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Ultimate Tips for Your First Yellowstone Visit

Paula — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:58:00 +0000

With parks cautiously opening up again in various US states and Canadian provinces, I thought it seemed like a great time to share some tips for your first Yellowstone visit. Planning is important to get the most out of your Yellowstone trip, so take the time now to read up on where to stay and what to see and get it right, whether you are visiting this season or next. I visited Yellowstone and Cody, Wyoming with Austin Adventures in 2019. Here, I gathered my research, personal experiences and reached out to some contacts and friends who are National Parks experts in the US. First and Foremost Did you know Yellowstone was the first national park in 1872? That’s just one of the things that makes Yellowstone so special. The Yellowstone National Park Act of 1872 stated that the Secretary of the Interior “shall provide against the wanton destruction of the fish and game found within said park.” My first Yellowstone visit knocked my socks off. An active volcano, Yellowstone is so insanely huge that you can’t really imagine the scope of the park until you are there inside driving to find Grand Prismatic, Lamar Valley, Biscuit Basin or Old Faithful. Rich with gorgeous scenery, unique geothermal features that you might never encounter anywhere else in the world, and animals that run freely throughout the park, Yellowstone is magical and it is a must see kind of destination. The park itself straddles three states! Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. I find that mind boggling. When Bigger is Better Covering 3,472 square miles, Yellowstone is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Explore the 2.2 million acre wilderness, but be prepared, you can’t even start to do it in a day. Take all the time you have at your disposal. When we visited we were in Yellowstone for about two and a half to three days. One of those nights we stayed inside the park, one night we stayed in Cody and the last night we stayed in Silver Gate Montana, perfect for our first Yellowstone visit. Yellowstone Park History In 1871, the first official government expedition of Yellowstone was led by geologist Ferdinand V. Hayden. That expedition included artist Thomas Morann and photographer William Henry Jackson. Their images, combined with scientific findings, convinced Congress to set Yellowstone aside as the world’s first national Park in 1872. Let that sink in for a second. Yellowstone is the world’s first national park. Who says art doesn’t shape the world? This is one clear instance of the impact that art can have on life and, also on the future. I think that’s my favourite story about Yellowstone and also about the power of art. Where to Stay Inside Yellowstone: Stay In Yellowstone, if at all possible! Less than 1% of people get to stay inside Yellowstone. Let me tell you that it is more than worth the planning. If you can make this happen and can afford to stay inside the park, then, do it, even just once. For the Convenience and Experience The sheer size of the park means that you can spend hours driving. There are nine facilities featuring over 2,000 rooms inside the park. PLAN ahead or you will never be able to make this happen. These spots are extremely popular. Check this year by visiting the website because Coronavirus has meant there have been changes to what is open and when things are opening. Be safe. Don’t be disappointed. The Nine Spots To Stay Inside Yellowstone I am not going to get too into the breakdown of every property. We stayed in Canyon Lodge and toured a few other facilities, checking out some of the rooms. Each accommodation inside Yellowstone has benefits and is close to some unique park asset. These are the broad strokes of what you can expect. For more details on where to stay during that first visit to Yellowstone National Park check out the Yellowstone site. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins Built in 1936, open to summer and winter visitors. Such a cute spot for any time of the year. Grant Village Named for Ulysses S. Grant, Grant Village was built in 1984 and is a two storey with 50 rooms and no elevators. There are accessible rooms. This is closest to Grand Teton National Park. Old Faithful Lodge Cabins Located near Old Faithful Inn, this historic cabin facility includes a one-storey main lodge built in the 1920′s featuring massive logs and stone pillars. Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cottages Luxurious and exceptional views from Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Nearby cottages are tiny but cute. Lake Yellowstone is stunning. If you have a Lakeview here then honestly that’s high luxury inside the park. Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins Lovely facility. We didn’t tour these rooms, but the lobby area has a ski chalet vibe, featuring wood and open high rooftops. Completed in 1999, the Snow Lodge is the newest of the park’s full service hotels, recognized with the Cody Award for Western Design and Travel and Leisure’s Inn of the Month. Roosevelt Lodge and Cabins Built in 1920 near Yellowstone’s Tower Falls area. Lake Lodge Cabins Open June through September, Lake Lodge Cabins features a main lodge with a large porch and a spectacular view of Yellowstone Lake. The main lodge is constructed of logs and is a highlight of the building. There are 186 cabins with private baths behind the lodge in recently renovated Western and Frontier styles as well as the basic Pioneer cabins. The Timeless – Old Faithful Inn Built in 1903-1904 this is a classic. It is considered the largest log structure in the world. It reminded me a little bit of Montebello in Quebec. Rustic and a whole lot of