Driving away from Yellowstone, we weren't done with wildlife yet. Bison were napping on the roadside; apparently unbothered by the concept of a schedule. When, out of nowhere, a woman appeared with a stop sign, and we watched a full cowboy-led horse drive cross the highway from a dude ranch. The Grand Tetons rose behind them like a backdrop from a movie set. I kept thinking: nobody is going to believe this.

This would not be the last time we'd encounter horses or cattle being herded across a highway on this trip. The American West is still very much the American West. We were just passing through it.

Yellowstone in one day! Due to catastrophic flooding, only half the park was open. We packed in a lot with our kids: bison, hot springs, and hikes!

Our first full day in the car! Seattle to Butte, Montana, and onto West Yellowstone. A stop at Lewis & Clark Caverns, and a gluten-free lunch in West Yellowstone.