Winter in Wyoming

[sayhello]

Absolutely gorgeous photos! It truly looks like a Winter Wonderland! And the bison photo is wonderful!!

Sayhello

 

[Burgundy Rose]

What a gorgeous trip report! Thank you so much for posting I love skiing, though I haven't done that for years, and I'm sure you must be having a blast!

 

[calypso726]

I can give lots of fun suggestions for extending a trip to the Yellowstone National Park area when your ready to make a summer trip.

Love the Bison photo. The one in the middle I would say is one of last spring calfs. Except for mating the bulls tend to be alone. Yellowstone is one of two places that you can see bison wandering free, the other is Custer State Park in SD. So sad that a majestic animal was almost wiped out.

Thanks! I may take you up on those suggestions once we get around to doing that adventures. They are amazing animals and I am so glad we were able to see sit many of them roaming around.

Absolutely gorgeous photos! It truly looks like a Winter Wonderland! And the bison photo is wonderful!!

Sayhello

Thanks Sayhello!

What a gorgeous trip report! Thank you so much for posting I love skiing, though I haven't done that for years, and I'm sure you must be having a blast!

Thank you very much. I've only been on skis once before. It was last year during a ski lesson in Keystone, Colorado. I got altitude sickness so I only had the skis on for a couple of hours. So essentially, Inwas able to do this without having a clue about skiing. There were several in our party who had never been on skis and all did fine. I am having a blast! I really love this trip!!!

 

[calypso726]

Today we left the Snow Lodge and made our way back to the Wort hotel. We had some scenic stops along the way that were once again, beyond words to describe. I was not aware that this year marks the centennial celebration of the National Parks and that Yellowstone was the first National Park in the world. We received a very special pin commemorating the centennial anniversary. After getting settled in at the hotel we journeyed off to our sunset sleigh ride, dinner in a tent and dessert in a heated teepee. Now, I know none of that sounds like much but it was really a great experience. All of the other travelers felt the same. They weren't really expecting to enjoy it all that much because the description doesn't quite convey the reality of the experience. I was not expecting to enjoy this trip to the level that I have and neither was DH. It has been so beautiful and so enjoyable.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Absolutely loving the trip report. The pictures are stunning! This was on my radar before, but it's moved way up. It sounds awesome. So glad you guys are having a blast. I love your small group!

 

[samanthacatangel]

This trip is like walking around in Narnia. At every moment I feel like I am walking in a post card that has come to life. It is simply magical! We left this morning and saw the sun rising behind the trees and light shining on the mountain. It was just so lovely. I swear if I had a dollar for every time I said, "Oh my God this is so beautiful!" today I'd have enough to pay for our next ABD trip.

Today we visited more geothermal areas and saw bison E V E R Y W H E R E! It was an awesome day. Later in the afternoon we did cross country skiing. I discovered muscles I did not know exist. Somehow I managed to remain upright and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I must say that I am floored that this Winter in Wyoming adventure doesn't have a gazillion trip reports. The Wyoming summer trip has never been on my radar. We are only on day 2 and Wyoming in the summer is now on our "list of ABD trips to take." I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking for me.

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Hello! I love your trip report and photos and am glad to be sharing this ABD with you!!!

 

[calypso726]

Absolutely loving the trip report. The pictures are stunning! This was on my radar before, but it's moved way up. It sounds awesome. So glad you guys are having a blast. I love your small group!

Thank you. This trip is pretty darned close to the tops of my favorite ABD trips!

Hello! I love your trip report and photos and am glad to be sharing this ABD with you!!!

Hello back! Thanks, we are certainly glad to have met both your families and shared this ABD. It has been an absolute blast!

 

[calypso726]

There are no words to describe how magical and beautiful this adventure has been. The scenery has been breathtaking every step of the way. Today though was simply the icing on the cake. Our dog sledding adventure was 10 miles of the most incredible views to reach Granite hot springs. We changed into our swimsuits and relaxed in the hot springs surrounded by a snowy vista. I'm sad that this is our last evening together but glad for the memories and new friends.

 

[sweetpeama]

I love the coloring on the left wheel dog

 

[carpenta]

Stunning pictures. Great sunshine which the west is famous for. When we traveled on our summer adventure to Yellowstone our guide went into the volcanic aspect of Yellowstone and to think someplace so beautiful can explode and decimate the northern hemisphere into "nuclear winter" type scenario. That is something that sticks in my mind. Thanks again for the wonderful pictures.

 

[RebelHawk]

And we have reached out to our Dreams Unlimited travel agent asking of some further details on this tour. Looking at the ABD site there aren't any available dates or rates posted. The Dreams Unlimited site has some listing for Jan and Feb 2017 dates but we love the idea of doing this Christmas/New Years timeframe.

Thanks for the trip report and the beautiful photos.

 

[Calfan]

Absolutely loving the trip report. The pictures are stunning! This was on my radar before, but it's moved way up. It sounds awesome. So glad you guys are having a blast. I love your small group!