history here at Old Faithful Inn. Right beside Old Faithful, so you can’t get more convenient than that. Could be a good pick for a first time visit to Yellowstone depending on what you hope to see and who you are traveling with. There is a restaurant and cafeteria inside. Canyon Lodge and Cabins We stayed at Canyon Lodge just one night and that was one of the newer lodges inside the park. It was a luxurious stay within walking distance of the Canyon Lodge Eatery, a clean cafeteria-style restaurant with post office and a few other amenities nearby. Canyon Lodge is centrally located in the park and from there, Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs are easily accessible. Camping and RV Sites Do check for availability and openings this year. Also, these will fill up fast this summer. Fishing Bridge RV Park is not likely to be open in 2020. But, here are some other options. Madison Campground, Grant Village Campground, Canyon Campground and Bridge Bay Campground are all good options. Canyon has the luxury of an exceptional location. How to Do the First National Park Things Not to Miss on Your First Trip to Yellowstone: If it’s your first Yellowstone visit, you’ll want to plan on spending at least one day on the “Lower Loop Road” and at least one day on the “Upper Loop Road,” says Kasey Morrisey of Austin Adventures. “Along the Lower Loop, you’ll want to see Old Faithful, Fountain Paint Pots, Grand Prismatic and Lake Yellowstone. On the Upper Loop, you’ll want to check out the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs and I always recommend making a side trip out to Lamar Valley near the Northeast Entrance (it’s worth the distance!)” Old Faithful The most famous of all the geysers in Yellowstone, you can’t miss Old Faithful. It’s relatively easy to catch this one erupting actually. It erupts every 60 to 90 minutes on average. There’s information inside Old Faithful Inn that tells you when to expect an eruption. Set within Yellowstone National Park and overlooking the famous Old Faithful geyser, this rustic seasonal lodge in a 1920s stone-and-wood building and it’s located overlooking Old Faithful. Biscuit Basin Located near Old Faithful, you can easily do Old Faithful and Biscuit Basin in one day. That should give you plenty of geyser highlights for your first Yellowstone visit. Fountain Paint Pot Fountain Paint Pot Trail consists of various geothermal features that are evidence of Yellowstone’s active volcano status. Due to the thermal activity in the area you need to stay on the boardwalk. The geothermal features inside the park are: geysers, hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles. Grand Prismatic Grand Prismatic is another one of those must see features for your first Yellowstone visit. It is simply iconic. This area gets extremely busy though so pick your time. Also, there are multiple viewing spots where you can see Grand Prismatic, but if you want some of the best photos, then you need to take a short hike up to a lookout that is elevated slightly. You will probably see bison on your way and the lookout might get crowded, but having that slight incline to look out over the prism of colours makes all the difference in the world. Lamar Valley and Glaciers Did you know that Lamar Valley was carved by glaciers? Lamar Valley is sprawling and a vast expanse of plains. It is also one of the best spots to spy wolves in Yellowstone. But early in the morning is your best bet for that. Also, Lamar Valley is gorgeous and you can often spy hundreds of bison crossing the “road.” Lamar Valley is on the northeast, in fact, we left for the night and stayed in Silver Gate Montana, returning through the northeast gate on our last morning. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is one of my favourite spots for photos. Roughly 640,000 years ago, a volcano erupted in Yellowstone emptying a large underground chamber of magma. Thousands of miles, the ash flowed until the roof collapsed and the lava flowed, forming a giant caldera, which filled with lava and sediments for hundreds of thousands of years. This area is now gorgeous multi-coloured rock and canyon, with a river running through it. Artist Point Right near Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Artist Point is aptly named. Should be plenty of parking nearby and there’s some nice hiking in the area. When you get there you will see why it is called Artist Point. If you paint, draw or sketch, take a photo for a reference image and then paint it later. Lake Yellowstone The largest body of water in Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Lake is 7,732 kms above sea level. Yellowstone Lake is the largest alpine lake above 7,000 feet in North America. Mammoth Hot Springs This was one of my favourite spots. It is a long drive though from all the other features that are popular like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic so you have a couple of options. Come in via a different entrance, or do Mammoth Hot Springs and Mammoth Terraces on a different day. Soda Butte Cone We saw a pack of wolves not far from Soda Butte Cone. The cone is near the northeast area of the park. Safety in the Park Death by Selfie DON’t be that guy or that girl…on your first visit to Yellowstone or any visit to ANY of the National Parks. We hiked near Ribbon Lake and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone which is also where roughly three tourists a year die as a result of poor choices. There’s a perch that is precarious here that too many tourists see as an invitation to take the perfect selfie. But that selfie actually often leads to death. So, play it safe and do not step outside the natural boundary. Follow the Rules Entire books have been written about all of the devastating accidents and deaths in Yellowstone, since it first