Search for Spud

In Progress!

One lazy day, I had an episode of the TV show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” on in the background and something caught my eye. An ice cream dessert disguised as a baked potato somewhere in Idaho.

I couldn’t stop thinking about this drive-in dessert. After hearing about how nifty the Idaho Potato Museum was from a relative, I was inspired to search for this intriguing spud. Thus begins our Search for Spud.

Having never visited Idaho, this particular path required some advanced planning on my part to even see where our overnights would lead us. Gauging the sparse nature of services, I assumed our path would be one less-traveled. I wasn’t wrong after taking a glance in my trusty-dusty atlas. The discovery was not necessarily a bad thing. The varied landscape of the ION Highway kept us guessing around every corner. From the rising hills of Idaho to the red buttes between and the rolling hills of Wyoming, the beauty of America was evident all around us. Amber waves of grain to green fields of potatoes as far as the eye could see. America’s bounty lay before us. It was up to us to find those tasty tubers!

A helpful guide for this tour covered all the National Parks of the West. I had originally run across this handy guide in our local library. Its endless useful nature led to an addition to my ever-growing travel bookshelf.

We planned to stop at Craters of the Moon National Monument and along the Grand Tetons during this trek of the West. I loved the maps and tips for accommodations and things to do around the area.

For fun and keeping to the tater-tastic theme, the family made an attempt to learn the hip moves from the 50’s classic “Mashed Potato Time” in case there was ever an opportunity or if anyone got bored along the way. These good sports were ready to seek out the spuds of Idaho!

After an early blast-off and making sure all the towels in the house were clean and dry (if you know; you know!!), we made our way seamlessly out of Sonoma County. Zipping through the hilly, Napa-bound Hwy 12 and linking up with 80 south of Sacramento on our way from the serene California Coast to the treacherous Donner Pass and beyond.

On our way, we stopped at the closest Cracker Barrel to our home outside Sacramento for fried okra, greens, sweet tea, and whatever other biscuits and Southern comforts before we headed to the Northern wilderness.

Gassing up before cresting the hills to Nevada, we noticed a Shell station across the street advertised claiming to have the cleanest restrooms. Taking note for future treks East.

After descending the hills of the Sierra Nevadas, the towering casinos of Reno greeted us.

Meandering through Reno “The Biggest Little City in the World”, the illustrious National Bowling Stadium hovered above us. This is the third iteration of arches. The first is a few blocks away. The second is now adorning the streets of Willits, CA. Read more here.

Winnemucca became our first overnight destination: home to the “World’s Largest Piece of Driftwood”.

At first it was chosen merely for location. After experiencing the charm of “The Gateway to Black Rock Desert”, we’ll be sure to pinpoint this dusty little oasis for future endeavors. More on that upon our return route.

After an overnight in Winnemucca, we picked up our path due north to Boise, Idaho. Before we’d left, I had prepped as best I could for any “possible potty stops”along the bare stretches of vastness that is the American West. For this leg, my notes were as follows:

• Chevron McDermitt, NV / NV-OR state line runs thru town
• Burns Junction
• Jordan Valley
• ExtraMile Marsing, ID

McDermitt is a special place: home to one of the few cities in the country split by two states simultaneously. The White Horse was rumored to straddle the line and the laws back in the day. This 80s song kept playing in my brain during our short pit stop.

At a gas station nearby, we found one of the few restrooms along this four hour leg. There were two gas stations across Highway 95 from one another. I’d advise you to stop here for literally anything you may need: it’s going to be a long while before you see civilization again.

This lonely road was home to more Idaho license plates than Oregon. “Oregon’s Outback” is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the country. Read more on this rugged landscape and history here.

Daunting, but not deterred, our journey northward continued onward to the stretches of Idaho. The second listed “possible potty stop” in Burns Junction seems to have fallen in on itself sometime in the past decade or so.

In the vast, open land a few highlights of the area emerge. A historical marker about Sarah Winnemucca. Winnemucca is named for a person: news to us! She wrote the “first ever published book that was written by a Native American woman”

The highway follows along the Louis and Clark Trail where the burial site of Sacagawea’s son lies. Further up the road is the US’s answer to the Pillars of Rome. Look no further than a “private property” sign. These iconic cliffs are visible from the highway as an optical illusion reminiscent of our democratic predecessors of the ancient lands across the Atlantic. They’re also the only notable landmark for hours.

