Do the words “family road trip” scare you? It really doesn’t have to be scary. My family took a road trip in late June from California to Salt Lake City, Utah. My husband had a professional conference in Salt Lake City and it was the only opportunity for all of us to take a trip together this summer. We’ve driven this route before. Once when my son was only a year old. It’s easier now that the kids are mostly grown, but it still takes preparation and a good attitude.
Getting ready for a family road trip with older kids is much less stressful. You no longer have to pack all those baby things. They are much better at keeping themselves entertained (smart phones, books, naps, poking their siblings). But they do take up a lot more space. Space was at a premium on this trip, especially leg room. But we wanted a family adventure, so we packed up my husband’s company vehicle (a Toyota RAV4) and headed east. Actually, we headed north, then east. Home for us is the Silicon Valley. Do you know the way to San Jose? I do.
The Beauty of Donner Pass
Our first stop was Donner Pass. It had been a number of years since we all drove through this area and I wanted to get out and take pictures. The kids and hubby were happy to oblige as the RAV4 was a tight fit and everyone needed to stretch their legs. In case you didn’t know, my husband stands 6 foot 4 inches. My 13-year-old son is quickly approaching 6 feet and my girls, while not incredibly tall, are on the taller side of average. When I say the car was a tight fit, I’m not exaggerating.
The Sierra Nevada range is a beautiful place. There is something about the views that make me breathe a little deeper and longer. We stopped at a highway rest area. These places are not usually known for their beauty, but the one at the top of the pass is pretty nice. We got back in the car only to stop again at the lookout over Donner Lake. More pictures. Yes, kids, I’m sending one to Grandma.
Stopping in Reno
We quit driving for the day when we reached Reno, Nevada. Because we drove in the company vehicle, my husband had to do all the driving. His legs and back needed a rest. We stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites. They offered a clean, comfortable room with loads of cable channels, an indoor pool and free breakfast. I’d stay there again.
We had dinner at a chain restaurant called Texas Roadhouse. I’d never been to one before, but I’d go back if we had one anywhere near home (Hey, Texas Roadhouse corporate…this is a hint). The food was classic American comfort food. Steaks, fresh baked rolls, baked potatoes, burgers, and ribs. Not exactly the place to go on a diet, but it was sure tasty.
After a peaceful night and a complimentary breakfast, we hit the road again. The road out of Reno has a nice view of the Truckee River. Soon, however, we found ourselves in No Man’s Land. If you’ve never driven it, there’s a whole lot of nothing to look at on I-80 in Nevada. This is not the place to play a game of I Spy.
Stretching in Winnemucca
Several hours later, we stopped for a stretch in Winnemucca, Nevada. If nothing else, the name brings a smile to my face. It’s a fun word to say. The town is named after a Paiute chief that lived in the area. Looking for a shady spot and a restroom, we stopped at the community park. It was a very nice place with baseball fields, a large playground, and an indoor swimming pool. The locals were picking up and dropping off their kids for swim lessons. The whole place had a great, small town feel.
I looked at the park area and thought it would have been a great place to stop when my kids were younger. Sigh. Time goes by too quickly. Besides my 13-year-old son, I have college-age daughters. But I was wrong! As I walked and stretched my legs, my son and middle daughter ran past me, racing each other to the playground swings. Their sister (and father) soon joined them. I took photos and looked for a clean restroom. Someone had to be the grownup.
Eating in Elko
We hit the road again and headed for Elko, Nevada. We knew it would be lunch time when we reached Elko, so I turned to Yelp for some suggestions. You see, I believe in eating more than fast food on a road trip. You never know what gem you might find if you drive a few blocks in from the highway. And boy did we find a gem! Thanks to Yelp for showing us the way to the Ogi Deli in downtown Elko. I’ve always wanted to try Basque food and this place did not disappoint. I can’t remember what everyone had, but there were zero complaints and no leftovers. For my lunch, I had the daily sandwich special. It had Serrano ham, marinated pork loin, peppers, and Basque cheese on it. We also shared some fantastic brownies. If you’re heading through Elko and are hungry, do yourself a favor and try the Ogi Deli.
Salt Lake City, Here We Come
After our refueling (both of the car and our bellies), it was time to take on the final stretch to Salt Lake City. This stretch takes drivers through a strange sight…the Bonneville Salt Flats. Most of northwestern Utah was once covered by a giant inland lake. It is known as Lake Bonneville and as it receded, it left a lot of salt behind. If you look at the surrounding mountains, you can still see the ring where the ancient coastline used to be. It looks like we visited another planet! We were actually too tired to stop and take pictures on our way to Salt Lake City. But I got everyone to cooperate on the return trip.
Checking In and Checking Things Out
Because I couldn’t drive the company car, we stopped to pick up my rental car at Fox Rental Cars. The type of car I reserved was not available, so they upgraded me to a hybrid Ford Fusion. It took a little getting used to, but worked out just fine. It even gave me a “braking score” every time I drove. No idea what it meant, but I average an “A-” in breaking. So that’s good!
Finally, we made it downtown Salt Lake City where we checked in to the Radisson Hotel. What a great location! We were able to walk to all the downtown sites we wanted to and we were also close to a TRAX (light rail) stop. Our room was small, but very comfortable. They were having some trouble with elevators while we were there. But the workers were quick, efficient and very polite.
After unloading our luggage, we went to search of our dinner. Two blocks away, we found a fun spot called Blue Lemon. Apparently, this is a Utah chain restaurant. They had a fresh menu of salads, sandwiches, and pasta. Everything was light and tasty. It was just what we needed after a long car ride.
Have I mentioned the weather yet? It was hot. I mean, really hot. Nevada and Utah are high desert country after all. And when we reached Salt Lake City, it was close to 100 degrees. (Fahrenheit for my non-American readers). So after our dinner, I used my Google Maps app to lead us to a gelato parlor. The place was tiny and the line was long. It was worth the wait. I had panna cotta gelato. One of the girls had Nuttela flavored and my hubby got a delicious lemon scoop. We all shared as we walked back to our hotel.
Stay Tuned for Part 2
All in all, it was a great start to the trip. In my next post, I’ll talk about the fun things we did on this family road trip. Be sure to check back and find some ideas for your next vacation. Overall, I’d say that Salt Lake City is a very family-friendly place to visit. The streets are very clean. It has a lot of options for indoor and outdoor activities. And it is relatively inexpensive.
As always, thanks for reading. Please leave your comments below. Have you been on a family road trip lately or are you planning one this summer? I’d love to hear about it! Also, please use the social media buttons to share. That’s why they are there and sharing is caring.
