Yellowstone Vacation Day 1: Omaha
Sat. Aug. 13th
We started the day early and hit the ground running! From previous experience, we knew that it works out best to get a lot of driving done early in the trip when we're all fresh and in high spirits.
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Our Ride[/caption]
After much debate, we decided to try a passenger van. Last year we took a Lincoln Navigator and towed a U-Haul trailer. The year before we took a Suburban with a car-top carrier. They all have their pros and cons. Our reasoning for trying this out was that we wouldn't have to mess with a trailer or carrier while still having lots of cargo space and people space.
Well, it was nice in theory. The seats were very uncomfortable and utilitarian making for a less-than-comfy ride. The shocks were awful. Originally, Tim had planned on sitting in back, having a half-row to himself. That lasted a whole 30 min. before he started feeling nauseous and had to share a row with Karen. We had adequate space, but it still felt cramped.
Nonetheless, 7 hours of driving passed quickly and before we knew it we were in Omaha.
We weren't looking for a big attraction at this point, just a place to stretch our legs. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge seemed ideal.
If only we could have found the bridge! The GPS took us to a park that surrounds the river. We met a gentleman who said that we had to walk the long way around in order to get to the bridge. So we set off.
[caption id="attachment_2975" align="aligncenter" width="200"]
Fountain[/caption]
The sidewalks were well-maintained and there was lots of pretty landscaping. It was serene and peaceful. The fountain was really neat.
We finally got to a little, rinky-dink bridge, that had a sign informing us that Lewis and Clark had landed at that spot, etc, etc. Okay, fine, but that wasn't the bridge we were looking for. So we had to walk all the way around, back the way we'd come. Then we saw this bridge.
[caption id="attachment_2977" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Finally. The bridge![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2974" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Excited to finally be on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge![/caption]
Except it wasn't. It was a neat little bridge, but it wasn't the bridge. We kept walking and I finally googled it on my phone. Ohhhhh, now I see. I cracked up. How in the world could I have been confused? In the end, only Tim and Karen walked the bridge. They went to the mid point and came back. By that time, the boys and I were at the Lewis and Clark Visitor's Center and they were trying to finish up their Junior Ranger books. Oh well. Maybe next time.
Omaha was pretty, though. And we certainly did get some exercise in!
[caption id="attachment_2978" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Omaha[/caption]
After our bridge adventure/misadventure, we hopped back into the car and made it to Sioux Falls in time for dinner. Planet Sub's website boasted about their gluten-free menu, but when we arrived we were informed that this location didn't offer gluten-free bread. Grrr. Poo.
We ate dinner at Jacky's Authentic Guatemalan, instead. It was good, but SPICY. But good.
We found an awesome deal at the Sheraton, which was so, so nice. The pool was packed so no swimming, but that was okay by me because it was 9pm when we checked in. We called it a night and rested up for Day 2!
We started the day early and hit the ground running! From previous experience, we knew that it works out best to get a lot of driving done early in the trip when we're all fresh and in high spirits.
[caption id="attachment_2973" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Our Ride[/caption]After much debate, we decided to try a passenger van. Last year we took a Lincoln Navigator and towed a U-Haul trailer. The year before we took a Suburban with a car-top carrier. They all have their pros and cons. Our reasoning for trying this out was that we wouldn't have to mess with a trailer or carrier while still having lots of cargo space and people space.
Well, it was nice in theory. The seats were very uncomfortable and utilitarian making for a less-than-comfy ride. The shocks were awful. Originally, Tim had planned on sitting in back, having a half-row to himself. That lasted a whole 30 min. before he started feeling nauseous and had to share a row with Karen. We had adequate space, but it still felt cramped.
Nonetheless, 7 hours of driving passed quickly and before we knew it we were in Omaha.
We weren't looking for a big attraction at this point, just a place to stretch our legs. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge seemed ideal.
If only we could have found the bridge! The GPS took us to a park that surrounds the river. We met a gentleman who said that we had to walk the long way around in order to get to the bridge. So we set off.
[caption id="attachment_2975" align="aligncenter" width="200"]
Fountain[/caption]The sidewalks were well-maintained and there was lots of pretty landscaping. It was serene and peaceful. The fountain was really neat.
We finally got to a little, rinky-dink bridge, that had a sign informing us that Lewis and Clark had landed at that spot, etc, etc. Okay, fine, but that wasn't the bridge we were looking for. So we had to walk all the way around, back the way we'd come. Then we saw this bridge.
[caption id="attachment_2977" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Finally. The bridge![/caption][caption id="attachment_2974" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Excited to finally be on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge![/caption]Except it wasn't. It was a neat little bridge, but it wasn't the bridge. We kept walking and I finally googled it on my phone. Ohhhhh, now I see. I cracked up. How in the world could I have been confused? In the end, only Tim and Karen walked the bridge. They went to the mid point and came back. By that time, the boys and I were at the Lewis and Clark Visitor's Center and they were trying to finish up their Junior Ranger books. Oh well. Maybe next time.
Omaha was pretty, though. And we certainly did get some exercise in!
[caption id="attachment_2978" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Omaha[/caption]After our bridge adventure/misadventure, we hopped back into the car and made it to Sioux Falls in time for dinner. Planet Sub's website boasted about their gluten-free menu, but when we arrived we were informed that this location didn't offer gluten-free bread. Grrr. Poo.
We ate dinner at Jacky's Authentic Guatemalan, instead. It was good, but SPICY. But good.
We found an awesome deal at the Sheraton, which was so, so nice. The pool was packed so no swimming, but that was okay by me because it was 9pm when we checked in. We called it a night and rested up for Day 2!
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