opened. Follow the rules. If the sign says no pets near Old Faithful, then keep CUJO far far away from the geyser. There’s a reason the signs are up! You can get burnt, and little people could fall in, if not cautious and well supervised. When Is the Best Time of Day to Spot Wildlife? “If you know where to look, you can find wildlife any time of day in the park,” says Kasey Morrisey, president of Austin Adventures, a family-run award-winning group travel company based in Billings, Montana. Morrisey says any wildlife enthusiast will tell you that the best times to see wildlife in Yellowstone are at dawn and dusk. Especially in the summertime (when most visitors come to Yellowstone), the cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings get the wildlife up and moving. The hot sun midday has most wildlife hanging back in the shady areas where they’re harder to see. Wildlife Spotting Tips Wolves Less than 2% see wolves when visiting Yellowstone. The wolves are next level wildlife spotting. The average lifespan of a wolf in Yellowstone is 4-5 years. Outside Yellowstone that lifespan is 2-3 years. “It’s worth it to catch a sunrise in Lamar or Hayden Valley (around 5:30 AM midsummer) to capture both the beauty of Yellowstone in the morning and a chance to see wildlife like wolves, bears, coyotes, elk, and bison,” says Kasey Morrisey. Want to See Exciting Wildlife, Wake Up Early The early bird, right? This is a lesson I learned when traveling with Sam Friedland, a guide with Austin Adventures. Time of day matters, as in go in the early morning or as the sun is setting. You have greater chances of spotting wildlife. But, listen, always be respectful. This is their home, not yours. Bring Binoculars Check visitor centres to see what’s been seen today and where. There’s always a report daily. Don’t forget binoculars, if you have a pair. You will use them in Yellowstone. Start at Tree Line Sometimes, you might consider following a commercial tour van. They have the info and will be in the loop on where the latest sightings have taken place. Don’t be annoying about it in any way. Just keep your eye on the people in the know. It might serve you well on the journey in the park. National Park Obsessed’s Jennifer Melrose says if you train your eye to start at the tree line you can pick up movement and colours that will help you to spy wildlife. Ask Ask someone at the side of the road with a gigantic lens what they are looking at. We found people super kind here and the one day when we were hunting for wolves but couldn’t see any, we saw a small cluster of people with telescopes. So we stopped and they let us look through their scopes too. Of course, right now everyone should still be using good judgement regarding social distancing. Take that into account. Rent a Spotting Scope It’s easy to rent a telescope or spotting scope in several places on the way in to the park. Or, the night before you go into Yellowstone get that in order in whatever town you are staying in or passing through before your visit. These rentals were super inexpensive. I was shocked that it was often less than $20 for a day. DEAL! Return if You Have to “You could do everything right and still not see anything, some days. Yellowstone National Park is not a zoo, animals go wherever they want,” says Jennifer of National Park Obsessed. Once you’ve been on a guided tour and then you return you are going to be the smartest person out there at figuring out where to go to see the wildlife and geothermal features. Random Yellowstone Trivia Snowmobiling capital of the world. Did you know that there’s a drive through snowmobile McDonald’s at Yellowstone? There are 6-12 visitor centres in the park. Northeast entrance is the one you take to get to Beartooth Scenic Highway. Beartooth, as the name suggests, is a mountain that looks like a tooth. While it is outside of Yellowstone, I highly recommend making this journey at some point as well. How many days should you spend Inside Yellowstone? “I think if you do your research and know what sights you want to hit, you can see the top features of the park in two days (one day for lower loop, one day for upper loop),” says Morrisey of Austin Adventures. “These two days will consist mostly of driving and walking a few boardwalks – but, you will get some epic photos of the classic sites of Yellowstone along the way. If you want to dive deeper into Yellowstone and fit in some hiking along the 900+ miles of hiking trails in the park, you should plan on spending 3-5 days. There’s also much to be seen and done outside the park that flies under the radar, but is just as incredible! When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Yellowstone? Yellowstone is amazing any time of year, but if I had to pick a favourite time to visit, I’d pick June, Morrisey says. “This is the time when the weather is relatively descent, many of the hiking trails are open (although you’ll probably still run into snow at the higher elevations), the baby animals are out and about, the wildflowers are popping off, and there is NO smoke from wildfires as it’s still green and wet. In a close second place for me personally is visiting Yellowstone in the winter when there’s no crowds and awesome wildlife watching opportunities.” Should You Choose a Tour Operator like Austin Adventures? I can think of a hundred reasons to go with a tour operator into Yellowstone, but will settle for sharing just a few. Size: First of all, Yellowstone is HUGE (2.2 million acres) and there is so much to see and do. Since most visitors have limited vacation time, many people don’t want to “waste” time trying to figure out where to go or what to do. Experience: “A local tour operator with a planned itinerary has guides who know the route, the must-sees, the secret hideaways, and the best wildlife hot...