“Jordan Valley” seems a vague note for a possible roadside services .. However, it made sense when we drove through and saw the sign for UNFORGETTABLE RESTROOMS for Skinner’s Rockhouse Coffee then had a debate on whether that could be a good omen or bad.. It turns out, they’re the only option in town. We kept moving through town and noted the Sinclair in town was either closed or under construction which seemed to be the only other possible option to our eyes.

Next, we made our way to the outskirts of Boise to the clean, convenient ExtraMile of Marsing, ID then onward to downtown Boise! At least some of my notes were accurate. Either way, we were prepared for this sparse area of America.

First, we stopped at Idaho Rocks and Gems. This blink-and-you-miss-it shop was chock-full of hidden treasures. The gentleman behind the counter walked the kiddos back to slice thunder eggs in half for each of them! Unbeknownst to me, thunder eggs are neighbor-state Oregon’s state rock.

Meandering through the shop, we chose a few tokens of our own:

an amethyst crystal and smooth, green worrying stone. Great choices to remember the “Gem State”.

Lush, tree-filled and colorful Boise greeted us. Read more on their tree planting initiative here.

Oppressive and overhead, we stood our ground for a tiny shaded table outside the Westside Drive In. On this day, the temperature was hovering over 100 degrees.

The little window flashes open and closed with patient, yet swift staff, ready to provide your chosen cool treats or holler out the fried concoctions to the folks working further back. To be in the vicinity of the breeze as the little window whooshed back and forth was worth the wait alone. Waiting patiently with the other patrons to place our orders, we perused the menu.

I had previously noted this jewel of the roadside from Guy Fieri’s “Diner’s Drive-ins, and Dives” to try their Idaho Ice Cream Potato and “Boise’s Best Finger Steak’s”.

Our first round was a fried feast of finger steaks, chicken strips, and cold drinks. A refreshing station with cups and cold water was provided a few steps away to hydrate on the hot days.

After a relatively short wait, our number was called and we dug into welcome delights. These chewy, crunchy strips were a filling choice in my book. Westside Drive In has its own version of fry sauce.

Another must-have are the desserts of this iconic roadside destination: the milkshakes and Idaho Ice Cream Potato. The state fruit, huckleberry, is offered as a milkshake flavor option. Our crew voted for the Grasshopper and Orange Dreamsicle shakes for a cooldown on this ultra-hot day. Whoosh-whoosh goes the window and out comes a prepared Ice Cream Potato ready for everyone to spoon a mouthful of the vanilla ice cream cocoa-dusted, chocolate sauce drizzled, cookie crumble and peanut (optional!) -topped treat is a feast for the eyes as well as the tummy!

Slurping our shakes and nibbling on leftover fries and gems, we eventually made our way back to the vehicle for the short drive across town for the night. After a trip to a local retailer to replace forgotten bathing suits (whoops!), we made a quick dip in the pool. Next, our tummies were once again rumbling for a snack.

What better place than The Placery! The ultra-generic option our hotel had settled for downstairs. The greeter-host-bartender-server-short order cook-expediter-busboy did his best to run a one-man show and work a fryer and the bar simultaneously. Luckily, there were few patrons and guests flowing through at this particular time. So, our needs were well met with a cold, local draft beer, crispy french fries and cheesy mini pizzas.

Nearby, at the Cherie Buckner-Webb Park, is the iconic “Gentle Breeze” interactive sculpture resembling a large cherry tree with swings. Read more about this “people’s park” and its namesake here.

Up for an early stroll the next morning, we meandered toward BACON Boise. This hip gastronomic spot was bound to be hopping before too long. So, we made our way to give it a go.

Worth mentioning? Yes. Worth visiting? You decide. I figured a bacon-focused restaurant would have a salty or smoky option.. Boy, was I surprised to find their house Berryhill bacon is a sweet-spicy flavor. It got more interesting from there after following the bacon road for a quick pork-centric chat at the order window.

