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I Drive Out of State to Go to Trader Joe’s; Best Things I Buy Family


  • My home state of Wyoming doesn’t have a Trader Joe’s, so I drive to Colorado for my favorite items.
  • The trip is 57 miles each way, but I pick up things I’m unable to get at my local supermarkets.
  • I fill my shopping cart with staples like pappardelle pasta, Alfredo sauce, and sunscreen.

Wyoming has a lot to offer. One thing it doesn’t have, though, is Trader Joe’s.

Although I can get pretty much everything I need from local grocery stores, there are a few special items I travel 57 miles to buy at a Trader Joe’s location in Colorado.

Here are eight things I cross state lines to buy at the grocery chain.

I always grab a bag of Piñata apples when they’re available.


I love the tropical flavor of the Piñata apples.


Carly Trudel

Although they’re not as sweet as my favorite Honeycrisps, I love grabbing a bag of Piñata apples from Trader Joe’s. They have a nice tropical flavor and come in a large, 5-pound bag.

They never last long in my house, so I always hope they’ll still be available on my next shopping trip.

Trader Joe’s sunscreen doesn’t feel greasy.


Bottles of invisible gel sunscreen on the shelf at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe’s invisible gel sunscreen is lightweight, scent-free, and kid-approved.


Carly Trudel

I never wore sunscreen as a kid, mostly because of the smell and greasy feel on my skin.

As a mom, though, I always have to make sure my kids are sufficiently protected from UV rays, which means I constantly have my hands covered in sunscreen. However, I don’t mind it as much when it doesn’t smell or feel greasy.

Trader Joe’s has a great line of health and beauty products, and I especially love the invisible gel sunscreen. I find that it soaks in quickly after application, and I can’t even tell by the smell that it’s been applied.

Just the Clusters vanilla almond granola makes the perfect snack.


Bags of Just the Clusters vanilla almond granola on the shelf at Trader Joe's.

Just the Clusters granola makes a tasty snack and a nutritious breakfast.


Carly Trudel

Trader Joe’s Just the Clusters vanilla almond granola is so tasty that I almost forget how nutritious it is.

I typically buy more than one bag at a time because I either eat handfuls of it as a snack, or with milk for breakfast. It also adds a great crunch to Greek yogurt.

Trader Joe’s Alfredo sauce is a hit with the whole family.


Jars of Alfredo pasta sauce on the shelf at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe’s Alfredo sauce is perfect for busy nights and picky eaters.


Carly Trudel

This Alfredo sauce has a nice blend of Parmesan and Romano cheese flavors. Even my picky child eats it without complaining.

I like to brown some chicken and simmer it in the Alfredo sauce with broccoli and pasta. The whole process is quick and results in a quick dinner that everyone will eat.

Pappardelle is the perfect base for pasta dishes.


Bags of pappardelle pasta on the shelf at Trader Joe's.

The pappardelle noodles cook quickly and soak up every bit of sauce.


Carly Trudel

These wide noodles cook quickly and pair well with any sauce. I only wish they came in a bigger package.

Trader Joe’s glazed vanilla-bean scones are surprisingly tasty.


Packages of glazed vanilla-bean scones on the shelf at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe’s glazed vanilla-bean scones are delicious.


Carly Trudel

I grew up with a mom who baked, so I don’t usually like store-bought desserts. However, I gave Trader Joe’s glazed vanilla-bean scones a chance, and now they’re one of my go-to treats.

My husband loves the Trader Joe’s cheddar jalapeño pull-apart bread.


Packages of cheddar jalapeño pull-apart bread on the shelf at Trader Joe's.

I buy two packages of cheddar jalapeño pull-apart bread and freeze one.


Carly Trudel

My husband and older son both love spicy foods, so I like to get them Trader Joe’s cheddar jalapeño pull-apart bread.

It’s not super spicy, but it has a nice kick. I usually buy at least one extra package to freeze, since they typically polish off the first one within days.

Trader Joe’s pizza crust makes dinner easy.


Packages of pizza crust on the shelf at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe’s pizza crust helps me whip up a fun, homemade meal in no time.


Carly Trudel

Homemade pizza is a fun, quick, and easily customizable dinner.

Trader Joe’s pizza crust, which can be found in the bakery section, is sturdy enough to hold lots of cheese and toppings.

Click to keep reading Trader Joe’s diaries like this one.





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