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7 Most Beautiful Things To See In Montana

Paula — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 19:02:00 +0000

With its panoramic, breathtaking mountains and wide open spaces, it’s easy to see why Montana is referred to as Big Sky Country. From vast mountain tops in Glacier National Park to the badlands, Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone National Park, Montana has numerous one of a kind iconic drives and vistas, each memorable in its own right. I travelled with Austin Adventures on a hosted media trip in Montana and Wyoming this Fall. Big Sky Country Nearly 13 million tourists annually visit Montana’s Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Beartooth Highway, Flathead Lake, Big Sky Resort and other attractions. There’s no place quite like this on earth. More Showstoppers Than You Can Count Montana’s plains and mountain ranges are spectacular to see. The state itself is defined by the Continental Divide which clearly transects Montana into east and west. It feels like you can drive for days in parts of Montana, seeing only horses and Rocky Mountains and miles of road. Yellowstone National Park and Glacier together are showstoppers, each with natural rock formations, hot springs, buttes and cones, rivers and waterfalls with hundreds of scenic backdrops larger than life. Getting to Know Montana Until recently, the only exposure I had to the state of Montana was in the movies. By now, most of the universe has seen a movie set in Big Sky country. Montana was almost a character it had such a role in big budget movie, A River Runs Through it and it was also used for a small part of The Untouchables. It’s the state Forrest Gump ran through in the movie by the same name. Of course there are many more. Beethoven 2 used parts of Glacier Park in the sequel to that family friendly dog movie. Recently I visited Montana and fell hard for parts of the wild western state. First the facts: Despite the physical size of the state, Montana has a population of just one million people. That means there’s a lot of space to explore. Billings Montana is the biggest city in the state at 100,000 and Helena is the capital! There are hundreds of spots in Montana that will take your breath away, but I tried to narrow the list down to a few special spots that resonated with me when I visited. Top Things to See in Montana Yellowstone Facts Did you know that Yellowstone is so large it actually takes in parts of three different states? Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. You can be travelling through the park and moving across states. Yellowstone is an epic adventure everyone should take. You might consider doing Yellowstone and Montana with Austin Adventures as I did. Their guides are exceptional and service is on an entirely different level. The Lakes in Glacier National Park Lake McDonald Lake McDonald is the biggest lake within Glacier National Park and is one of the first breathtaking sites you encounter. It is a distinguished stop on the Going to the Sun Road. Epic hiking trails and awe-inspiring views define this lake. Seize the opportunity to stay at the legendary Lake McDonald Lodge. Book early though. Around here all of the in park lodging fills up fast. And…. Saint Mary Lake Stunning Saint Mary Lake is the second greatest body of water in the national park and offers some of the most majestic views. Jackson Glacier can be seen elevated above the lake, and Wild Goose Island is also a must-see spot. Like the rest of the park, Saint Mary Lake offers diverse views during all four seasons. Beartooth Pass On our final full day in Yellowstone with Austin Adventures, we left the park and headed over Beartooth Pass. The mountains are breathtaking and do really look like a bear’s tooth. The alpine lakes are simply gorgeous and at such high altitudes their surfaces appear like glass. The drive is winding and scenic and unlike any other you will ever take. Check the report before you go though. This winding high mountain road is often closed when it snows. Probably one of the two things I looked forward to most in Montana, were: Beartooth Pass and Yellowstone. After spending several days in Yellowstone (never enough time but that’s another topic entirely), we finally made it to Beartooth Pass and the weather was with us. Most noteworthy, Beartooth Highway is a 68-mile scenic highway that stretches from Cooke City up through the mountains, past alpine lakes to finally end at Red Lodge. It is a National Scenic By -Ways All American Road and it contains hairpin turns and crazy twists that provide outrageous views from over 10,000 feet. Logan Pass Logan Pass is the greatest peak in Glacier National Park that is accessible by car. Sitting on top of the Continental Divide, with a dynamic scene of wildlife, wildflowers and wild views that continuously stands out, even the mountain goats share the trails! Bighorn Canyon Bighorn Canyon is well-known for camping, fishing, photography and hiking, or just gorgeous scenery. Formed by the barring of Bighorn River, Bighorn Lake spans over 60 miles, and also cuts through the center of the spectacular canyon of its own name. The National Recreation Area that encompasses the lake comprises over 70,000 acres of public ground ready to explore. Cathedral of St. Helena The greatest, most distinguished characteristic of the Helena horizon, is the Cathedral of St. Helena. For over a century, the Cathedral has been holding services. Substantial restoration to the cathedral was carried out after a destructive 1935 earthquake, and today, next to being on the national register of historic places, this staggering cathedral is one of the greatest awe-inspiring architectural areas in the state. Missoula Missoula is home to large mountain views and the University of Montana. Hike Mount Sentinel and Mount Jumbo, a couple of area mountains providing some memorable hiking trails. They each overlook the town and can be viewed from most street corners. Almost everyone has heard of Lewis and Clark. Well, the Clark Fork River Trial holds a prominent spot in US history and the trail parallels the waterway that slices through the heart of the city, also providing a great vantage point for some scenic photos. Breathe Easy in Montana Above all, Montana contains bountiful skies and mountains and often more wildlife than people, so that when you visit, it is quite simply a breath of fresh air. If you want to take in as much as possible, then you need to make time to see these seven Montana sites. Finally, there are so many things to see in Montana, you won’t want to blink for fear of missing out.

