TRACY SEES STUFF 👀

Category: Blog

  • Restaurants – Driggs, Idaho – Teton Valley

    Restaurants – Driggs, Idaho – Teton Valley

    Big Hole Bagel & Bistro was our first stop for breakfast in Driggs, Idaho. It’s so cozy and offers 100% organic locally roasted coffee from around the world! I loved the veggie omelet with the addition of avocado. The building is historic and has been part of Main Street for over 100 years. There is a full bakery in-house so the bagels are baked fresh every morning! Isn’t the front door cute?

    One of the things that I love most about traveling is researching and planning the trip. I kept reading awesome reviews about Rise Coffee House. They have a lovely outdoor patio with a nice lawn area to sit and sip your coffee. The morning that we stopped in there was an acoustic guitar player which made the atmosphere perfect. I could have sat there all day. Try one of their mouth-watering pastries!

    Forage Bistro & Lounge was another restaurant that I added to our list while researching Teton Valley. The food was incredible!! Look at this pork chop that Terry devoured. It was so good, he literally ate every last bite. The service was superb and we can’t wait to visit again! They also recently opened a brewery called Citizen-33. We will check it out in August and put up a blog post.

    The owners of the townhome that we rented through VRBO told us that we had to check out Music on Main in Victor. Music on Main is on Thursday nights. This summer the dates run June 20th through August 15th, 2019 (No shows on July 4th). We had a blast! It felt like a family picnic. Everyone was so friendly and there was so much good food to choose from. Plus if you’re planning on drinking, there is a shuttle provided by Grand Targhee Resort with pickups in Alta, Wyoming at the resort and in downtown Driggs.

    Last, a great option for cooking at home! A fun story about how we found barrels & bins community market. We stopped at The Coffee Pot Bakery and Cafe in Bozeman, Montana on our way through to Driggs. I started chatting with one of the employees and she told me that she was from Driggs, Idaho. She said she previously worked at barrels & bins and that we should check it out. I always love recommendations! We ended up going there every day for fresh pressed juice. The juice is truly made fresh so don’t be in a rush, it’s worth the wait. It was also wonderful to buy our groceries from local farms.

    *There’s also a Farmer’s Market every Friday throughout the summer in downtown Driggs. We found some wonderful local jam, bakery items and had fun talking with the locals. There’s a lot of beautiful crafts too!

    We still have so much to explore on the “quiet side of the mountains”. We are headed back in August and I can’t wait to share more with you!

  • Teton Valley – Grand Targhee – Bluegrass Festival

    Teton Valley – Grand Targhee – Bluegrass Festival

    Driggs, Idaho is a hidden gem! ✨

    We always travel through the Teton Mountain Range on the east side and stay in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We started hearing great things about the west side and the Grand Targhee Resort music festivals. Their annual bluegrass festival has been happening for over 30 years. We couldn’t wait to check it out! 

    Processed with VSCO with g4 presetGrand Targhee is located in Alta, Wyoming, just over the Teton Pass from Jackson Hole. On the way, you travel through Victor and Driggs, Idaho. Driggs is only 12 miles from Grand Targhee and it’s where we stayed. We rented a townhome through VRBO which was a first and great experience.

    We arrived on Thursday before the festival and we were pleasantly surprised to hear about Music on Main in Victor, Idaho just down the road. We loved the sense of community, the fantastic food, and music. It was a perfect first night!

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    The bluegrass festival runs Friday through Sunday. It was so awesome to see some of our favorite bands in such an intimate setting! Fruition, I’m With Her, Marty Stuart and more. We were impressed with how the festival is organized and it’s the perfect size. Not too big, not too small and still a nice family adventure.

    We can’t wait to go back this year!

    Tip because we love them so much: The ENO loungers! I have neck issues and the high backs are so nice. They are super easy to set up, lightweight and have a great carrying bag. Plus cup holders!

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    Besides music, there are endless things to do in Teton Valley. Hiking, biking, floating down the river, hot air balloon rides, incredible food, and gorgeous sunsets.

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    Forage Bistro was one of our faves!

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    To learn more about traveling to Teton Vally, check out the Visit Idaho or That’s Wyoming websites. << click names to visit.

    ©Tracy Blowers

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Force of Nature

    Force of Nature

    Be like the river.

    Create your own path.

    People will doubt you but they don’t know what you’ve been through or your strength.

    Many have doubted the water but she always finds her way.

    xo

    ©Tracy Blowers

  • Best Friends Animal Society – Allen

    Best Friends Animal Society – Allen

    Every year while volunteering at Best Friends Animal Society, we (of course!) discuss getting another dog or cat. We rescued our girl, Utah, when she was a puppy and this time we wanted to rescue an older dog. Utah has health issues so we knew it had to be the perfect fit.

    While volunteering, we walked and met lots of dogs in search of Utah’s new sibling. Click their name below each photo to learn more about them.

