More MONTANA Ideas!
D U S T I N
Ms. Cal Culator
on 4/25/10 1:59 pm, edited 4/25/10 1:59 pm - Tuvalu
on 4/25/10 1:59 pm, edited 4/25/10 1:59 pm - Tuvalu
It takes the better part of a week just to see SOME of Yellowstone.
ETA: And you add onto that to deal with Buffalo Jams and road construction. It can take hours to get from one worthwhile site to another. Go to the nps website, pick out a few things you'd like to see, figure out where you might stay and then start calculating how much you might likely do in a given day.
www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm
ETA: And you add onto that to deal with Buffalo Jams and road construction. It can take hours to get from one worthwhile site to another. Go to the nps website, pick out a few things you'd like to see, figure out where you might stay and then start calculating how much you might likely do in a given day.
www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/index.htm
I would love to drop in for a visit, so maybe a night or 2 with the gang, then skedaddle.
When I started googling maps and distances and hotels to see if this is even feasible, I realized there is so much there that I would like to see with my kids as well.� So, I am feeling the locals out to see how much time I would need and what are the absolute MUST-SEES in the area so I�can plan accordingly.
When I started googling maps and distances and hotels to see if this is even feasible, I realized there is so much there that I would like to see with my kids as well.� So, I am feeling the locals out to see how much time I would need and what are the absolute MUST-SEES in the area so I�can plan accordingly.
Oh I do love a challenge. What turns them on?
I suspect that the sheer space and grandeur (I'm overusing that word, sorry) and total "otherness" of the country compared to the Green World they're used to will make some amount of impression on them. Planning more action type stuff might appeal to them as well.
Are they tortured by long drives? That would make a big difference in what I'd suggest for activities. I'd almost rather see them excited by more local type stuff than hauled off on the national park circuit if they'll be lulled into another world by all that time in the car.
Glacier, btw, would be a day's drive just to get there. It needs a trip in its own right and it would be pure murder for non nature loving kids cuz that's ALL there is up there, nature pure and mostly raw. Save that one for the empty nest years is my advice.
I suspect that the sheer space and grandeur (I'm overusing that word, sorry) and total "otherness" of the country compared to the Green World they're used to will make some amount of impression on them. Planning more action type stuff might appeal to them as well.
Are they tortured by long drives? That would make a big difference in what I'd suggest for activities. I'd almost rather see them excited by more local type stuff than hauled off on the national park circuit if they'll be lulled into another world by all that time in the car.
Glacier, btw, would be a day's drive just to get there. It needs a trip in its own right and it would be pure murder for non nature loving kids cuz that's ALL there is up there, nature pure and mostly raw. Save that one for the empty nest years is my advice.
If you're gonna take a week, I would do the greater Yellowstone area.
My suggested itinerary would be something like: (assuming you started from our planned Three Forks rendevous)
Day 1: Three Forks to West Yellowstone via Ennis, which would take you past Hebgen Lake and Earthquake Lake. Leave early in the morning so you can enjoy lots of scenery and shopping/coffee stops. Beware, it's a LONG way between potty stops out there :-). Alternatively, go through Big Sky to West Yellowstone, also magnificent. (Big Sky is an area and a ski resort, not a park. Some of it is technically part of Yellowstone Park.) Traffic is likely to be worse along the Big Sky route. Plan to spend the night in West Yellowstone, spend time hanging out, wandering, shopping. MAKE A RESERVATION THERE.
Day 2: Buy a several-days pass to Yellowstone. West Entrance to South Entrance (Madison Junction, miscellaneous geothermal attractions including Old Faithful, possible small stop at the lake) and down to Jackson, WY through Grand Teton National Park. Recommended places to stay would be either Signal Mountain Lodge (on Jackson Lake) or Jenny Lake Lodge. Try to be outside for sundown and sunrise. Bring mosquito dope and a jacket.
Day 3: Enjoy the magnificence of the Tetons and do a little shopping/touristy stuff in Jackson. Just driving around out in the countryside is great. Pack food and water if you do so, especially water. It is DRY DRY DRY out there, and a lot cooler than you're used to, plus with the altitude, you can dehydrate before you notice it.
Day 4: South Entrance of Yellowstone to North Entrance. LEAVE EARLY. I suggest going around the lake (shop here for lunch supplies), to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, then cut west to Norris Geyser Basin and north to Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth in the late day light is really really cool, even better at sunset and sunrise :-). Spend the night in Gardiner, MT. There are chain places that fill up very quickly, but you can get a bed and a bathroom in any of the local places. The Antler Pub and Grill is the local colorful eatery. Gardiner is not nearly as "touristy" as the other gateway communities, but you will get reliable plain food and lodging. STEAK is always good :-). They roll up the sidewalks around 9:00 PM though, so plan accordingly. There's no doubt a 24 hour convenience store like a Town Pump or something, but remember this is a state the size of a significant chunk of Western Europe with about three quarters of a million people in it, at least half of whom are clustered in half a dozen "cities." Accordingly, things are far apart and not always as available as we Easterners are used to having them :-).
Day 5: Back into Yellowstone for quite a lot of driving, but I promise it's worth it. North Entrance to Northeast Entrance (I'd suggest doing more Mammoth touring if you want--sunrise would be lovely), where you will drive the Beartooth Highway, one of the most amazing places on earth, topping out at 11,000 feet above sea level. http://www.beartoothhighway.com/ This is a MUST SEE that ranks right up there with Old Faithful, even BETTER in my opinion. Spend the night in Red Lodge, MT. Historic lodging (and pretty nice, too) would be the Pollard Hotel. Lupine Inn and Alpine Lodge are also pleasant, and there are some chain places. Yummy home cooking and local/regional beer can be had in several places, but I'll especially mention the Bear Creek Saloon/Steakhouse (YUM YUM) and the Carbon County Steak House. There's a really cool local brewery, too, Sam's Tap Room/Red Lodge Ales, if you like that kind of thing. Local beer is served everywhere, though.