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Adopting The Pace of Nature – Group Travel with Austin Adventures

Paula — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 10:09:20 +0000

This fall I was on a group travel experience and media trip with Austin Adventures which means I received travel, accommodations, food and excursions in exchange for potential coverage. This story is based on that experience. “Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.” We are sharing a picnic lunch on the outdoor patio at Old Faithful Inn waiting, listening. There’s a clock inside on the main floor that projects an estimated time that Old Faithful will erupt. It is nothing if not faithful, just as it says right in the name. Old Faithful The crowd murmurs and holds cameras up at the ready, so one by one we migrate closer. Another 15 minutes pass and steam escapes sifting out a little bit at first and then rupturing the air, climbing ever higher. It’s the kind of natural phenomenon you might not even know you want to see until you are there watching it, realizing the world is so much larger than you imagined and there are so many marvels to experience. If you spent a lifetime looking, you might make a dent in your bucket list. What is Austin Adventures? Today is Day Three of my group travel tour with Austin Adventures. Day one was driving and getting to know how this soft adventure group travel experience worked. We left Billings, Montana right after TBEX travel blogging conference ended and drove to Cody, Wyoming to find the Wild West. After a day of white water rafting on Cody’s Shoshone River through rapids like Colter Falls and Plenty Coup we headed over to Buffalo Bill’s Centre of the West, explored the downtown, ate at a restaurant once owned by Buffalo Bill and slept in Cody a second evening, then we packed up to head into Yellowstone National Park. Austin Adventures is a family-run exclusive group travel experience founded by Dan Austin. They are based in Billings Montana. Austin Adventures runs small group travel experiences around the world. They provide a money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. That should give anyone the confidence to take a trip with Austin. Is Austin Adventures Right for You? This Group Travel Experience The Red Carpet Treatment Every morning, we start the day feeling like royalty. Literally. Our guide Sam Friedland pulls up to the Cody Hotel and sets out a red carpet and a step stool as we climb into the Austin Adventures Shuttle. On our way from Billings Montana through to Cody we were frequently awestruck by the scenery. One of the members of our group, Jennifer Melroy, of National Park Obsessed has been to Yellowstone before. Of course, the guide Sam has too. I hear them say: “If they are this blown away by the scenery already can you imagine what they will think when they get to Yellowstone?” What to Expect in Yellowstone This is my first time to Yellowstone National Park. My TBEX roommate Anita Sane of The Sane Travel has never been there before either. We are all excited to be taking this hosted group travel tour together and we can’t believe our luck to have also scored rooms inside the park overnight. Yellowstone National Park is so busy from May through to end of September that it’s a huge feat to be able to stay inside the park. In fact, less than 1 % of visitors get to stay inside Yellowstone, so plan ahead if that’s your goal. Off the Grid in Yellowstone On the way, before we lose wifi, I text and email several people to let them know I’m losing wifi as we head into the park. We’ve been advised to expect that. An hour passes and then the east gate of the park looms up. There are five park entrances to Yellowstone. The west entrance is typically the busiest. The road to Old Faithful can’t be far, I figure. Lake Yellowstone’s shoreline stretches on for miles along the roadway through the park. North America’s largest high alpine lake is framed by the Absaroka Mountains, so we pause to take it in and capture some photos. Then we drive some more, spotting bison and numerous birds. That first day in Yellowstone we drive for what seems like an eternity. Of course there are numerous stops and our shuttle is always stocked with a variety of snacks. We are never hungry for long. But as a newbie to Yellowstone I am immediately stunned by how huge this national park is. It spans three states – Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Yellowstone is larger than Rhode Island. It’s impossible to picture the vastness of Yellowstone until you drive it. The Trees Near the east entrance, we pass many different types of trees along the way and Sam, the Austin Adventures group travel guide points out sage, lodgepole pines, aspens, larches, and tallpole pines. Lodgepole pines are quirky trees in that they actually need fire in order to spread and flourish. The seeds in the pine cones are only released when heat from a fire causes them to drop. Old Faithful is located in the Upper Geyser Basin, which you can easily walk around. The Old Faithful Inn has several rooms, a restaurant, a cafeteria and washrooms of course, if needed. Together, we grabbed snacks and sandwiches from the cafeteria and headed outside to watch Old Faithful. Then we received a behind the scenes peak at “the treehouse” that leads to the roof of Old Faithful Inn. Biscuit Basin is a great spot to see several more geo-thermal features. There are four types of thermal features in Yellowstone: geysers like Old Faithful, mud pots, pools and steam vents or fumerals. Take note of the signs throughout Yellowstone and be cautious. Over the years, several people have died in Yellowstone getting too close to the hot springs, falling in or thinking they could save pets that fell in. Now there are strict signs posted about not permitting pets on boardwalks and safety advisories are also visible everywhere. Also stay on the trails and don’t climb on things to take selfies. Grand Prismatic Grand Prismatic is right up there with Old Faithful as a Yellowstone tourist mecca. We pull in to the main viewing area, which is extremely busy, even in mid September. From the boardwalk, it’s challenging to get great photos. At