Click on Below Photo for Video:
Our journey continues driving from Philly to Teton National Park in Wyoming after a night at Motel 6 in Grand Island.
This Nebraskan Motel 6 was clean, and the staff was friendly; their rooms included refrigerators and had a modern feel.
The floors had no carpeting, so the noise from the appliances, air conditioner, and the bathroom fan was increased.
To get a good night’s sleep, I cranked up the AC, then turned it off, unplugged the refrigerator, and kept the bathroom fan off.
The other issue with this Motel 6 is no elevators, so we carried our bags upstairs at 11:30 pm.
The Motel 6 was affordable, but you can see by our video how tired we were in the morning after we carried everything out.
For the price, cleanliness, location, and staff, I recommend Motel 6 Grand Island.
Glamping Tip: You may not be up to driving the same distance every day. Book sleeping accommodations as you go, or book several and cancel some along the way.
We had breakfast at Max’s Thunder Road Grill close to Motel 6.
The restaurant is family-friendly, with race cars and dinosaurs to amuse.
It took a while to have a server come over and to get our order, but to be fair, I may be viewing the timing through an east coast lens.
The coffee wasn’t to my taste, but the staff handled my food sensitivities well. They made me a special sandwich made with a gluten-free bun, grilled chicken, and lettuce. The sandwich was juicy, and I enjoyed the sweet potato tots on the side; while, Summer relished an order of chicken strips with fries and coleslaw.
Max’s Thunder Road Grill menu offers a variety of choices, from wings to pizza, sandwiches, and breakfast items; their prices are fair. They have a full bar as well.
The rest of the day was full of surprises, like discovering a Radio Shack in a strip mall, having shopped at their going out of business sales nine years ago in Philly.
We put in “coffee” on our GPS and discovered Anne Marie’s 119 South Oak St. Paxton, Nebraska 69155. Anne Marie’s is a traveler’s treasure find.
The owners, the Fates, love antiques and transformed an old train depot into an eclectic antique store. Summer found a beautiful necklace while spending some quality alone time.
She roamed through the two buildings that house, teas, jams, household items, knick-knacks, furniture, handmade items, and more.
While Summer shopped, I explored The Grainery and surrounding Organic Aronia Berry Farm, 20-acres growing the powerful Aronia Berries.
High in antioxidants, these berries are being sold, in various forms, at Anne Marie’s. For more information, check out their website at https://www.goodberryfarms.com/.
Feeling refreshed, after our stop at Anne Marie’s, we continued our drive to Laramie, Wyoming. Once again, we had a pleasant surprise. Laramie was celebrating with a Jubilee.
The street party included craft stalls, musicians, art tables, and rides and activities for children. The restaurants, stores, and food trucks kept the party going inside and out. Everyone was in good cheer, enjoying the sunny day under a clear blue sky. Summer and I shopped and basked in the music and western flair. We turned in early to make plans for the next day’s drive to our cabin and a week of exploring two national parks.
We hope you continue to follow our adventures as we explore The Grand Teton National Park and Yellow Stone! Until then, sending wishes for a Happy & Healthy New Year.
Your friendly Make Up Mavens,
Ellen & Summer
PS. Sparkle On!
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Ellen Carey Writer 