Northern National Parks Trip Advice

[lastminutemomma]

DH and I are both actually looking forward to turning 40 in 2009! Yes, I know it's a long way off but we have planned to drive an almost cross country trip to celebrate and will be bringing our DS who will be 9 and DD who will be 5. Our very tentative plan is to leave MA and stop in Niagara Falls, then Chicago, spend a few days at Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, head up to the Canadian Rockies and possibly finish up in Montreal before heading back down through Vermont to home. Our goal is to do all of this in early summer for ~3 wks - a trip of a lifetime!

DH (being the ultimate planner) is wondering if any of you fine folks know of a message board or forum to help us research our big trek. Any other suggestions and recommendations for related websites or books would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Oh my--what a trip! Going from Chicago to Yellowstone, you may want to take the route through South Dakota--Badlands, Wall Drug, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore etc. Great sites!
Be sure to get out of your car in Yellowstone and hit some trails. Beware of bison. Have patience with traffic jams.
Glacier is tied for my most favorite place on earth (with WDW, of course!) We spent a week there last summer. Some of my favorite trails include Logan Pass/Hidden Lake, Avalanche Lake, Trail of the Cedars. Go horseback riding. Eat huckleberry ice cream. Enjoy. We saw lots of wildlife there. It is amazingly beautiful! But be sure to check the National Park's website--Going to the Sun Road may not be open yet in early summer.
Have a great trip!

 

[golfgal]

Plan a day or two in Banff/Lake Louise in Canada, beautiful!!! There is an AWESOME spa at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. It might just be the right thing to work out some of the travel kinks!

 

[lastminutemomma]

Many thanks ladies! Although we are so far out from actually making final plans I'm getting so excited for our birthday trip! The best part is that we are going to WDW the year before. Thank you again for your advice!

 

[Rella Bella]

Oh my--what a trip! Going from Chicago to Yellowstone, you may want to take the route through South Dakota--Badlands, Wall Drug, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore etc. Great sites!
Be sure to get out of your car in Yellowstone and hit some trails. Beware of bison. Have patience with traffic jams.
Glacier is tied for my most favorite place on earth (with WDW, of course!) We spent a week there last summer. Some of my favorite trails include Logan Pass/Hidden Lake, Avalanche Lake, Trail of the Cedars. Go horseback riding. Eat huckleberry ice cream. Enjoy. We saw lots of wildlife there. It is amazingly beautiful! But be sure to check the National Park's website--Going to the Sun Road may not be open yet in early summer.
Have a great trip!

YES!!!
Once you get West of the Mississippi through South Dakota is the best route! There is so much to see and do along the way.

Plan a day or two in Banff/Lake Louise in Canada, beautiful!!! There is an AWESOME spa at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. It might just be the right thing to work out some of the travel kinks!

AND YES!!!
Glacier is my favorite place on earth!
It is awesome and the only place more beautiful is Baniff!
You might want to consider at least visiting the Lake Louise Lodge... it's breath taking!

The Lake McDonald Lodge and the Many Glacier Lodge are my two favorite places to stay... with the Village Inn at Apgar and The Prince of Wales in Alberta close behind.

The best way to see "Going to the Sun Highway" is to ride in one of the historic Red Buses because they put the top down and you can see forever. But we have driven it many times! It is the most awesome place on earth.

And I definitely second the Huckleberry Ice Cream... it is amazing!
The Glacier area also specializes in Huckleberry jam, jelly, honey, topping, candles, coffee, pie, and chocolates! Better diet before you go!!

Here are some great Glacier area links:
http://www.glacierparkinc.com/

http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/glacier.htm

http://www.glacier.national-park.com/

http://www.glacierparkphotos.com/