one point, as we are circling and returning towards the shuttle, a bison saunters straight through the crowd, a visual reminder that this is their home and we are just visitors. Finding the Best Spots in Yellowstone Spying a group of people up high on a scenic overlook, with no obvious path to get there, we ask Sam how we can get a better view. Naturally that’s already covered and the next planned stop today. We drive over to the parking area by Grand Prismatic scenic overlook, hiking across a plain and up an incline. The immediate reward is magical views and an overlook that seems to be less busy than the boardwalk. This is one of the best parts of traveling with an Austin Adventures tour guide. Their insider’s knowledge is remarkable. Our Journey in Yellowstone We started the day via the east and then went west to see Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful before heading north to Canyon Lodge overnight. Dinner is simple at the Canyon Lodge cafeteria – style restaurant. Yellowstone Facts President Grant signed the registration that created the national park. The land was under military control until 1916. In 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the world. A Big Apple Pie “Yellowstone,” Sam says: “is like a big apple pie. In most places on earth, the crust is 40-50 miles thick. Here it is roughly 2-3 miles thick. This is the kind of educational content we get consistently throughout our trip. Yellowstone might warrant an apple pie comparison but for us on this trip, it is the meat and potatoes of the group travel soft adventure experience. Earthquakes and Geyser Facts Three miniature earthquakes happen here every day. We spent two and a half days inside the park and didn’t feel any. Only 200 active geysers exist outside of Yellowstone, scattered in 30 basins around the world. Over 100, or one fifth of the world’s geysers are located within one square miles of Old Faithful. Austin Adventures Group Travel Facts On a typical Austin Adventures group travel tour like this one there would be 3-5 families. The Austin Adventures experience takes 12-18 travellers total unless it is a custom experience, always maintaining a 6:1 guide to guest ratio, which is the best in the group travel industry. While we see a lot in the time we have, I never once felt rushed. The pace of our tour is manageable for all ages and feels like it would be ideal for a guided family trip. Our Second Day in Yellowstone You could probably spend two weeks here exploring Yellowstone and never once be bored. Early in the day we wake up and walk to the Canyon Lodge for breakfast, then we pack up again and drive towards the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. We’d planned a hike on the Wapati Trail but it’s pouring, so we go to the Visitor’s Centre and after roughly an hour the rain turns to snow. Eventually we head to Artist Point instead. Did you know that all of Yellowstone is a Giant Caldera, or a collapsed crater of a not so extinct volcanic field? Neither did I, until this trip with Austin Adventures. Artist Point Artist Point and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River are two of the busiest spots in the park and even on a rainy day there’s a crowd. We battle the crowd a bit in order to see Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River before taking a hike and spying evidence that a young grizzly is nearby. Our guide is confident hiking here and, as a result we feel comfortable following him. “Here bear. Here bear,” he yells periodically to make sure we don’t surprise any creatures. Lamar Valley We drive through the Lamar Valley, spying mountain goats, a moose and eventually a grizzly bear a long way off up a mountain and only visible with a telescope. In Lamar Valley, there are also wolves and the area has a reputation as the Serengeti of Yellowstone, and while we see hundred of bison and pronghorns, we do not see any wolves that day. Before leaving the park to spend the night in Cooke City, Sam surprises us with wine and cheese on a silver platter. The Start of Day 3 in Yellowstone We leave Cooke City at the crack of dawn to head into the park on an extremely cold morning to look for wolves. Wolves once neared extinction before being reintroduced from Canada. On a chilly September morning in the Lamar Valley, we drive until we spy a cluster of people watching a plain with telescopes. Sam pulls over and we spill out. Only 2 % of visitors see wolves in Yellowstone. On this group travel adventure, we saw a pack waking up. We ask if they’ve seen wolves and someone confirms there is at least one pack waking up in the valley. While our guide hunts for a spot to park, a couple asks if we want to look through their telescope to see them. This is something I loved about Yellowstone. There were many people who would happily help, pointing out wildlife, or letting you peek through a telescope, if necessary. Austin Adventures also had a spotting scope which we used to view moose and bison. After our wolf sighting, we leave Yellowstone to get breakfast in Cooke City, Montana. Before leaving Yellowstone for good, we head to Mammoth Hot Springs, an unexpected addition to the trip. Mammoth Hot Springs Mammoth Hot Springs and terraces consists of thousands of years old travertine platforms and ash cones, as well as steamy boardwalks. This section of the park is a stunning entry point to the marvels of Yellowstone. Watch out for the elk all over this small village. A lot of hiking trails begin in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Timing is Everything with Beartooth Highway Leaving Yellowstone is a hard pill to swallow, but we are timing this precisely, hoping to hit Beartooth Pass right around sunset for the best photos. Beartooth Pass is a 68-mile scenic byway winding up and over 10,000 foot mountains. The mountain itself called Beartooth looks exactly like a bear’s tooth. Beartooth Pass is often closed due to weather so we have timed this section of the trip perfectly. Luck is in our favour. Things to Know About the Tour Austin Adventures is pretty much an all inclusive affair. On a typical family group travel tour, accommodations, a custom itinerary, meals and fees for