Salt Lake City, Utah

Since we drove directly to Idaho Falls upon arrival, I wanted some time to get a taste of Salt Lake City before leaving.  With me, food is never far from my mind during my travels and my meal at Pallet might have just been my favorite meal of the trip.  With a trendy interior that could easily fit in at SOHO,

 

 

 

the food was impeccable from the Yukon with truffle aioli that is enough to share, to the different proteins we tried like Gloria’s meatballs, elk, and bass, showcasing the versatility of its chef. 

 

Staying at the Hyatt Place in Downtown was a great location, quiet enough since there was no event that weekend at the Arena but walking distance to the Temple Square, which I have a glimpse even from our room, if you so choose to get some exercise. 

 

 

 

Timing was on our side as the Mormon Tabernacle

 

 

had a free bell ringing concert that night. 

 

 

 

Seeing and hearing in person what I have only seen on TV, showed nothing compares to the acoustics of the real thing.  

 

Being further north meant it was still light out after 9 allowing us the chance to take a leisurely walk through Temple Square

 

 

 

 

 

before returning to the hotel to catch the end of the NBA finals and our Golden State Warriors winning back to back champions elevating them to dare I say dynasty status. 

A later flight the next day allowed me time to stop by the Capitol and Washington Square

 

 

 

 

before heading to the airport checking off another 3 states.

 

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Since we were flying into Salt Lake City with Yellowstone National Park as our destination, we were going to be socked with either a 5 hour drive each way to and from the airport to stay closer to the park or break it up by staying 2 hours from the park.  We chose the latter and decided on Idaho Falls for our home base and another state to check off from my quest to see all 50. 

Idaho Falls was a beautiful respite with more accommodation and good food choices than the limited ones at Yellowstone but without the congestion of Salt Lake City. 

Since I needed accommodations for both us and my dad, I chose the Best Western Driftwood 

for its 2 bedroom suites 

and its location right across the street from the Snake River Belt and the Falls 

that lulled me to sleep each night through the open windows.  With an extensive complimentary breakfast like waffles, 

a made to order omelette bar 

and freshly baked banana bread 

and bagels 

that was a great mid-day snack for the park, it was the perfect choice. 

There is definitely more to Idaho than just potatoes and Copper Rill just a few blocks from the Best Western is the perfect example of that.  Because the weather was absolutely beautiful we got one of the tables outside with the glimpse of the falls just across the street.  

Appetizers of crab cakes and curry chicken skewers, 

you would think that we were dining at some fusion restaurant back in SF but without that big city price tag and entrees coming with soup or salad.

We followed it with grilled haddock topped with a lobster mango salsa that actually had chunks of lobster in it making it an immediate favorite of my dad’s.  

The mashed potato that came with my husband’s apricot chutney rib eye was excellent and I guess to be expected in Idaho.  

Returning just 2 days later to try their black and blue filet mignon 

and red curry Thai lamb chops, 

the only complaint is I wish they were open for lunch so we could come back one more time before leaving the next morning. 

Before leaving, my husband did take advantage of the complimentary bikes at the Best Western 

to ride around the Snake River while I took a stroll along the snake river greenbelt 

and falls 

and over to the temple on the other side 

that had been our room view for 3 nights.  

I only wish we had another night.