After placing your orders, the cashier-host would walk your party past the coffee station. Shout out for some damn fine coffee and the attentive staff who never let the cup get too empty before a warm top off.

Between house-made cinnamon rolls, beignets, and French toast, this brunch bonanza is bound to tickle your sweet tooth. Each table was equipped with trivia cards to keep everyone entertained during the short wait for hot food A crunchy surprise of fried okra accompanied the breakfast potatoes on our plates to round out with a salty bite.

After getting our fill of the BACON Boise flavors, we strolled through colorful Boise lined with adorable shops like Re-POP Gifts which would be buzzing with patrons later in the morning.

Nearby was Freak Alley denoted as “the northwest's largest open-air, multi-artist mural gallery”. What started as one guy’s artistic expression outside a cafe became so much more. This creative and artistic energy made Boise worth a return trip for further exploration! Read more about their public art initiative here.

Exiting the green Boise area led into the grand lands of central Idaho following paths of pioneers before us. Mountain Home had services for gas, restrooms, and some of the largest jerky sheets we’ve ever seen before heading into the wild West.

Signs for the Goodale’s Cutoff began to appear along the way soon after. Similar to the Donner Pass, Goodale had endeavored a path along the Pioneer Mountains, just north of the vast, impassible Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Approaching Craters of the Moon, the craggy, foreign landscape boggles the mind. Eventually, the road winds toward the Visitor Center and entry to this unique parcel.

• The Robert Limbert Visitor Center is the best place to get acquainted.
• A Cave Permit is required to visit and hike the bat caves in order to further protect these integral creatures from white nose syndrome.
• For the kids, the Junior Ranger activities are available for pickup at the Visitor Center or printable prior from their handy PDF. Not all parks have their activities available online, so check in with the Park Ranger with any questions!

After getting our bearings, we made our way back to the vehicle for a driving tour between stops along Loop Rd. Craters NM has shorter hikes along the route; perfect for our group and timeframe.

The Northern Crater Flow trail is an accessible pathway for a loop that’s less than a mile.The first stop was a crash course in Hawaiian descriptions of the basaltic lava flows of the landscape. It’s up to you to identify which version that you see. Pāhoehoe and ‘A‘ā examples were all around. Read more here.

We skipped the steep climb of the Inferno Cone, sprinkled with Dwarf Buckwheat flowers as far as the eye can see, and sides dotted with visitors trekking to the top for gorgeous views.

Next was one of the highlights of the entire trip: peeking down the vent of a volcano! This particular spot has two spatter cones to experience.

One has an extremely steep walkway up to the vent. We opted for both since they were each paved and within steps of each other. These relics of turbulent times are well worth the visit! The Park Ranger later reminded us that this area is overdue for an eruption since it’s been over 2000 years since the last one.

Our last stop off was the aptly named Devil’s Orchard Nature Trail. Being only .5 mile in length, this loop proved to be intense on this particular day with little cover while over 100 degrees.

Finishing the loop back where we started by the Visitor Center, our kids checked in with the Park Ranger on duty and made their pledge to complete and be named Junior Rangers of Craters of the Moon National Monument. Stop by the Gift Shop as well as the attached museum to round out your experience.

Beyond Craters, Goodale’s Cutoff continues to trace the outer edges of the ancient lava flows until reaching the little city of Arco: the first city to be lit by atomic energy.

Not long after Arco, the land stretches out and the giant EBR-I “the World’s First Nuclear Power Plant” at Idaho National Laboratory or INL dominates the roadside. There’s even a free museum! Nearby is the once booming town of Atomic City.

Blackfoot, Idaho awaited us, home of the humble Idaho Potato Museum. Out front of the former railroad depot is a giant spud.

One side houses the gift shop and entry for the museum. The middle of the building houses restrooms and the entirety of the museum.

Within the museum, the entire family will enjoy this educational and spud-tastic spot. A former Sonoma County resident Luther Burbank makes an appearance in the Museum and without whom McDonalds’ french fries wouldn’t be as tasty! Read more about Burbank’s ties to taters here.

This charming museum is also home to an extensive Potato Head Collection. An interactive Mr. Potato Head station for hands-on, old-school build-your-own potato person! Did you know the first toy to be advertised to children on television was the Mr. Potato Head?

