Baker, NV

Before visiting the actual park, we first stopped off in Baker to check in at our motel. The landscape along the road (opposite the high mountain ranges of the park) was breath-taking. Finally, as we reached the Utah border, we saw our motel for the next few nights, the Border Inn Casino. Talk about the middle of nowhere!

We went to check in, and the young receptionist was thrilled to hear we were coming from Chicago. She said she was from St. Louis, and obviously missed it. The motel was very amusing, a small casino, a huge dining area that was usually empty or partially closed, a 7-11 type of store, a gas station, plus motel rooms (several small buildings down a gravel road, where you could park your car). It was clean and quiet, so I was satisfied. The staff also mentioned the shortcut to get to the park, so everything was good.
Once checked in, we decided to drive around a bit to get oriented. We drove through the open countryside until we stumbled upon the actual town of Baker, with its centerpiece general store, the Bristlecone General Store and Stargazer Inn. I think Tom was enamored with the general store, as we ended up visiting it on multiple occasions.

One of the great highlights of this open country was the sunsets. Unbelievable.

Then, we were ready to explore the national park!
Entry to the National Park