And we have reached out to our Dreams Unlimited travel agent asking of some further details on this tour. Looking at the ABD site there aren't any available dates or rates posted. The Dreams Unlimited site has some listing for Jan and Feb 2017 dates but we love the idea of doing this Christmas/New Years timeframe.

Thanks for the trip report and the beautiful photos.

Calypso, your trip report has pushed us over the edge! Like CaliforniaGirl, this trip has been on my radar for awhile, and I came somewhat close to booking the NatGeo version as a surprise trip for my kids for right after Christmas this year, but we chickened out over the thought of driving to Bozeman, MT (and airfare was ridiculous by the time I thought about booking). But like RebelHawk, I've already reached out to my TA about this ABD for Dec. 2017. I also noticed that Dec. 2017 dates weren't available on the ABD website. My TA confirmed they aren't released yet, but she is trying to see what she can find out from ABD. I'm now leaning toward the ABD over NatGeo based on a comparison of the itineraries (and your glowing review) and will just cross my fingers that we end up with a smaller group. CaliforniaGirl, can I twist your arm to join us for Dec. 2017 (hopefully with a departure a day or two after Christmas)?

 

[calypso726]

Calypso, your trip report has pushed us over the edge! Like CaliforniaGirl, this trip has been on my radar for awhile, and I came somewhat close to booking the NatGeo version as a surprise trip for my kids for right after Christmas this year, but we chickened out over the thought of driving to Bozeman, MT (and airfare was ridiculous by the time I thought about booking). But like RebelHawk, I've already reached out to my TA about this ABD for Dec. 2017. I also noticed that Dec. 2017 dates weren't available on the ABD website. My TA confirmed they aren't released yet, but she is trying to see what she can find out from ABD. I'm now leaning toward the ABD over NatGeo based on a comparison of the itineraries (and your glowing review) and will just cross my fingers that we end up with a smaller group. CaliforniaGirl, can I twist your arm to join us for Dec. 2017 (hopefully with a departure a day or two after Christmas)?

Oh you guys are going to love it! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and so did W@LL-E. I'm still trying to figure out where we can squeeze in the summer Wyoming trip.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

CaliforniaGirl, can I twist your arm to join us for Dec. 2017 (hopefully with a departure a day or two after Christmas)?

You know there is never much arm twisting over here, LOL. Keep me posted on what you hear. We'd be totally into it. Our biggest issue will be DD's schedule with that being her first trip home from "Uni." I wish we could guarantee the weather Calypso had--I'm sure that makes a huge difference.

 

[hilarys]

Thank you for your great trip report. Would love to do this someday. Four years ago we did our own trip to Jackson and a dude ranch near Brooks Lake which included many on the same activities of the summer ABD. It was just so beautiful there - jaw dropping at every turn in the summer too.

 

[CJinMD]

Adding this trip to my wish list! This looks amazing! If you don't mind me asking, since nothing is listed on the ABD site for upcoming trips next year, what was the approx cost per adult? Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

Wellp, according to my Vacationista, after the February 2017 trip goes, the Winter in Wyoming trip is "going into the Vault", ie, being discontinued. She said it was due to logistics, not popularity (apparently not all trips have had the fabulous weather calypso726 did!) They *may* re-vamp it, and re-introduce it, but there's no immediate plans re: that. Almost certainly *not* for 2017. So that's why there's no Rates or Dates. HUGE BUMMER!

Sayhello

 

[Calfan]

Wellp, according to my Vacationista, after the February 2017 trip goes, the Winter in Wyoming trip is "going into the Vault", ie, being discontinued. She said it was due to logistics, not popularity (apparently not all trips have had the fabulous weather calypso726 did!) They *may* re-vamp it, and re-introduce it, but there's no immediate plans re: that. Almost certainly *not* for 2017. So that's why there's no Rates or Dates. HUGE BUMMER!

Sayhello

Huge bummer!! I guess I should have pulled the trigger some time in the last three years that I've been tempted to do this trip, LOL. Well, I guess that means I'm back to considering the NatGeo winter Yellowstone family trip...At least I know I will have a max group of 25 on that trip.

 

[calypso726]

Wellp, according to my Vacationista, after the February 2017 trip goes, the Winter in Wyoming trip is "going into the Vault", ie, being discontinued. She said it was due to logistics, not popularity (apparently not all trips have had the fabulous weather calypso726 did!) They *may* re-vamp it, and re-introduce it, but there's no immediate plans re: that. Almost certainly *not* for 2017. So that's why there's no Rates or Dates. HUGE BUMMER!

Sayhello

I had heard the same thing from a vacationista but simply assumed they might be misinformed. It is my understanding that there is usually a waitlist for this trip. Oh and I think the max size for this trip is 20 due to the dog sledding.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I had heard the same thing from a vacationista but simply assumed they might be misinformed. It is my understanding that there is usually a waitlist for this trip. Oh and I think the max size for this trip is 20 due to the dog sledding.

20? That's reason alone to do it, loll! I can see the weather issue as being huge. I want to say I read another tr at some point where the bad weather impacted the itinerary pretty significantly, and it sounded like a big bummer. My recollection is that prices were in the high threes, but I don't remember exactly.