Retired Rahns Head West: Returning, Rediscovering, and Learning with my best friend!!

 

It’s always Seldom A Dull Moment with the Rahns, 
and this trip proved it again!

 Between old favorites and unexpected finds, Wyoming still managed to keep us on our toes. We’ve shared plenty of stories about our love for this state, the mountains, the hikes, the views and our favorite stops. 

We were excited for this trip as a "re-do" from our autumn 2022 trip that felt rushed and had some hiccups along the way. This trip was our first big retired trip and the pace was slow. We took time to explore. We were flexible with our plans and we found the new in the familiar!

Every time we return, it feels like seeing an old friend. But this trip reminded us that even in the places you know by heart, there’s always something new to discover. Between our must-do stops and our individual routines, we found new fun tucked into familiar corners, proof that the joy of travel isn’t just in going somewhere new, but in noticing what’s new in the places you already love!

Maybe that’s the real heart of travel, the curiosity that keeps us exploring, even when we think we’ve seen it all. That’s where wanderlust comes in for me. I love finding new places and learning new things on our vacations!!

The Role of Wanderlust

Wanderlust isn’t just about the constant need to move or check new destinations off a list, it’s about the desire to keep learning through travel. It’s a mindset, a spark that reminds us there’s always something new to discover, even in familiar places. True wanderlust is about curiosity...the kind that makes you pause to read a trail sign you’ve passed before, turn down a road that you've passed many times before, or research other must-sees, even though you feel like you've found it all! There's always something new when we travel to Wyoming!

For us, wanderlust has always been about learning—about people, places, and perspectives. Every trip teaches something new if we’re open to it. And that curiosity doesn’t just connect us to the world—it connects us more deeply to each other. We have so much fun find the new in the familiar!

That’s also the heart of my travel coaching philosophy: curiosity leads to connection. When families, couples, or friends travel with open minds and open hearts, they don’t just see more, they feel more. They learn to listen, to notice, and to appreciate the shared adventure unfolding in front of them. Wanderlust isn’t about restlessness...it’s about readiness: to learn, to grow, and to connect wherever your travels take you.

Even after years of returning to Wyoming, I’m reminded that travel is never finished teaching us. Every visit reveals something new—an unexpected trail, a hidden piece of history, or a creative spark waiting just around the bend. This year, our wanderlust led us to four new adventures that deepened our connection to the places we thought we already knew.

New Adventures in Familiar Places

The Moose Pond Trail in Grand Teton National Park

We’ve visited Grand Teton more times than I can count, but somehow, this peaceful loop near the Moose Visitor Center had escaped our radar. The Moose Pond Trail turned out to be one of the most serene walks we’ve ever taken...the reflection of the peaks shimmering in still water, and just enough quiet to hear the breeze move through the aspens. It reminded me that even in the most familiar landscapes, there’s always a new angle, a fresh perspective, and maybe some new wildlife encounters!

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 Murie Ranch and the Legacy of Mardy Murie

Right inside GTNP is a road that we've passed many times, and this trip we ventured down it to find the aspens. Little did I know that the road leads to a historical site dating back to the 1950s. The Murie Ranch feels like stepping into the heart of conservation history. Mardy and Olaus Murie once welcomed writers, scientists, and dreamers who shaped the very idea of protecting our wild spaces. Walking around their cabin and seeing that wide, weathered porch, I felt like I was learning directly from Mardy herself—the grandmother of the modern environmental movement—about the power of passion and purpose. It was a reminder that travel isn’t only about seeing new things; it’s about honoring the people who made it possible for us to experience them.

Meeting Mama Mimi in Jackson

Just when we thought we’d seen everything in Jackson, we met Mama Mimi...Thomas Dambo’s towering wooden troll in Rendezvous Park, on the road to Jackson from Teton Village. Crafted from reclaimed wood, she’s both whimsical and wise, watching over the landscape with gentle strength. Standing beneath her, I couldn’t help but think how perfectly she embodies the spirit of wanderlust, rooted, creative, and full of stories. She made us pause, look up, and remember that adventure can be found in the most unexpected places.

An Overnight at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Spending the night at the historic Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel felt like stepping back in time...in the very best way. We had driven through Mammoth Hot Springs before, and even walked inside the hotel, and this adventure gave us the opportunity to explore Mammoth and not have it be a view on our way to another destination. 

Our deluxe king room had a clawfoot bathtub, tall windows framing the golden hillside, and not a TV in sight. After dinner, we wandered down to the lounge, where soft light and live piano music created an atmosphere straight out of another era. We sipped our drinks, listened to the music, and felt completely immersed in the nostalgia of Yellowstone’s early days. It was a gentle reminder that sometimes the simplest moments, a cozy room, good music, and great company are the ones that make travel feel timeless.

We even got to see and hear the local male elk bugling to his counterparts in the area. What an incredible time in this little pocket of Yellowstone!

Each of these experiences was new, yet they were layered with the comfort of familiarity. That’s the magic of returning to a beloved destination: you don’t just revisit...it revisits you. You see it through the lens of who you’ve become, and in that reflection, you realize that both you and the place have grown.

The Lifelong Learner’s Passport

Every journey leaves a mark, not just on a map, but on who we are. The more I travel, the more I’ve come to see my travels not just as a record of places visited, but as a collection of lessons learned. Some represent courage, others curiosity, and some simply remind me that slowing down is its own kind of progress. The more I travel, the more I realize the value of slowing down!

Returning to familiar destinations like Wyoming, year after year, I’ve realized that travel doesn’t always have to mean going farther, it can mean going deeper. Each trip offers a new layer of understanding, a chance to reconnect with nature, with others, and with ourselves. Whether it’s the wisdom of Mardy Murie echoing through the ranch, the stillness of Moose Pond, the creative wonder of Mama Mimi, or the timeless charm of our night at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, every experience adds another page to our story.

That’s what wanderlust really gives us—the chance to keep learning, keep growing, and keep finding joy in the journey. When we travel with intention, curiosity becomes connection, and every trip...whether across the world or just across town, becomes a chapter in a lifelong education of our connection. 

So the next time you return to a familiar favorite, look a little closer. The beauty of travel isn’t just in where you go, but in what you continue to discover along the way.

So pack your curiosity along with your suitcase. Revisit the places you love. See them again, and see what new parts of you they reveal. 

Because in the end, the best travelers aren’t just collectors of destinations—they’re collectors of discoveries.

Coming Soon:
The Retired Rahns are trading moose and mountains for lions and landscapes—next up, a ten-day safari through the Serengeti and Tanzania!