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    This is sweet Corban.
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    Agatha

    I fell in love with Agatha but we felt she wasn’t the right match for Utah which was heartbreaking. I did sponsor Agatha. Sponsoring is a great option if you’re not ready to adopt. You can read more about that at Best Friends Animal Society.

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    Marcie

    Marcie was amazing too! We had so much fun together but she likes to be the only dog in the pack. If you want to be a one dog family, check her out.

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    Manny

    Manny was hilarious! He would keep you on your toes and laughing all day.  We loved ALL of these dogs so much and it was so hard as always not taking all of them home.

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    As our time to leave approached, we were having a hard time making a decision. We stopped at Dogtown Headquarters to visit Kristi, who helped us with adopting Utah. When I walked in, there was Allen sitting behind the help desk. I felt an immediate strong connection to him! The crazy thing is that he arrived at Best Friends the same day that we arrived. I think it was meant to be.

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    We set up a time for him and Utah to meet and the rest is history! Allen has been a light for Utah. They have so much fun playing together. Utah has been playing more and even eating better. I couldn’t be more thankful.

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    As I always say…we rescue them but I think that they really rescue US.

    Happy National Pet Month!

    Best Friends Animal Society is the largest no-kill sanctuary in the Nation. Their mission is to SAVE THEM ALL and someday live in a world where there are no homeless pets. The sanctuary is a little heaven on earth.

    If you are interested in volunteering, sponsoring or donating – visit their website at bestfriends.org.

    ©Tracy Blowers 

  • Baker Campground – Twin Cities – Minnesota

    Baker Campground – Twin Cities – Minnesota

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    It’s a rainy day so I’m dreaming of camping, looking at photos from past trips and planning new ones. I love going through old pictures and reminiscing. One of the best things about living in the Twin Cities is the convenience of not having to travel too far to “get-away”.

    We really enjoyed camping at Baker Campground which is part of the Three Rivers Park District (offering 27,000 acres of parks and trails) and is only 22 miles from Minneapolis.

    The campsites are spacious, tons of wooded trails, and we loved being so close to Lake Independence. There’s so much to do that it’s hard to find time to relax! We rented their tandem bike which was so much fun. Another nice amenity is that they have rental equipment for almost any activity that you want to try. I recently turned 50 and it’s motivated me to try new things! It’s nice to be able to rent and try something a few times before making a big purchase.

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    This was the first time that we brought our girl, Utah, camping with us and the first time that Terry and I put up a tent together. (which you know can end a marriage. ;-)) But we were very pleased with our REI Co-op Camp Dome 4 Tent. It was very easy to set up…whew! There was plenty of room for us and we even brought Utah’s kennel in for the night.

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    I love all the different hiking trails and taking pictures of the wildflowers. The trail system is extensive offering something for everyone based on your skill level.

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    There is nothing better than relaxing in our hammock after a hike! If you are considering getting one, DO IT. I love the ENO hammocks because they are so easy to pack and don’t take up much room. They are so lightweight that you can just throw them in your backpack. I waited to purchase one thinking it would be hard to deal with and wish I would have got one sooner. It’s the little things!

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    Utah loves the hammock too! 🙂

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    What is your favorite thing about camping or favorite spot?

    Sponsored advertising content for REI. 

    ©Tracy Blowers

     

     

     

  • Mississippi – National River and Recreation Area – Twin Cities

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    Did you know that we have a National Park running right through the Twin Cities in Minnesota? The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area offer 72 miles of boating, running/walking/hiking/biking trails, fishing, birdwatching, nature and city photography, and much more. We are fortunate to live in an urban area with so much nature to enjoy.

    “Unlike most other national parks, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is a partnership park.” – National Park Service.

    The National Park Service only owns 67 acres of the 54,000 acres of the park. The rest is owned by the city, state and regional parks, private businesses, homes, etc. They work in partnership to protect and preserve the mighty Mississippi. Read more: https://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm

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    A few of my favorite spots to visit and explore are Father Hennepin Bluff Park, Historic Main Street Park, and the Stone Arch Bridge. The Stone Arch Bridge is a perfect spot to take photographs of the Minneapolis skyline! There are many restaurants just off the Historic Main Street. We love the Aster Cafe! Amazing made from scratch food and live music. In the summer, the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board offers Movies in the Parks.

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    Stone Arch Bridge
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    Historic Main Street Park

    The best is the changing seasons in Minnesota. ❤️ Each season offers a new perspective!

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    Nice Ride bike sharing is an easy and convenient way to explore the city and parks.

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    Sunrise and sunset are the best times to capture photos and such a beautiful time to go for a walk. Sunrise is especially nice because the parks are the least crowded. Let me know if you are visiting the Twin Cities and need any recommendations. Even in the city, you can #FindYourPark!

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    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

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