This trip started In Beaverton, Oregon and was to take us to North Cascades National Park, Glacier National Park and Grand Teton National Park. Our route would have us drive through Yellowstone National Park once more that we had previously visited. Still need to finish our report for 2017 and 2018 National Park trips that were accidentally lost.
Beaverton, OR 0.0mi
After a hearty breakfast that is our routine prior to one of these NP trips we started on our journey from the New Seasons parking lot and drove to Everett, WA. After a stop over there, we drove towards the town of Newhalem and stopped at the Newahelm store for some snacks and history lessons on the dams on the Skagit River including the walk over the suspension bridge that is across the river near the Newhalem Store. Travelling with an almost 11 year old so expect a lot of stops that are dessert and food related as well as every opportunity to pack-in history lessons.
On the way we stopped at Cascadia Farm store for ice cream and cherries that were in season. Onwards to the Newhalem Campground inside the North Cascades National Park.
Newhalem CG - North Cascades National Park. 290mi.
After spending a night at the Newhalem CG our route was to take us on Hwy 20 past Ross Lake for our next overnight stop at Lake Chelan State Park.
We are both classic car and airplane enthusiasts. The kid has a special interest in WWII airplanes and history and this trip did not disappoint.
If you have ever flown the Apple Run mission in MS FlightSim, it talks about this area and the Okanogan MOA being “hot” and flying to Twisp and I had to take pictures of the small airports mentioned in that, since having “flown” that mission many times. Twisp has a nice little downtown with some cool shops. The Cinnamon Twisp was our stop for some desserts.
We were pretty good on groceries so did not have to buy anything more. :-)
But we did get to park next to a very nice Austin Healey 3000.
Chelan, WA 530mi.
A very vibrant town even though the temp was in the high 90’s, the downtown had lots of traffic. Our first stop was BC’s Ice Cream right on the lake close to the city park and then we strolled off to look at this under restoration Jaguar E-Type Series 2.5. Due to the weather, the Lake Chelan State Park was very busy until after sundown when the boating crowd pulled out. We had a nice dinner by the lake and a dip by my son to cool off.
Chelan Artisan Bakery was our stop for breakfast the next morning before our drive to Kalispell, MT. This was a long one approx 7 hrs so we left early after a quick bite at the bakery. Our drive was to take us across the WA/ID border on Hwy2/I90 then up 135, Hwy 28 and 93 to Kalispell. But lucky for us, somewhere near the town of Wilbur, WA these two agricultural sprayers provided us with free entertainment. While staying much far away from the actual spray i was able to capture these pictures.
Once we entered the town of St Regis in MT, we noticed a roadside stand selling fresh mountain huckleberries ($18/lb!) had to have them since junior has not ever had them fresh. We munched on a bunch and saved some for later for which we picked up a pint of plain vanilla ice cream and made our own dessert for after dinner.
Huckleberries are now our favorite berries!
Apgar Visitor Center, Glacier National Park. 980mi.
Our reservations were at the Many Glacier CG in the eastern part of the park so we drove the Going to the Sun Road at a leisurely pace. But I can imagine why some people have fear of driving from West to East and the limit on the vehicle length restrictions, though we had no problems doing it or keeping up with the traffic. Some absolutely beautiful scenery along the way.
Stayed the first night at the Many Glacier CG that is just past the Many Glacier Lodge and across from the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn.
Did not have reservations for the 2nd night so got up early and got in line at 6:30am with 10+ other cars. Luckily no one had reservations for the same site and I was able to keep it for another night. Lunch was at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (Nell’s). Rained pretty hard during the night and the temp dropped to low 50’s but we were ok with with a good heavy comforter (no heat in camper). Next morning drove via St Mary, Browning, Helena to Bozeman,MT. Our lunch stop was in Helena, MT following Hwy89 and 287.
Had to stop and check out the state capitol as a storm was approaching.
Stopped for the night in Bozeman, MT, Got up early in the morning and drove to West Yellowstone following the Gallatin River on Hwy191. It has many campgrounds off the highway and great pullouts for fishing all along. Entered Yellowstone NP but continued down to Grand Teton NP. 
First stop was at the Jenny Lake Visitor center and then for lunch and other memorabilia for friends, family and self. Trivia, according to the folks at the Jackson Lake Lodge, the Pioneer Grill has one of the longest continuous bars in the US.
Met a nice couple from Grass Valley, CA in their 2000’s Hawk on an F250 and we chatted about solar and fridges (my next project for the Hawk).
Left the park south and wanted to check out Jackson WY which was packed with people. We kept on driving.