any excursions are all included. There is often one night free and one meal that you are on your own for, so bring a bit of cash for that. Also bring cash to tip your guide. The drive over Beartooth pass is one of those iconic American road trip adventures you must make at least once. It is, of course, scenic, but it’s also a drive that feels like it could have been ripped straight from a James Bond movie with hairpin turns and constant climbs. Million dollar views are everywhere you look on Beartooth. You Can’t Top Austin Adventures Adopt the pace of nature. With Austin Adventures, the group travel experience was close to perfect. It never once felt rushed and there’s no question that we gained so much by taking the journey with an attentive and knowledgeable guide. Accommodations were good, service was amazing, the itinerary was well organized and the guide was incredibly tuned into us and our environment. It’s easy to see why so many travellers return to Austin Adventures year after year. We all left wanting more, but knowing that we’d seen more than we ever expected to experience in Yellowstone. Austin’s Yellowstone Tour Details: Austin Adventures runs tours to Yellowstone from Bozeman Montana every week in the summer months. This particular trip was six days ending in Red Lodge, Montana so we could fly out of Billings Montana. What’s an Austin Adventures Yellowstone Tour Cost? All prices are in US. There are dozens of trips throughout the world via this family run tour group so pick a spot. The 2020 fee for a similar trip to Yellowstone is $2898 per adult and $2398 for kids. What is not included? One meal on one of the evenings, travel to the starting point, and tips for the guides ($100 – $150.) Don’t miss another of my travel companion’s posts here – > Cindy Richards of Traveling Mom Luxury Family Tour of Yellowstone. Huge thank you to Austin Adventures, and Sam Friedland!

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14 Things to Do in Billings Montana Now

Paula — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:04:27 +0000

I received complimentary admissions and food while on a tour of Billings Montana. Billings Montana, or Montana’s Trailhead, is poised at an interesting crossroads. The biggest city by population in the vast state of Montana, Billings is being reimagined. While this area has historically identified with cowboy culture, the great outdoors and the wild west, it is also embracing and investing in arts and culture, leading to a downtown core revitalization. More of a slow burn than an overnight transformation, the arts and history district, as well as museums and cultural venues in Billings are evolving. There are numerous cultural venues, museums and businesses thriving in downtown Billings and that is only expected to grow. With several arts district initiatives under way, the downtown core area might look quite different in the next five to ten years. A Few Things You Might Not Know About Billings Montana Helena is the capital of Montana, but Billings is the biggest city in Montana by population. People often move to Billings to escape the city. Some come from California and others from Denver area. Of course, many locals that grew up in Billings still live there too. Dan Austin of Austin Adventures calls Billings: “A great place to raise a family.” Recently, I had the chance to explore Billings Montana during a travel writer’s conference and on my first day I did a tour of the downtown arts and history district. The restaurants, museums, event venues and art studios were a surprise in the context of an industrial city. Here are several of the things I enjoyed doing while in Billings Montana. I did most of these in the few days that I had to explore before leaving on a Yellowstone and Wild West tour with Austin Adventures. What Can You Do In Billings Montana? Yellowstone Art Museum Frankly I was blown away by the Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM), which is built inside the former Yellowstone County Jail. The caliber of the exhibits is very high at the largest contemporary art museum in Montana. This is the kind of museum you could spend hours in easily, learning something new in every gallery. Food for thought around every single corner. Rumoured to be haunted, the Yellowstone Art Museum stands out because it features contemporary artists in a region where cowboy culture is the mainstay. If you are looking for things to do in Billings Montana, the YAM should be high on your list. Check out America The Beautiful by Clyde Butcher, a powerful series of 31 large format gelatin photographs spanning several US National Parks and the Everglades too. This collection is emotionally moving and Butcher’s story is heartbreaking. Read all of the descriptions and the biographical information about this American artist. There are several books about him in the gift shop. Over the years, as a travel writer, I’ve visited hundreds of museums. Some rely on an old school model of what a museum should be. With its curious architecture, engaging collections and clever community outreach, the YAM breaks free from the traditional mold. When I was there, the basement space displayed a collection entirely crafted by school kids. Imagine being a child and knowing your art is on display in a museum. Naturally all of the child’s relatives move heaven and earth to go and see that display and now a new pipeline of museum and arts enthusiasts is born. I have deep appreciation for museums on the cutting edge of change. The YAM is smart. Go visit and be sure to tour with a docent. Walkers Grill Local, sustainable food elevated by the vision of Executive Chef and General Manager Nick Steen. Steen jokes he “traded in scalpels for a chef’s knife.” He was planning to become a doctor at one point, but says he actually really wanted to be a ski bum. Steen lost a job and helped out at his child’s school with lunches and then also worked as a firefighter for a bit, before realizing he really wanted to be a chef. “My first day of work I cooked for Bill Gates and Tiger Woods at Big Sky.” One of only three restaurants in the city that serve local Montana beef, this should be your first spot to dine when you