Yellowstone and more vacation

[koopa]

Know you don't like camping, but Teton Village has a KOA with a few tiny cabins (about the size of a shed ha ha), and woke up every crisp morning with a view of the Grand Tetons. A long paved exercise path went along the main road, great for bike riding. Jackson is a close drive.

In the Grand Tetons, we took a boat at Jenny Lake and hiked up to Inspiration Point and the falls. Very popular with great views. So many trails to choose from.

My 7 year old's favorite thing to do was go down an alpine slide in Jackson. You ride a ski lift, get on a cart and go down a course (kind of like a mini bobsled). A nice mini golf course is at the base. Can't remember the name of the mountain, but you can't miss it.

The Elk Refuge in Jackson wasn't full of Elk at the time of the year, but it looked nice with a lot of areas to stop for viewing.

Regretted not going to a rodeo. They're not at all common in Ohio, and my neice and nephew went to one in Estes Park Colorado and loved it. Second the chuckwagon dinner.

Went last year for 2 days, no Yellowstone, just passing through to see my brother in Laramie, Wy.

 

[disneymom3]

This is an awesome thread!! We are doing this trip this summer too, but from the opposite direction. We are starting in MN and hitting the badlands, Mt Rushmore etc on the way there. On the way back we are swining a bit south and going to a place that has gold panning and a ghost town. It is South Pass, I think but will check and let you know if that is wrong. It was part of the CA trail.

Izzy--I would really love that itinerary you said you PMd to the OP. Would you mind sending it to me too?

I will post more as our plans firm up. We are travelling just after labor day. There is a restaurant in Souix Falls SD that Rachel Ray went to and my kids are dieing to go there so that is one thing on our list for sure. We also know our accomodations while in Yellowstone itself as well as two addtional days after south of the park and into Grand Tetons. Do you all think I need to have reservations for Cody on Labor Day itself? We're not picky about where we stay.

 

[goofy's friends]

Yea!! Thanks for the great ideas. Disneymom 3, We have looked at Cody reservations for July and there are not many choices at all--so I would definately try to make some as soon as possible. We ended up renting a house for the same price we could get a room for. I'll look for the website.

Merry Poppins, We are in Tulsa!! Wonder if we know any of the same people---Oklahoma seems like such a small world.

My kids would LOVE that alpine slide---we'll have to find it!

I'm working on finishing our itenerary--will let you guys know what's on it---rodeo for sure!! yee ha!!

DH wants to fly fish one day, so the ski lift thing and the alpine slide might be a good thing to do with the kids in Jackson while he's fishing (I hear they have good shopping there, too )

 

[MerryPoppins]

My brother and his family live in Tulsa. He's the chaplain at Holland Hall and his wife works there too. One of my other DIS friends lives in Broken Arrow.

 

[goofy's friends]

One of my very best friends teaches at Holland Hall. She loves it there. Know lots of people in Broken Arrow

 

[georgina]

We did Yellowstone, Jackson, and Mt Rushmore last summer (camping). The kids loved the stinky mudpots, and were fascinated by the geysers. We spent several days exploring them and saw A LOT of the geysers going off. The abundant wildlife was great - we didn't see any bears, but the elk, buffalo, pronghorn, and even a few otters in the river were a big hit. We learned that anytime you see a bunch of cars stopped or pulled over, check out what they are looking at! Around Jackson we saw some really cool moose! We saw mountain goats near Mt Rushmore, and there was a maze nearby that you could try to find your way through. There are a lot of caves in the Black Hills too that you can tour.

 

[CindyBeth]

Great thread!!! We have been thinking of doing this for several years and you guys have some great ideas!!!!

Izzy--I too would really love that itinerary, would you mind sending it to me too?

disneymom3 - We would probably going more along the route you were mentioning thru MN, could you send me some of your ideas?

Thanks so much!!!!

 

[Rella Bella]

Wow! You've gotten some great ideas! I'm sorry to be late in responding. I won't go over what's already been said but here are some of our other favorite things.

Your planned itinerary will be awesome, but as a Montana native I am always sad when people get as far north as Yellowstone and don’t add Glacier Nat’l Park to their vacation. It is quite simply breath taking. Going to the Sun Highway -- which crosses the park -- is one of the most beautiful and spectacular drives in America. But -- and it’s a big but -- it is about a 6-hour drive north of Yellowstone, (191 to I-90 to93 to 2). There is some beautiful country in-between the two parks but it would definitely take you a few days out of your way… so as for your planned trip…

We did the Flaming Gorge, which was beautiful! But as I remember it there isn’t much at all between there and Centennial Scenic Byway near the Tetons. I have a vague memory of two lane roads that went on for miles and a really slow speed limit...

