Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons: Day 2:Part One – The Approach

So, we left Bozeman at 7AM to make the drive to Yellowstone – 88 miles.

We had decided to enter the park at the West entrance – via West Yellowstone, Montana -- and, efficient drivers that we typically are (or, “fast drivers” if you prefer), we expected to easily breeze into the park by 8:30AM. Although the trip did come off without a hitch, we got into the park around 9:15 – mostly because of construction, slow trucks, and the infamous supreme delay familiar to all parents of toddlers – the massive poopy diaper that stinks up the entire car. But, in this case, it was well-timed, because we pulled off in Big Sky, Montana . . .



and got to go hang out by this little river in the Gallatin Mountain range . . .





By approaching the park going south from Bozeman on 191 and entering through the West Entrance, we actually got to have some very good photo ops with the Welcome Sign:





See next post for our first day in Yellowstone . . .

Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons: Day 1 – Our Travel Day

We left the house, in the dark, at 5AM to make it on a 7:15AM flight to Chicago. We changed planes and flew into Bozeman, Montana, arriving at noon, Mountain Time. Bozeman has a tiny airport (no more than six gates), but, it was efficient and convenient. Our first impressions of Bozeman were that it was a lot hotter than we had anticipated (87 degrees), and that it was really flat and dry.

Here is the obligatory plane pic:




Brooke and I had originally thought about trying to get to Yellowstone on this first day, but, we decided it would be better to take the time to orient ourselves and shop for groceries, get a good night’s rest, and start off early the next morning for the park. This turned out to be a very good plan of attack.

So, we went into downtown Bozeman (all seven blocks of it) and had lunch at a place called Burger Bob’s, which was straight out of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Seriously. Brooke and I both had the Cowboy Bob burger – sizzling hot burger with barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, bacon, ice cold tomato and ice cold lettuce. It was so good. And, as most of you know, I am not one to give out kudos on burgers to just anyone. It was definitely the best burger we have both had in a very long time.

We stopped at the Chamber of Commerce to load up on about three inches worth of pamphlets, brochures, booklets, maps, and magazines. Yeah – we’re like that. While we were there, Brooke asked about what kinds of active diversions Bozeman had for children. The host blithely rattled off the three museums in town. When you have had your four-year-old and two-year-old up since 4:30AM and in airports or on planes for nine hours, the last thing you want to do is to drag them to a museum. You want to run their little bodies ragged so that they are as physically exhausted as the rest of them is.

So, Brooke asked about parks. The host mentioned a “Dinosaur Park”, which Drew overheard, so, off we went to the Dinosaur Park, because there was no way we were going to have any peace unless we went. It was actually very pleasant, and did exactly what we wanted – allowed the boys to run themselves ragged. It was kind of cool to be in a playground with mountains all around, except that it was ridiculously hot (and we are used to hot).

After our momentous travel day, we ate dinner at the hotel (the Bozeman Residence Inn by Marriott) – which consisted of food Mommy purchased at the Bozeman SuperWalmart. The boys were in bed by 6:30 Mountain Time, and Brooke literally passed out on the couch at 8:05PM.