Visiting the Bonneville Salt Flats: West Wendover Adventures, Stunning Sunsets & Funny Fails

Some stops on the road stick with you because of the scenery, others because of the stories—and West Wendover, Nevada gave us both. The big draw here was the Bonneville Salt Flats, a place high on my bucket list. I’d heard people rave about it for years, but nothing really prepares you for standing in that endless expanse of shimmering white.

Bonneville Salt Flats: A Mirror Made of Sky

We were barely set up before heading out to the salt flats for the first sunset. The reflections were unreal—like someone laid down the world’s biggest mirror just to show off the sky. It’s one of those places where you stop trying to take “the perfect picture” because every angle looks like it belongs in National Geographic.

It doesn't hurt all around the Salt Flats there are just mountains.

Every night we went back, and every night there were new characters making the flats their stage. Couples running hand-in-hand to capture that “just engaged” mirror shot, families posing like their Christmas card depended on it, and one night… a pregnancy boudoir shoot. Honestly, good for her—those photos are probably gorgeous—but let’s just say watching someone in lingerie strike sultry poses in the middle of the salt flats is a sight you don’t unsee.

"Prince Style" via the Bonneville Salt Flats

Piper, however, was not impressed. Our little princess wanted nothing to do with getting her feet wet or salty. We dragged her out each evening anyway, and she gave us the full diva treatment—ears back, tail down, glaring at us like we’d personally ruined her week.

We had to drag her in to get her shot!

The Great Zach Bryan Detour

In the middle of our West Wendover stay, we made the slightly insane decision to road trip (without the RV) all the way to Austin, Texas. Why? Back in January, we thought it was a brilliant idea to celebrate my 40th birthday by meeting my best friend Tashina and her husband Mike at a country festival. Oh, and Zach Bryan was playing—which sealed the deal.

It meant a 22-hour drive, but we were stoked. This was going to be Mike and Tashina’s first time seeing Zach Bryan live, and since they were the ones who got us into his music in the first place, it felt like things had come full circle. (More on that road trip in the next post…)

Piper’s Nail Salon Debacle

Now, let’s talk about Piper’s other big adventure in Wendover. Princess needed a nail trim, but unlike the big cities where there’s a Petco on every corner, West Wendover isn’t exactly brimming with pet salons. So, I did what everyone does—I Googled “dog nail trim near me.”

That’s how I ended up at… a hair salon. For humans.

I cautiously poked my head inside and asked the woman at the counter if this was really where they did pet grooming. She smiled and said, “Yep.” Meanwhile, Patrick stayed in the car, probably Googling divorce lawyers in case this went sideways.

Then her husband came out to do the actual nail clipping. Poor Piper immediately went into her classic submissive-pee move… all over the front of his shirt. I wanted the ground (or better yet, the salt flats) to swallow me whole. I was mortified, tripping over apologies while Piper and I made the fastest exit of our lives. The kicker? The woman didn’t even charge me. Which somehow made me feel worse. Free pee show.

West Wendover was unforgettable: breathtaking sunsets on the salt flats, an epic road trip detour to see Zach Bryan, and Piper’s nail salon humiliation. The flats themselves are reason enough to visit—they really do live up to the hype. But leave it to us to add a little awkward comedy into the mix.