When you’re doing Yellowstone, take your time if you rush you'll miss the flavor of it. When you head to Old Faithful remember you may have to wait. Our last trip we arrived just as it was finishing and of course it’s a couple hours before it goes again. Our best trip we actually stayed at the Old Faithful Lodge… which will make you feel right at home as Wilderness Lodge was modeled from it! The similarities are pretty cool.

My best piece of advice…don’t miss the Beartooth Highway (212) from Red Lodge, MT to Yellowstone. It’s a very dramatic and spectacular drive. VERY high, with great views.

Red Lodge is a great little town, check out: http://www.redlodge.com/

And a little up the road in Cook City is the Beartooth Cafe! One of our favorite places on earth! It’s a Montana tradition! http://www.beartoothcafe.com/

When you do Cody you might enjoy taking the back route to I-90. We love Buffalo Wyoming. Sheridan is just a few miles north… and it is your average plains city with a huge truck stop area near the Interstate. Yawn. But if you go just those few miles south to Buffalo instead you will see a quaint old-fashioned town… not a tourist trap, just a sweet little town with Mom & Pop cafes, a slower pace with beautiful Mountains behind.

The trip across South Dakota is great. There is so much to see and do all the way across the state. Besides Mt Rushmore & the Crazy Horse Memorial definitely do not miss The Bad Lands, Devil’s Tower, Wall Drug (it’s a hoot!), and the Corn Palace in Mitchell is great too. We also loved the replica of a Norwegian Stave Church in Rapid City… a very interesting all wood building that is open as a museum. Chamberlain is also a nice resort town on the reservoir.

Now as for the drive on I-70 across Kansas, since you are starting from Denver you may have done this drive before and know this already… but IMHO this is the most monotonous boring drive in the US! It is flat, hot, there is nothing to see, no where interesting to stop and every 200 miles or so there is the same identical convenience store/gas station… it feels like you’re locked into the movie ‘Ground Hog Day’. Of course it doesn’t help that I’ve had to make that drive about a million times… Not that I would want you to miss my beautiful and wonderful home town of Kansas City on your trip to the mid-west… but even though I haven’t done it I would bet that you would enjoy the trip across Nebraska MUCH more.

Well that’s all that comes to me at the moment… I’ll pm you if I think of anything else!

Have a great time planning and a wonderful trip!

 

[goofy's friends]

Wow! You've gotten some great ideas! I'm sorry to be late in responding. I won't go over what's already been said but here are some of our other favorite things.

Your planned itinerary will be awesome, but as a Montana native I am always sad when people get as far north as Yellowstone and don’t add Glacier Nat’l Park to their vacation. It is quite simply breath taking. Going to the Sun Highway -- which crosses the park -- is one of the most beautiful and spectacular drives in America. But -- and it’s a big but -- it is about a 6-hour drive north of Yellowstone, (191 to I-90 to93 to 2). There is some beautiful country in-between the two parks but it would definitely take you a few days out of your way… so as for your planned trip…

We did the Flaming Gorge, which was beautiful! But as I remember it there isn’t much at all between there and Centennial Scenic Byway near the Tetons. I have a vague memory of two lane roads that went on for miles and a really slow speed limit...

When you’re doing Yellowstone, take your time if you rush you'll miss the flavor of it. When you head to Old Faithful remember you may have to wait. Our last trip we arrived just as it was finishing and of course it’s a couple hours before it goes again. Our best trip we actually stayed at the Old Faithful Lodge… which will make you feel right at home as Wilderness Lodge was modeled from it! The similarities are pretty cool.

My best piece of advice…don’t miss the Beartooth Highway (212) from Red Lodge, MT to Yellowstone. It’s a very dramatic and spectacular drive. VERY high, with great views.

Red Lodge is a great little town, check out: http://www.redlodge.com/

And a little up the road in Cook City is the Beartooth Cafe! One of our favorite places on earth! It’s a Montana tradition! http://www.beartoothcafe.com/

When you do Cody you might enjoy taking the back route to I-90. We love Buffalo Wyoming. Sheridan is just a few miles north… and it is your average plains city with a huge truck stop area near the Interstate. Yawn. But if you go just those few miles south to Buffalo instead you will see a quaint old-fashioned town… not a tourist trap, just a sweet little town with Mom & Pop cafes, a slower pace with beautiful Mountains behind.

The trip across South Dakota is great. There is so much to see and do all the way across the state. Besides Mt Rushmore & the Crazy Horse Memorial definitely do not miss The Bad Lands, Devil’s Tower, Wall Drug (it’s a hoot!), and the Corn Palace in Mitchell is great too. We also loved the replica of a Norwegian Stave Church in Rapid City… a very interesting all wood building that is open as a museum. Chamberlain is also a nice resort town on the reservoir.