Day 6: From Red Lodge, take Highway 78 to Absaroka (pronounced "AbSORkee") and take in the loveliness of the Absaroka ("AbsaROka") Mountains and on to Columbus, where you'll rendevous with I-90. Meander along I-90, stopping to enjoy the Missouri River scenery. Spend the night in Livingston or Bozeman, depending upon whether you have a 7th day of touring time.
Day 7 if you have it: From Livingston or Bozeman, go to either Big Sky or Ennis, depending on which way you went to West Yellowstone. Ennis has more to do shopping and touristy-wise, Big Sky has more sheer grandeur of country. Consider a soak at the Bozeman Hot Springs. Or hang out in Bozeman, which can occupy a couple days all by itself. Bozangeles, as the locals call it, is the home of Montana State University and a great center of knowledge for paleontology. Museum of the Rockies is a marvelous place. Decent local breweries, too :-).
TOLD you I'm a tireless tour guide!
My suggested itinerary would be something like: (assuming you started from our planned Three Forks rendevous)
Day 1: Three Forks to West Yellowstone via Ennis, which would take you past Hebgen Lake and Earthquake Lake. Leave early in the morning so you can enjoy lots of scenery and shopping/coffee stops. Beware, it's a LONG way between potty stops out there :-). Alternatively, go through Big Sky to West Yellowstone, also magnificent. (Big Sky is an area and a ski resort, not a park. Some of it is technically part of Yellowstone Park.) Traffic is likely to be worse along the Big Sky route. Plan to spend the night in West Yellowstone, spend time hanging out, wandering, shopping. MAKE A RESERVATION THERE.
Day 2: Buy a several-days pass to Yellowstone. West Entrance to South Entrance (Madison Junction, miscellaneous geothermal attractions including Old Faithful, possible small stop at the lake) and down to Jackson, WY through Grand Teton National Park. Recommended places to stay would be either Signal Mountain Lodge (on Jackson Lake) or Jenny Lake Lodge. Try to be outside for sundown and sunrise. Bring mosquito dope and a jacket.
Day 3: Enjoy the magnificence of the Tetons and do a little shopping/touristy stuff in Jackson. Just driving around out in the countryside is great. Pack food and water if you do so, especially water. It is DRY DRY DRY out there, and a lot cooler than you're used to, plus with the altitude, you can dehydrate before you notice it.
Day 4: South Entrance of Yellowstone to North Entrance. LEAVE EARLY. I suggest going around the lake (shop here for lunch supplies), to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, then cut west to Norris Geyser Basin and north to Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth in the late day light is really really cool, even better at sunset and sunrise :-). Spend the night in Gardiner, MT. There are chain places that fill up very quickly, but you can get a bed and a bathroom in any of the local places. The Antler Pub and Grill is the local colorful eatery. Gardiner is not nearly as "touristy" as the other gateway communities, but you will get reliable plain food and lodging. STEAK is always good :-). They roll up the sidewalks around 9:00 PM though, so plan accordingly. There's no doubt a 24 hour convenience store like a Town Pump or something, but remember this is a state the size of a significant chunk of Western Europe with about three quarters of a million people in it, at least half of whom are clustered in half a dozen "cities." Accordingly, things are far apart and not always as available as we Easterners are used to having them :-).
Day 5: Back into Yellowstone for quite a lot of driving, but I promise it's worth it. North Entrance to Northeast Entrance (I'd suggest doing more Mammoth touring if you want--sunrise would be lovely), where you will drive the Beartooth Highway, one of the most amazing places on earth, topping out at 11,000 feet above sea level. http://www.beartoothhighway.com/ This is a MUST SEE that ranks right up there with Old Faithful, even BETTER in my opinion. Spend the night in Red Lodge, MT. Historic lodging (and pretty nice, too) would be the Pollard Hotel. Lupine Inn and Alpine Lodge are also pleasant, and there are some chain places. Yummy home cooking and local/regional beer can be had in several places, but I'll especially mention the Bear Creek Saloon/Steakhouse (YUM YUM) and the Carbon County Steak House. There's a really cool local brewery, too, Sam's Tap Room/Red Lodge Ales, if you like that kind of thing. Local beer is served everywhere, though.
Day 6: From Red Lodge, take Highway 78 to Absaroka (pronounced "AbSORkee") and take in the loveliness of the Absaroka ("AbsaROka") Mountains and on to Columbus, where you'll rendevous with I-90. Meander along I-90, stopping to enjoy the Missouri River scenery. Spend the night in Livingston or Bozeman, depending upon whether you have a 7th day of touring time.
Day 7 if you have it: From Livingston or Bozeman, go to either Big Sky or Ennis, depending on which way you went to West Yellowstone. Ennis has more to do shopping and touristy-wise, Big Sky has more sheer grandeur of country. Consider a soak at the Bozeman Hot Springs. Or hang out in Bozeman, which can occupy a couple days all by itself. Bozangeles, as the locals call it, is the home of Montana State University and a great center of knowledge for paleontology. Museum of the Rockies is a marvelous place. Decent local breweries, too :-).
TOLD you I'm a tireless tour guide!
Most Active
Recent Topics
