, I was on my phone searching for the location and phone number of this mysterious place I had heard of. Check out 7 Travel Apps You Need Before Your Next Travel Adventure here because I was putting a lot of them to use.

Well, I found out that the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is not just a bar but a restaurant as well so I made reservations to get the whole million dollar experience.

 

I, along with my family, found our way to the bar in the center of town near the antler arches in the town square. Check out the neat photo above of the arches.

 

We found out that the restaurant is down a few stairs below the actual bar, and while we were waiting for our table to be ready, my mom and I made our way to see the actual bar.

My under 21 sister was only able to peer in to view the décor and atmosphere of the bar sadly.

 

As I walked in, there they were the highlight of the actual bar, at least in my opinion, the barstools that are saddles. Yes, saddles.

In my younger years, I was quite the equestrian so I hopped on like any cowgirl and ordered a cold beverage.

The atmosphere makes you want to stay all night long to enjoy the country music playing and the people. I was even able to meet some nice folks from Altoona, PA, but I was soon off my saddle and headed back downstairs for dinner.

 

Now onto the food, which was one of best meals and services we had on the entire trip.

The special of buffalo steak topped with an oyster and sweet potatoes with blue cheese was sadly sold out so I opted for filet mignon and my mother settled for a rib eye.

 

You can see the deliciousness in the photos: simply amazing. I was able to get the sweet potatoes with blue cheese from the special with my order.

 

We could not pass up dessert so my mom, sister and I ordered the flour-less chocolate cake and my grandma got the strawberry rhubarb upside down cake.

 

The Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse is a little pricey but well worth it on your next visit to Jackson, Wyoming.

This was just one stop we made in Jackson, Wyoming. You could definitely spend more time in this town visiting the shops, rafting the Snake River, climbing the Tetons, and so much more.

Next time you are in town experience the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and Steakhouse for an experience of a lifetime that you will not forget.

What is your favorite place to visit in Jackson, Wyoming? Tell us about more destinations we need to discover. 

Morgan Large loves to explore the world. She’s traveled across the United States and to 11 countries.

Originally from Ohio, Morgan currently lives in Arkansas with her Australian Shepherd, Oxley.

A graduate student at the University of Arkansas, Morgan’s studies are focused in agricultural communications.  Her blog,  RazorBuck: A Midwestern girl living in a Southern world highlights her adventures in photography, cooking and travel.

Learn more about Morgan’s travel adventures by checking out these posts… 

• 8 Views of New Zealand’s North Island
• 14 Fun Facts about St. Augustine, Florida
• 5 Things I Love About Wilmington, North Carolina

• Destination Discovery: Yellowstone National Park
• Weekend Wandering: America’s Heartland with a Presidential Twist
• 4 Reasons Why Should You Travel While You Are Young

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If you ever find yourself in need of a weekend adventure look no further than western Missouri and central Kansas.

Whether you want to take a trip back in time reviewing America’s history or watch the Kansas wheat fields being harvested in the summer, a weekend wandering trip between Independence, Missouri and Abilene, Kansas is the answer. With the two towns about three hours from each other, it makes for a perfect weekend wandering trip. Both towns have a vast amount of history with Abilene even finding its way into numerous country music song lyrics. Independence and Abilene are where the United States of America’s 33^rd and 34^th presidents called home. Harry S. Truman grew up in Independence and Dwight D. Eisenhower in Abilene. In both towns, museums highlight their hometown hero, his life, presidency, and other achievements. You do not have to be a history buff, but more a lover of the American dream while making these stops on your weekend wandering. The Truman museum is located in one centralized building and as you come in you go to a theatre to watch a movie about his presidency and how he took over the oval office after President Roosevelt’s passing. The museum is set up in a circle almost as you travel around through the memorabilia and war artifacts of days gone by. You end up at and outside courtyard where the President along with his wife, daughter and son-in-law are buried. An eternal flame flies in the wind near the back of the beautifully landscaped garden. Truman’s home is also nearby along with the historic square, pioneer trails, children’s attractions, shopping and other stops you can make before heading on to Abilene, Kansas. You can find out more about Independence, Missouri and what to do while you are visiting here.

 

The Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library covers a vast amount of acreage with a visitors center, library, museum, Eisenhower’s boyhood home, and place of meditation where Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie are buried. You could spend hours visiting all of the sights.

A statue of President Eisenhower sits in the middle of the property almost overlooking all of the other buildings. The museum boasts the five-star general and president Eisenhower’s accomplishments in World War II and in the battle of keeping Washington in order. One special exhibit in the museum is dedicated to Eisenhower’s wife Mamie, her love for fashion and the color pink.

Though a short walk through tour, do not miss going through Eisenhower’s boyhood home to see how the family of six boys lived in such a small house. The house has the original furniture, family portraits and other items that were in the house when Eisenhower was growing up.

Along with Independence, there are other stops you can make in Abilene at museums, train rides, a theatre, shopping and restaurants to complete your weekend wandering in America’s heartland.

You can maybe even stop in at the Brookville Hotel for their famous fried chicken before heading out of town.  Here you can find more information about Abilene, Kansas.

I, even as a young 20 something, found both towns and museums interesting and enjoyable so make a trip to America’s heartland on your next weekend wandering.

Have you ever been to Independence or Abilene? What did you like best? 

Morgan Large loves to explore the world. She’s traveled across the United States and to 11 countries. She recently made both stops in this weekend wandering post on her travels out West.

Originally from Ohio, Morgan currently lives in Arkansas with her Australian Shepherd, Oxley. A graduate student at the University of Arkansas, Morgan’s studies are focused in agricultural communications.

Her blog,  RazorBuck: A Midwestern girl living in a Southern world highlights her adventures in photography, cooking and travel.

 

Read more about Presidents Truman and Eisenhower:
Truman
Harry S. Truman: The American Presidents Series: The 33rd President, 1945-1953
Eisenhower in War and Peace
Eisenhower: Soldier and President (The Renowned One-Volume Life)

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