Now as for the drive on I-70 across Kansas, since you are starting from Denver you may have done this drive before and know this already… but IMHO this is the most monotonous boring drive in the US! It is flat, hot, there is nothing to see, no where interesting to stop and every 200 miles or so there is the same identical convenience store/gas station… it feels like you’re locked into the movie ‘Ground Hog Day’. Of course it doesn’t help that I’ve had to make that drive about a million times… Not that I would want you to miss my beautiful and wonderful home town of Kansas City on your trip to the mid-west… but even though I haven’t done it I would bet that you would enjoy the trip across Nebraska MUCH more.

Well that’s all that comes to me at the moment… I’ll pm you if I think of anything else!

Have a great time planning and a wonderful trip!

Wow! thanks for the different ideas! They all sound great. We'll schedule them in! Not sure about Glacier Park, we're already driving SOOOO much. You couldn't be more right about I-70---worst part of the trip by far Thump, thump----thump, thump-----thump, thump goes the road-have you noticed that?

 

[disneymom3]

Now as for the drive on I-70 across Kansas, since you are starting from Denver you may have done this drive before and know this already… but IMHO this is the most monotonous boring drive in the US! It is flat, hot, there is nothing to see, no where interesting to stop and every 200 miles or so there is the same identical convenience store/gas station… it feels like you’re locked into the movie ‘Ground Hog Day’. Of course it doesn’t help that I’ve had to make that drive about a million times… Not that I would want you to miss my beautiful and wonderful home town of Kansas City on your trip to the mid-west… but even though I haven’t done it I would bet that you would enjoy the trip across Nebraska MUCH more.

Well, no offense to any Nebraskans out there, but the drive through Nebraska ain't too exciting either. At least not the road my dad always took through there from CA to MN! OH what I would have given for a DVD player in the car back then! I keep reading this thread and getting more and more ideas and my trip is getting longer and longer in my head. DH only has so much vacation though so I am going to have to cut some things out. I am sure we will be going again so I will keep my list of notes.

 

[goofy's friends]

What do you guys think about this?

Day 1 - Arrive Jackson Hole--dinner Bar J Ranch
Day 2 - Explore Grand Tetons (I've made notes on what to see) Maybe a dinner flaot trip (?) Do you think I would need reservations for this?
Day 3 - DH is fly fishing, so I am exploring town and doing the ski lift thing there. Driving to West Yellowstone when DH is done fishing---he's getting a guide. If we have time, there is an IMAX Yellostone film there--anyone done it?

Day 4 - Sign up for Jr. Ranger program and explore Old Faithful area. (still staying in west yellowstone)

Day 5 - Explore Northwest region of Yellowstone (stay in Canyon village--central Yellowstone)

Day6 - Northeast region of Yellowstone (still in Canyon Village) including stagecoach rides

Day 7 - Southeast region and drive to Cody

Day 8 - Cody (will be July 4th) site seeing, rodeo, and fireworks

Day9 - Drive to SD (not sure where staying yet) by way of Devil's Tower

day 10- Site see Black Hills including Mammoth Site and slide thing (of course, the presidents are a must)

Day 11 - Drive across SD

Day 12- Drive south to home

Any thing that needs to be fixed, changed, tweaked?

 

[TXTink]

What do you guys think about this?

Day 1 - Arrive Jackson Hole--dinner Bar J Ranch
Day 2 - Explore Grand Tetons (I've made notes on what to see) Maybe a dinner flaot trip (?) Do you think I would need reservations for this?
Day 3 - DH is fly fishing, so I am exploring town and doing the ski lift thing there. Driving to West Yellowstone when DH is done fishing---he's getting a guide. If we have time, there is an IMAX Yellostone film there--anyone done it?

Day 4 - Sign up for Jr. Ranger program and explore Old Faithful area. (still staying in west yellowstone)

Day 5 - Explore Northwest region of Yellowstone (stay in Canyon village--central Yellowstone)

Day6 - Northeast region of Yellowstone (still in Canyon Village) including stagecoach rides

Day 7 - Southeast region and drive to Cody

Day 8 - Cody (will be July 4th) site seeing, rodeo, and fireworks

Day9 - Drive to SD (not sure where staying yet) by way of Devil's Tower

day 10- Site see Black Hills including Mammoth Site and slide thing (of course, the presidents are a must)

Day 11 - Drive across SD

Day 12- Drive south to home

Any thing that needs to be fixed, changed, tweaked?

I would be interested in what others think of this itinerary too! This is almost exactly the trek DH and I are thinking of doing next summer!

 

[goofy's friends]

TXTink, Don't you hope the gas prices go down----I know we do!!

 

[TXTink]

Yes I do!!!!!

But, I am ready to bite the bullet if we have to! DH has never been to Yellowstone, and it has been years for me (33 years to be exact! ). We have wanted to take this vacation for a long time.

 

[goofy's friends]

Us, too. We'll do what we gotta do and maybe the park won't be so crowded.