A Reassuring Glimpse of the Empty Nest

It is amazing how much brighter my future seemed after enjoying a delicious meal in a fun restaurant!

Regular readers of this blog know that my husband, son, and I were in Colorado for spring break a few weeks ago. We spent four days looking at college campuses and sightseeing. On Thursday morning we dropped my son off at the Denver International Airport, so he could go visit his sister on her college campus in Washington.

The weather in Colorado had been warm and sunny all week, but winter conditions and snow returned that morning.

After saying goodbye to my son, my husband and I were suddenly “empty-nesters.” The rest of the weekend would provide a trial-run of how our lives will be in just a little over a year! As we began the twelve-hour drive home to Montana, the car felt empty with no one in the back seat. As miles ticked by, I think my husband and I both began to make a conscious effort to ensure that our weekend alone went well.  We were seeking the reassurance that we would be okay with this transition next year!

Sheridan, Wyoming was about the half-way point of our trip.  A good place to take a break and get some dinner.  We reasoned that we could stop for a few hours, and still easily be home before midnight.

My husband's watch battery had died, so before going to dinner we stopped in Riddle’s Jewelry store on Main Street to get it replaced.  While we waited, we admired their beautiful merchandise and asked for dinner recommendations. From the several restaurants that were suggested, the one that sounded really good to us was Frackelton’s Fine Food and Spirits. It was located right next door.

We settled in at a cosy table by the window, with a view of the quaint main street of Sheridan. Our friendly waitress practically bubbled with enthusiasm about the menu and the beverages, and gave us excellent suggestions for both.  The restaurant was fairly empty when it arrived, but it soon began to fill up.  

We had just placed our order for appetizers and salad, when I blurted out to my husband,
"How badly do you want to get home tonight?" Happily, he was having similar thoughts.

Spotting a little rhino statue in this Western town made me suspect there was a lot in Sheridan to explore!

When the waitress brought our salads, we asked her for hotel recommendations. Then, since driving home that night was no longer in our plans, ordering wine and a cocktail became an option!

We spent several delightful hours in Frackelton's.  The atmosphere was fun, the prices reasonable,  and the service and the food were both outstanding.

The entire large menu looked tempting. We ordered several appetizers to share: Calamari, Spanish Beef Kabobs, and Thai-spiced crab cakes.  Fairly full after those, we then decided to split just one entree. We agreed upon the pan-roasted salmon, served with sauteed spinach, roasted beets and orange vinaigrette.

All of this food would have been plenty, but because the Lobster Mashed Potatoes sounded so unique, we ordered a side of them as well.

The chef kindly served our shared portions on separate plates. Everything was deliciously flavorful, perfectly prepared, beautiful, and interesting.  I can highly recommend every item that we tasted, and days later my husband is still raving about the lobster mashed potatoes!

Already having ordered far more food than we usually do, we really were too full for dessert - but it sounded just too good to pass up.  We further indulged, and shared a serving of this beauty:

We spent the night in Sheridan. Our adventures continued throughout the remainder of the weekend, and I'll tell you more about them in my next post.  The location of the mystery photos I published last Friday will be revealed then too!

As my children head out on their own adventures, I am glad I still have this guy by my side!

I hope I haven't made you too hungry. If you are ever near Sheridan, WY and have time for a good meal, stop in at Frackelton's!

Have you ever been to Sheridan, WY? 

Which item on Frackelton's menu most appeals to you?

In the spirit of full disclosure, I did receive some compensation for this post, but the opinions I have expressed are an accurate and honest reflection of my experience.

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