visit. We were treated to a three course lunch at Walkers Grill and cannot say enough about the menu and service here. Clever and creative cocktails, plus fresh flavourful appetizers grounded by local plants and vegetables and handmade biscuits. YUM. Try the Bolognese. It was my favourite part of the meal. The Historic Depot Billings is a city that was built around a railroad, which basically runs through the centre of the city. So, how do you design a downtown core around that when train tracks run right through the heart of the cultural district? Well, The Historic Depot has managed to figure out a peaceful coexistence highlighting the area’s history while also celebrating its location and origin every single time it is transformed into a vibrant event venue. There are numerous buildings that compose The Historic Depot; each one is transformed into something different regularly. The Depot itself has consistently been voted the #1 indoor wedding venue in Billings by the Reader’s Choice Awards. The depot is a nonprofit. As mentioned, there are several buildings here and one is a former post office, now rented out for various events. At Christmas, the non profit venue sets up a delightful, family friendly polar express. Another building is frequently rented out as a popup shop of sorts. Craft Beer Scene Of course, Billings Montana has a craft beer scene. Most major cities and destinations do right now as it is a huge draw for tourists and locals alike. Try UBERBREW, then go see the hops fence behind The Historic Depot. They also have a large home brewer’s association in Billings. Art Studios This was unexpected to me actually. There are dozens of artist’s studio’s in Billings Montana. So, when you are hunting for things to see and do art and artist studio tours must be at the top of any list. There are many well known writers, novelists and painters living here in Billings. It’s an affordable place to live if you are an artist and there is also a thriving performative spoken word art scene. I know, right? Quite a surprise indeed. Outdoor Art and Alley-scaping Alleyscaping. Until I visited Billings Montana I had never heard of alleyscaping. But, beautifying outdoor spaces and alleys too is a high level goal for the arts district here. Even one entire parking garage in downtown Billings Montana is painted with colourful scenes and figures making a functional space slightly whimsical and less grey. Harry Koyama, Fine Art Studio I’m obsessed with the doorway to Harry Koyama’s fine art studio and gallery and you will be too. Distressed wood door and a one of a kind sign hanging in the window pane set the tone for a creative experience inside. Koyama captures nature, wildlife and indigenous culture in his unique artworks. Ask him about his process when you visit. It is incredibly differentto me. He begins with photographs that be takes and then puts the image onto a thin piece of wood before transforming it into a majestic lifelike piece. MoAV Coffee Coolest spot to get a coffee, or so I thought, based on the coffee shops I found while there in Montana. Located at 1400 South 24th Street West the decor is modern with a shoutout to the industrial roots of the area. The coffees and lattes here are pure art. Also, as a coffee enthusiast I found it refreshing that the coffees and lattes here were rich and full bodied as well as pretty to look at. So, perfect combination of substance and style. Western Heritage Centre The Western Heritage Centre is a Montana museum chronicling the history of Yellowstone County. Inside a gorgeous old building, it’s worth visiting to learn a bit more about this area. Also, I was impressed with the people working here who clearly knew their stuff. Pictograph Cave State Park Located in Boilings Montana this is endless amounts of fun for families and kids. Home to generations of prehistoric hunters who left artifacts and drawings behind. ZooMontana Visit Montana’s only zoo and botanical gardens. Looking for something to do in Billings Montana with kids? This is a great way to spend the afternoon. There’s something extremely charming about this smaller city zoo where most of the animals are rescued and have some heart wrenching stories too. ZooMontana sits on 70 acres of land, but only uses roughly 26 of them. The Botanical Gardens and sensory garden at ZooMontana make a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding. The zoo is a nonprofit with heavy community involvement and two zoo preschools too. Bruno the bear, a rescued circus bear, ended up here at ZooMontana and so did Gable, a great horned owl, who flew into a power line and had a wing amputated. These are just two of the stories of the animals living at ZooMontana. The tigers here were owned by a roadside attraction and rescued. Visitors come to ZooMontana from all over the country and did you know that this zoo was just accredited again? Try to spy the two wolverines at ZooMontana. With only about 40 zoos that have wolverines, they are unique residents. The zoo employs about 20 people, with 8-9 zookeepers. The Sassy Biscuit Picture all the southern biscuits turned into sandwiches with fried chicken, bacon and bacon jelly. Or waffles….OMG, this is a spot you better not miss. Don’t lose your mind here, but if I am being completely honest I am not a biscuit or bread kind of girl. However, these biscuits are not any old biscuits. They are sassy and the best I have ever tasted. Located in downtown Billings, this is an adorable and fun atmosphere inside. Moss Mansion Moss Mansion tells the story of one of Billings’ most famous families and how the city was built. A turn of the century home built in 1903 by New York architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, this mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Get Outside – Yellowstone River Embrace the outdoors because you are in Montana for Pete’s Sake! Walk or bike the numerous trails and take advantage of Yellowstone River, the longest free flowing river in the lower 48 states and go fishing! Check out these Montana Books if you are planning a trip. Get Them Here Before You Go – > Backroads and Byways of Montana.

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