The Best and Worst List

To complete this blog, we have created a list of our best and worst from the roadtrip! As we reflect on this excursion, we realize that the time in each place was a treasured moment--one that cannot be repeated. Most of these places are so far removed and so different from our lives. In discovering the vastness of America, we now appreciate something special in each part of the country. There are many beautiful places that we hope to return to someday, and we are grateful to have shared in this experience together(twice!).

So now, to the list. We'll start with the best and worst meals:

Best Dinners: 1) Corn Exchange in Rapid City, South Dakota 2) Just a Taste tapas bar in Ithaca, NY 3) Nora's Fish Creek Inn in Wilson, WY
Worst Dinner: 1) Cracker Barrel (Karen thinks it's still better than McDonald's!)

Best Lunch: 1) Ithaca bakery & deli 2) Sweetwater cafe, Jackson, WY 3) leftover Giordano's Chicago pizza
Worst Lunch: 1) Chief Schenevus restaurant, Schenevus, NY

Best Breakfast: 1) William Henry Miller Inn (roasted plum, corn pancakes, Miller Mcmuffin) 2) The Mayor's Inn (buffalo sausage, scones, and pancakes) 3) The Bentwood Inn (macademia nut pancakes & evening reception the night before)
Worst Breakfast: Hampton Inn --it wasn't really a "hot" breakfast like they claimed

Most Beautiful Location: Sunset & Lightning at Panorama Point in Badlands, South Dakota (while munching on buffalo burgers!)
Least Beautiful Location: 1) Toledo, OH 2) Tourist Village at the base of Mt. Rushmore

Best Local Attraction: 1) Chicago Architectural Riverboat tour 2) Cody Night Rodeo

Best Roadside Rest Area: 1) Massachusetts Pike rest area (clean and lots of cafes)
Worst Roadside Rest Area: maybe the road stops along the Iowa turnpike

Best Car Snack for Keith: Haribo cola gummies
Best Car Snack for Karen: Kashi granola bars

Place we felt most safe: The Bentwood Inn in Jackson, Wyoming
Place we felt least safe: Omaho, Nebraska at night

Best Accommodations: 1)The Bentwood Inn, Jackson, Wyoming 2) William Henry Miller Inn, Ithaca, NY
Worst Accomodations: 1) Anton Boxrud B&B, Salt Lake City, Utah

Biggest Pet Peeve (for Keith): Inconsiderate RV drivers
Biggest Pet Peeve (for Karen): Trying to capture road signs on the road when the windshield was splattered with bugs

Biggest Pleasant Surprise: The Grand Tetons--very majestic!
Biggest Unfortunate Surprise: Forest fire in Yellowstone that closed the East Gate, forcing us to drive the Northern route (which then turned out to be long but beautiful)

Biggest Disappointment: 1) Salt Lake City--there is really nothing interesting to see in the city, unless you want to visit the Mormon temple 2) Not having enough time to spend in Jackson, WY (but! Our friends M&M decided they are going to get married there next summer! So we hope to be back in Jackson and see the area more carefully.)

Best Value: 1) Walking the grounds at Tanglewood for free (and hearing music rehearsals) 2) $2.00 street parking in downtown Chicago while we took the architectural tour
Worst Value: Inn at Stockbridge--this inn was way overpriced and underdelivered

Best Stretch of Drive (excluding National Parks): 1) Road from Yellowstone to Jackson Hole 2) Road from Utah to Nevada
Worst Stretch of Drive: 1) Traffic in Chicago due to highway accident 2) Mountain pass through Bighorn National Forest (there was also a forest fire)

Best Road Sign: Bison Crossing signs around Yellowstone and Jackson
Worst Road Sign: ??