The museum’s exhibits include autographed taters, VR farming experience, and facts about our french fried favorite tuber.

Another door leads to another highlight of our trip: the Potato Station Cafe. Here, you may order potatoes made in a multitude of ways including a baker topped, mashed, fried or variations such as sweet potato fries or even sliced wedges or dollars. On this hot day, we still enjoyed warm, crisp waffle fries and a bowl of mashed potatoes topped with pats of yellow butter and green onions galore. The mashed potatoes were so dreamy creamy. Check out what’s on the menu today!

We stopped for the night a few exits up I-15 in Idaho Falls. This Holiday Inn had live music at the attached restaurant the night of our stay. After a quick dip in the indoor pool, we sauntered in for a burger and to enjoy the evening’s entertainment. Early in the AM, I made my way to the hotel’s laundry facilities and after finding they only had one operational dryer, things moved slowly. Yet it was nice to replenish clean undies and socks along the way.

This particular hotel had a deal where children eat free at the onsite restaurant. So instead of hitting up the Dixie Diner up the street, we opted to keep things budget-friendly and eat downstairs. We were not disappointed!

The Snake River, the nation’s fourth largest river, would meander along our path outside Idaho Falls. Be sure to check out their Greenspace for gorgeous waterfalls Downtown. For now, the landscape was peaceful and prairie near the Ririe rest area.

Not long after this restful stop, the climb began through the Teton Pass with some of the steepest grades I’ve driven in quite a while. Bring good brakes and be ready for gorgeous views!

After descending from the pass, we diverted through the town center of Jackson. Here, the crowds converged on the walkways pressing on to their next destinations. The Town Square is home to a huge archway made from elk antlers from the nearby preserve. “The first antler arch was built in 1953, and each arch is disassembled and recreated periodically.” Wow!

Nearby lies the National Museum of Wildlife Art overlooking the cliffs above the blissful National Elk Preserve.

Outside pics - museum

Art adorns the hillside even with interactive pieces to crank! The entryway at the parking level takes you from the second floor through a small foyer and down the sculpture-laden stairwell into the grand lobby for check-in.

Art

Various doorways situated around the circular room. We approached the information desk and awaited instruction from the museum staff. Neither my partner nor I were familiar with this particular museum, yet we kept encountering artists and works we were familiar with from pop culture.

Pic of ceiling

Bisen-tennial event coincides with the nation’s 250th celebrations. A multitude of bison-related art was on display among impressions of everything from salmon to 1000 birds (link).

Bison at entryway Chief

A temporary exhibit was the art in motion by Ivan Iler. Everyone enjoyed taking a turn to energize the art to life through our best efforts through gears and cranks. Some pieces took a little elbow grease to get started, while others were on rest to be on display for future guests. So, be sure to read the associated placards for these dazzling displays.

Each Gallery is specifically themed. Some areas have permanent collections, such as the extensive works of Carl Rungius, the namesake of the street where the museum resides.

For kids, a scavenger hunt with a prize at the end once completed. The Natural Wildlife Museum of Art also offers a cafe onsite: Palate.

Every window housed astonishing views of the landscape. Though elk were not present during our visit. Later in our trip through Utah, we did end up spotting a lone elk roaming about.

Lego art “Tiger” by Ai Weiwei

From Georgia O’Keefe to Andy Warhol to LEGO art, this gem of a museum is well worth the stop. Among our favorites were turtles, antelopes, peacocks, and the Chief Bison himself.

"Antelope” - Georgia O’Keefe

Andy Warhol’s “Turtle”

Edward Hicks’s “Peaceable Kingdom” More on the series "Peaceable Kingdom” Also in SF at deYoung

“Black Peacocks with Japanese Persimmons”

** “The Enchantress”

Next, what seemed like a ton of left turns to me, we landed at the Grand Tetons’ Craig Thomas Visitor Center https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/index.htm

Along with clean restrooms and access to Park Rangers for permits and inquiries, there were gorgeous views of the Tetons themselves. Here, you can access sites for camping and all sorts of outdoor adventures up through the Jenny Lake area over to Yellowstone National Park.

After making our reservation a few months prior, our fam headed over to the cutest pink house in Colorado: Casa Bonita

We started with a tasty meal. Then, explored almost every square inch of this adorable casita.

