We all climbed inside a special elevator and traveled to the top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch, inside, of course. That thing is over 600 feet tall.
When we got back down to ground level, we took a tour boat ride on the Mississippi River.
Boat rides are always fun! ~ 06-13-2017

Joss got her feet wet in the Mississippi River right by the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

Joss floated in Oologah Lake in Blue Creek Campground near Claremore, Oklahoma.
She got more than her feet wet. Watch out for the sharks, Joss!

Joss tried her hand at bowling in Old Cow Town, Wichita, Kansas. This was a fun place!

When in Colorado and the campgrounds are full...
...roadside parking along a nice river will work just fine. It's free and legal.

Up on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, there is snow in June. What a cool summer playground.
Joss started with a short-sleeve tee shirt, but that didn't work very well. The air is chilly!

Hali joined the snow romp and made some yellow snow. ~ 06-26-2017

Okay, my arms are getting cold! Maybe I'll go get a sweater.

On a trail walk to Adams Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park, Joss found a lot of downed trees and had to walk them all.
It was easy walking across to the rock, but a little more trouble coming back. She did it.

In beautiful downtown Grand Lake, Colorado, on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, there is mini-golf and we had time for a round.
A hole-in-one! Well, maybe 9 or 10 or 12. But, who's counting. ~ 06-28-2017

Elk Creek Campground in Colorado is a hangout for the local moose.
Looks a lot like Bullwinkle. Where's Rocky?

Another lesson in camping - If you want a campfire, you will need to split firewood.
Joss gave it her best with a small hammer. Her Daddy was patient... very patient.

The weather was absolutely beautiful and perfect for a picnic at Shadow Mountain picnic area in Rocky Mountain National Park. ~ 07-01-2017

Well, fireworks are a no-no in the National Parks, but sparklers don't make any noise and are kinda like a hand-held flashy campfire thing. Joss was dressed in a fire-proof nightie (right) for the occasion. Fun, fun, fun on the fourth!

We stopped at the Flaming Gorge Dam and partook in a most interesting tour that led us across the top of the dam and then inside for an elevator ride down to the generator room at the bottom.

On our dam tour, we took an elevator inside and went all the way down to the bottom where the generators are located. Pretty cool high-tech stuff here.
Joss really wanted to get in there and touch the generators. ~ 07-05-2017

The water behind the dam travels thru large pipes, flows thru the generators to make electricity, and then exits the dam in a spectacular and noisy display.

We stopped at the Red Canyon Overlook and Visitor Center in Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in the northeast corner of Utah. It was late in the afternoon, too late, and the visitor center was closed, but the canyon was still open, ha, ha. We were pretty much the only visitors there. The view was fantastic! ~ 07-05-2017

Thermopolis Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming was a great place to spend a few hours on a beautiful sunny day. The park had EVERYTHING! Hot spring water bubbling out of the ground, boardwalks going around the springs, a suspension bridge going over the river, a picnic pavillion, a playground, and a large hot spring pool. ~ 07-07-2017

What's a park without steel tee-pees and a metal buffalo sign.

The Irma Hotel in downtown Cody, Wyoming, built by the legendary Buffalo Bill, puts on a gunfight show at five o'clock every afternoon.
A really corny show with a thin plot, but it's free.
Oh, and Joss got to dance with a real cowboy. ~ 07-08-2017

Joss got paid to watch the show. He stole the money from the bank.

The Rodeo in Cody, Wyoming, is the BEST. Ride 'em cowboy!
The bull riding is absolutely insane.

At the Buffalo Bill Center in Cody, cowgirl Joss took a nice long ride on a horse.
The cowboy was really nice and talked horse stuff to her the whole time. She loved it!

Kepler Cascades is a waterfall on the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park.

Another educational stop for Joss on the long boardwalk around Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. ~ 07-15-2017

Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park is one steamy and stinky place.
We spent a lot of time here walking around on the top of an active volcano.

It was a long walk down the boardwalk and a bunch of stairs to get to this point.
Well worth it! White water rafting anyone?

After it poured Cats-N-Dogs on Mammoth Campground in Yellowstone National Park,
it hailed! Yes indeedy, little round pieces of ice... in the hot summer. Cool! ~ 07-16-2017

Smile Joss! It's picture and movie time.
We stopped at so many waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park... and took pictures.

Joss! Be careful! How many times did we tell her that? All summer long.
She didn't even get wet. ~ 07-17-2017

The Artists' Paintpots are really cool! Or, actually HOT!
We watched them bloop, bloop, bloop for the longest time. ~ 07-18-2017

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) is just the best place for wild horses.
They roam all over the park and are very easy to spot. And some have spots.

The wild horses are absolutely beautiful creatures. The cowboys sure do like them.

The praire dogs have a busy day keeping an eye on the tourists, the wild horses who keep stepping in their holes, and the coyotees that want to eat them.

A beautiful day for a long walk on one of the many trails to nowhere. Smile Joss.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park has bison roaming all over the place.
They easily become part of the traffic.
Oh, and what's the difference between a bison and a buffalo?
No, it's not the size of their poop. Guess again.

Where do the Bison roam? Anywhere they want - and the road is part of anywhere.

This swallow bird nest was right above the door for the National Buffalo Museum.
The babies were as noisy as they could be waiting for mom (or dad) to bring them lunch. Four tiny birds with big wide open mouths. ~ 08-05-2017