{"id":167,"date":"2016-05-02T04:46:49","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T04:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journey2alaska.wordpress.com\/?p=167"},"modified":"2023-10-06T03:34:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T03:34:24","slug":"the-west-is-the-best","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/2016\/05\/02\/the-west-is-the-best\/","title":{"rendered":"The West is the Best"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\">If there\u2019s any state that makes you feel small, it\u2019s South Dakota! The land goes on for miles, and it\u2019s amazing how the topography changes dramatically once you cross the Missouri. Tim and I arrived at my cousin Bobby\u2019s house in Eagle Butte around 6 on Friday night. We had a blast hanging out with Bobby, his wife Pete, and their friends Monty, Brad, and Troy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-169\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.JPG\" width=\"2064\" height=\"1161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1.jpg 2064w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Saturday morning, we left around 10 and headed to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Unfortunately, the next tour was at 2PM and we didn\u2019t have time to wait around, but they did have a visitor center with a brand new museum that was worth the stop.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">From there, we hopped onto the Badlands Loop; lots of spectacular views along the way, and even some wildlife sightings!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_media-5\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-media-5\" style=\"width: 1947px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-171\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/image1-1.jpg\" alt=\"image1 (1).JPG\" width=\"1947\" height=\"1277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1-1.jpg 1947w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1-1-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1-1-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image1-1-1024x672.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-media-5\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bighorn sheep<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-183\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/img_6839.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_6839.JPG\" width=\"1632\" height=\"1224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/img_6839.jpg 1632w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/img_6839-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/img_6839-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/img_6839-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-185\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/20160430_123719.jpg\" alt=\"20160430_123719\" width=\"1944\" height=\"2592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160430_123719.jpg 1944w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160430_123719-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160430_123719-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Next stop was Rapid City. Bobby and Pete met up with us for an early dinner at the Firehouse Brewing Co. and then we were on our way into Wyoming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-175\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/image3.jpg\" alt=\"image3.JPG\" width=\"2592\" height=\"1458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image3.jpg 2592w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image3-1024x576.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">After a quick visit to Devil\u2019s Tower, we made our way to Buffalo where we stayed at the Occidental Hotel, per Bobby\u2019s suggestion. It really is an awesome place if you ever find yourself in the area!<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-177\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/20160430_183842.jpg\" alt=\"20160430_183842.jpg\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160430_183842.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160430_183842-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160430_183842-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160430_183842-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-178\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/image2.jpg\" alt=\"image2\" width=\"3264\" height=\"2448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image2.jpg 3264w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/image2-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_media-14\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-media-14\" style=\"width: 4032px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-180\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/20160501_083315.jpg\" alt=\"20160501_083315.jpg\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_083315.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_083315-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_083315-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_083315-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-media-14\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Occidental Hotel, founded in 1880<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"p1\">We got back on the road this morning by 8:30 and arrived in East Glacier Park Village, MT by the end of the day. While we were hoping to stop at Yellowstone along the way, unfortunately a lot of the roads were still closed on the eastern and southern sides, and driving around to the western side would have been 6+ hours out of the way, so we\u2019ll have to save that for another trip! Nevertheless, the drive through Montana was beautiful, with continuous views of mountains in the distance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">We took a quick drive through Glacier National Park while the sun was setting, and we\u2019re hoping to go back tomorrow when we have more time to explore. Then we\u2019ll be on our way into Canada! Next stop: Banff National Park.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_media-23\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-media-23\" style=\"width: 4032px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-188\" src=\"https:\/\/journey2alaska.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/05\/20160501_194103.jpg\" alt=\"20160501_194103.jpg\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_194103.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_194103-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_194103-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/20160501_194103-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-media-23\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two Medicine Lake, Glacier National Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If there\u2019s any state that makes you feel small, it\u2019s South Dakota! The land goes on for miles, and it\u2019s amazing how the topography changes dramatically once you cross the Missouri. Tim and I arrived at my cousin Bobby\u2019s house in Eagle Butte around 6 on Friday night. We had a blast hanging out with &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/2016\/05\/02\/the-west-is-the-best\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;The West is the Best&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,4],"tags":[11,16,21,30,34,36,38],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":380,"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions\/380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taberobrien.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}