From cave divers, pirates, wishing wells to South Park character sightings, it’s worth checking out this iconic landmark of Lakewood. Read more about our adventure here.

After our adventure, our hosts insisted the kiddos dip their toes into Clear Creek one more time. Snaking through the narrow Highway , there are more than enough options to pull off and enjoy the afternoon cooling off by the creek. Spending a little time splashing around after the zoo of Casa Bonita was a relief.

Early the next morning, after packing up the vehicle, we made our way up the path to a local playground. Letting the energy out before hitting the road is never a bad idea.

Our hosts had discussed grabbing permits for the “highest paved road in America” nearby at Mount Blue Sky, formerly Mt Evans, but ultimately decided against it due to limited time during our last day. Next visit, a 14er and RMNP!

They also recommended a stop at the local Historical Museum and a mine to learn more about the local mining history. All ideas ticked away for future excursions in the raddist state of the West.

This particular day, our plan was to drive along the gorge westward. Eventually, heading northward toward Dinosaur-laden Vernal. Through all the summer construction and steady traffic, the drive felt endless. Even with a few stops at Mickey Ds and various gas stations did not quell the boring nature of the route. Thankfully, the kids had their playdates.

Finally, we skirted through Dinosaur, CO, signalling our destination was not far ahead! I had never been through Dinosaur which is a blink-and-you-miss-it place. Previously, I had arrived via SLC or Highway 40 (?) from Steamboat Springs on a previous trip.

If you can go out of your way for a few dinosaurs, it’s worth driving a moment down the street to see the few fellas they have on display.

Continuing on Highway 40, we soon passed Dinosaur Monument where Steggy resides.

Sinclair, of Sinclair Oil, sponsored Dinoland beginning at the 1934-1935 World’s Fair. A later exhibit’s replicas in the 1960s, including the famed Bronchiasaurus “Dino”, were later parsed out across the country after a successful marketing scheme to link the dinosaurs directly to oil. This is the origin of the iconic dinosaur of Sinclair gas stations and its parent oil company.

The Stegosaurus is currently on display outside the Dinosaur National Monument’s Visitors Center in Jensen. Our travels did not take us to DNM this particular trip. One reason is the facility was making upgrades to their parking lot and discovered dinosaur bones there and had to close for its possible excavation. Read more on our previous travels to Vernal and DNM here.

Another reason for skipping DNM this particular visit is we were set to explore Vernal’s adorable take on these eye-catching lil guys of their own. BINGO, sponsored by the city, was going on during our visit. We made our way to as many locations as we could within our short stay, zipping down Main to 40 and Naples then over to see the T-Rex and lovely Dinah. From Ashley Trading Post to the 7-Elevens, you’ll zip up and down US-40 and Main Street for plenty of adorable photo ops along the town’s main drag.

Be advised the parking lots closest to Dinah on the Western side of Vernal do not permit public parking and explicitly call out visitors hoping to see Dinah up close. Finding the side of the street during the summer to be doable for parking in a pinch. So, we quickly nabbed a few photos of this gorgeous gal on a hot, summer day this trip.

Next, we headed to Naples to cool down at the Country Grub. This rustic locale may not attract the eye, but believe me when I say you won’t regret that burger and shake this day! Be sure to sample some of their uniquely Utahn English Chips or Picadilly chips.

Later that evening, we strolled a few blocks to capture selfies with more dinos along E. Main St. Where East Main Street turns to West Main Street, Highway 191 intersects from the North. At the corner of the intersection is a brick bank: Zions Bank of Vernal or the “Parcel Post Bank”. What makes this particular bank of note is that the bricks to build the bank were mailed through the US Postal Service in 1913.

Don’t forget to check out the T-Rex at the J&P Saddle shop next door! Vernal is chock full of charm.

Across the street is Cobble Rock Park made from a former gas station which used to house the only women’s restroom between Craig, CO and Heber, UT (approx 250 miles). . Murals and dinos enliven this cozy space. Just around the corner is Swains Bros, the area's fancy eatery. Steaks, shrimp, nachos and even the kids’ meals satisfied all attendees, even the locals!

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