Category: Photos

Road Trip to Yellowstone National Park ~ Overview ~ Photos ~ May 2023 

Road Trip to Yellowstone National Park ~ Overview ~ Photos ~ May 2023 

Journeys with EileenDiane

I’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone National Park and finally got there. It is spectacular and I understand why people make more than one visit and/or stay for longer than a few days. I planned to travel prior to Memorial Weekend and waited until the snow season was over (though there was snow on the ground in the higher elevations).

My route from western Washington started with the I-90, stopping in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I had time to visit a favorite book store (“The Well Read Moose”) before heading to Butte, Montana to break up the drive. Leaving Butte, I went over Homestake Pass (6,329 feet, the Continental Divide) and then local Montana highways to West Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park has 5 entrances. I chose the West Entrance as the town is very close to the park. My favorite part was the Canyon area. And I mentally made a note to return to see more of the northern part of the park. Should you travel to this area, definitely check online or guide books for valuable information.

West Yellowstone has a fabulous Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. And while I saw magnificent bison in the park, I am glad I visited the Discovery Center to see the wolves and bears.

Leaving the park, I traveled via the South Exit, noting that the restaurant at Grant Village was closed but would open Memorial Weekend. The South Exit took me to the gorgeous Grand Teton National Park. It was an easy drive to Jackson, then over the Teton Pass (connecting Wyoming and Idaho, 8,432 feet; very steep, 10% grade but very beautiful) towards Idaho Falls.

I stopped in Idaho Falls to break up my trip as I headed to Boise. The falls and the Japanese garden are quite stunning and there is a nice green belt to walk along.

It was terrific revisiting Boise as I love the Rose Garden, Green Belt and the downtown area.

My last stop was Hood River, on the Columbia. Beautiful, windy area.

Below are some favorite photos. I will have additional posts with information about the areas, including favorite restaurants, and more photos.

Would I go back to Yellowstone? Most definitely … it is a treasure and should be on everyone’s travel list!

Savor your journeys, near or far, real or imagined

A Beautiful Day ~ Gig Harbor, WA ~ May 2023 ~ Photos ~ Quotes

A Beautiful Day ~ Gig Harbor, WA ~ May 2023 ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Journeys with EileenDiane

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ~ C.S. Lewis

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals ~ Zig Ziglar

There is nothing impossible to him who will try ~ Alexander the Great

Don’t wait. The time will never be just right ~ Napoleon Hill

You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens ~ Mandy Hale

Happy National Pet Day ~ Photos ~ Quotes ~ April 11, 2023

Happy National Pet Day ~ Photos ~ Quotes ~ April 11, 2023

Journeys with EileenDiane

The innocent look on their face is enough to take up most of the room in your heart ~ Mark Twain

Cats and music are the two ways of refuge from the miseries of life ~ Albert Schweitzer

A part of your soul remains asleep, if you have not loved an animal ~ Anatole France

The vibrations you recieve when the cat purrs on your lap are of contentment and pure love ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Cats own numerous charms which will make you forget all your worries ~ Saki

If you think that its only a cat then obviously you have never loved a cat ~ T.S.Eliot

Spring Begins ~ Gig Harbor, WA ~ March 2023 ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Spring Begins ~ Gig Harbor, WA ~ March 2023 ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Journeys with EileenDiane

The spring wakes us, nurtures us and revitalizes us. How often does your spring come? If you are a prisoner of the calendar, it comes once a year. If you are creating authentic power, it comes frequently, or very frequently ~ Gary Zukav

Spring: a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be ~ Anonymous

Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment ~ Ellis Peters

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow ~ English Proverb

Spring is painted in daffodil yellows, robin egg blues, new grass green and the brightness of hope for a better life ~ Toni Sorenson

Farewell to Winter, March 2023 ~ Gig Harbor, WA ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Farewell to Winter, March 2023 ~ Gig Harbor, WA ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Journeys with EileenDiane

In March, winter is holding back and spring is pulling forward. Something holds and something pulls inside of us too ~ Jean Hersey

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade ~ Charles Dickens

By March, the worst of the winter would be over. The snow would thaw, the rivers would begin to run and the world would wake into itself again ~ Neil Gaiman

Every cold and dark phase ends and hence begins a beautiful phase of warmth and vibrance. Don’t believe it? Just notice March ~ Anamika Mishra

I love March as it gives me hope that new beginnings are always beautiful ~ Anamika Mishra 

How terrible a time is the beginning of March. In a month there will be daffodils and the sudden blossoming of orchards, but you wouldn’t know it now. You have to take spring on blind faith ~ Beatriz Williams

Poulsbo, Washington ~ Winter 2023 ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Poulsbo, Washington ~ Winter 2023 ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Journeys with EileenDiane

Located on the Kitsap Peninsula, in western Washington, Poulsbo is known as “Little Norway.” It was founded in the 1880’s by Norwegian immigrants. Walk about the town, explore the many shops, art galleries, bakeries and attractions. Enjoy walking along the waterfront (where there is ample parking).

Favorite shops to explore include:

  • Liberty Bay Books ~ terrific local bookstore offering a very good selection of books, puzzles, cards, gifts, games and book clubs. Great place to browse.
  • Nordiska ~ beautiful shop to browse gifts, houseware and kitchen goods. Check out their book club.

You will find several good restaurants, including The Loft (on the water), Slippery Pig Brewery and marvelous Italian cuisine at Sogno di Vino.

Savor your journeys, near or far, real or imagined

Favorite quotes about books:

There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all ~ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking ~ Haruki Murakami

Some books leave us free and some books make us free ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is no friend as loyal as a book ~ Ernest Hemingway

I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once ~ C.S. Lewis

Favorite Poem: Sea-Fever by John Masefield ~ Photos

Favorite Poem: Sea-Fever by John Masefield ~ Photos

Journeys with EileenDiane

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.