The Teton Pass (8431ft) on Hwy22 is very interesting. We got stuck behind a gravel truck for the entire length of the hwy from Jackson to Victor and the traffic crawled over the pass. I bet it is a challenging drive in winter (if not closed as there were many warning signs). We continued on to Driggs, ID for the night stop.
Another great little town where on the recommendation of a local we had a very nice dinner at the Royal Wolf with the accompanying state speciality. After a quick coffee and pastry at the Rise Coffee in the morning we got on the road on way to Twin Falls, ID.
From Driggs, ID we drove via Hwy33 towards Rexburg, ID. On a whim we turned off the exit seeking some local attraction and came across the Legacy Flight Museum (Rexburg, ID) and what a treat it was for both of us. The almost 11-year old is crazy about WWII and I am about classic cars and airplanes. We spent 2+hrs with the volunteer at the museum and had an awesome time. Here is a sampling of the pictures.
Our next stop was going to be Twin Falls for the night until I saw that we were so close to the Reed’s Dairy in Idaho Falls again (I remembered it from the Yellowstone trip - the kids’ Dr recommendation), so here we go again enjoying some fresh Huckleberry ice cream on the Reed Dairy grounds.
Another side trip before driving to Twin Falls was to stop at Shoshone Falls since we missed it last time. A great attraction with very well kept grounds. Here we saw another Hawk on a newer Tundra. After a night in Twin Falls on to Baker City, OR where I want the kid to learn about Oregon history at the Baker City Museum that I first visited 20+ years ago on my first ever trip to Yellowstone.
Before leaving Twin Falls, I remembered about the Yellow Brick Cafe in the historic downtown part of town that was an enjoyable stop for breakfast so we drove again to it and enjoyed scrumptious breakfast and great coffee. From there we hit the road until in Nampa we both noticed the Warhawk Museum being advertised off the highway. After 3hrs roaming the museum we decided to get on the road again. I think we would have stayed much longer since both of us enjoy history and WWII airplanes. It is right off the local airport.
Usually there is a cafe at some of these regional airports and Nampa did not disappoint. We enjoyed plane spotting while eating and drinking huckleberry lemonade at the Tower Grill.
On to Baker City but not before stopping to read more history at the Rattlesnake Springs stop.
At the Baker City Historical Museum, the kid made me really proud (and feel good about all those piano lesson $$$’s when he jumped on to the chair and started playing on the piano in the lobby (encouraged by the museum). This piano was the first to come to Baker County and is still kept in tune by a local, we were told by the museum curator.
Entered Baker City and right away noticed a farmers market sign in the downtown blocks, pulled over for some juicy blackberries from one of the vendors. Plan is to drive to Joseph, OR and Wallowa Lake State Park where we will stay for the night. 
We had a very enjoyable dinner at Latitude Fort Five in a historic building in downtown Baker City and again was cool to spot another classic car. This time an MG.
Baker City 2,159mi
After an overnight stay in Baker CIty and a quick coffee and bagel stop in the morning we took off for the Wallowa Lake State Park. Passing through the towns of Elgin, Enterprise and finally Joseph. Stopped at the site for another history lesson as well as scoping out the possible fishing spots next to the highway following Hwy82. We wanted to go up on the tram at Wallowa Lake but not before having some ice cream with the other dozens of kids there for summer break. Up the mountain we went. With the cool Continental (probably original) engine doing the duty of pulling the cable. At the top of the mountain we had a great view of the surrounding areas. The kid wanted to try the gondola one more time and you can do that if you get your hand stamped. So after a ride down, some drinks we went up again. This time we went on the trail loop towards the SE from the restaurant up there to seek out the spring that is at the top of the mountain. My son had more fun drinking fresh water from that spring and enjoying it than any game of Fortnite.
After dinner we walked to the Marina and picked up some requisite campfire desserts and camp wood from the hosts. This is a great campground with hot water and clean showers. Unlucky for us, our site was between a group of large RV’s (the $200k type coaches) that were there to party with their boats. Too noisy and too many kids riding round and round on bicycles. Next morning we packed up early before the boating crowd even got up but not before a breakfast of pancakes with the saved blackberries from the Baker CIty farmers market and started on our drive back to Portland which we hit right at the rush hour, but it was great to make it home with no issues with truck or camper and all reservations as per plan.
Over the years of our travels, two things have really surprised me; how many small towns now have really nice and quite affordable restaurants with great food options and on the west, it is so easy to find good coffee at local stores that we prefer to visit than the national chains
Total mileage on this trip: 2645 mi. National Park stickers added to camper: 3
1 happy dad and 1 happy almost 11 year old.
Till the next adventure in our Hawk.
