Vacations Blog

Me and my husband at Lewis Falls - Yellowstone National Park, August 2009.

My husband and I visited Yellowstone National Park earlier this year. We tend to over-prepare for any vacation we partake of, and the road trip that took us on a round-trip total of 3,026 miles was a fine example of obsessive preparedness.

Since I had never been to Wyoming, and my husband’s visit was during his childhood, I purchased a guide book that came highly recommended to me – Yellowstone Treasures – The Traveler’s Companion to the National Park.

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The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, WY, features “five museums under one roof”.

The Whitney Gallery of Western Art is a large gallery featuring paintings and artwork of historic and modern western scenes, landscapes, and wildlife. It’s currently featuring Thomas Moran’s massive “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” (8 feet high and 14 feet long), on loan from the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum.

The Cody Firearms Museum houses “the most comprehensive assemblage of American firearms in the world”. It is a vast collection of firearms ranging from the onset of ancient weaponry through to modern times. There are currently more than six thousand weapons on display, and another five thousand items related to weaponry.

The Plains Indian Museum is resplendent with displays, artifacts, and demonstrations related to the history and culture of the Plains Indians. The majority of the collection features items from 1880-1930, and tells a vivid tale of the transition from plains to reservation life.

The Draper Museum of Natural History describes the natural history of Yellowstone County and surrounding areas. It features local wildlife displays, biological and geological studies of Yellowstone National Park, and combines exhibits and educational programming to enrich the experience for visiting youngsters.

Finally, the Buffalo Bill Museum offers a fascinating look into the life and times of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. This legendary fixture in American history and Wild West culture comes to life in a vast collection of photos, maps, personal items, clothing, and recreated scenes. Visitors gain an invaluable insight into what it was like to live in the Western US in the 1800’s, when settlers arrived in droves to discover the west and participate in the gold rush.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is located at 720 Sheridan Avenue in Cody, Wyoming. Entrance fees are $15 for adults (bring your AAA card and save!), $13 for students (aged 13-17, or 18+ with college ID), $10 for youths, children under five are free, and a Family Rate (1 or 2 adults w/children 17 & under living in the same household) is $45. The single entrance fee gives you access into all five museums. Refreshments are available at the on-site Mustang Grill and Pony Express-o. Hours vary by season, so be sure to check the schedule.

Photo Credits (all): Laura Charon.

A shot of our truck from the side of the road in Grand Teton National Park.

ONE:  Hotel patrons who arrive, unwashed and disheveled and barefoot and sometimes even in their PAJAMAS (grown-ups AND children), to partake of the hotel’s breakfast.  You’re not at home.  Groom yourself, or at least put some clothes on.

TWO: Long stretches of highway that contain nary a rest stop.  We don’t want to have to pull of at some random exit, guess at which direction to turn, and drive for an unknown distance, in order to find a restaurant or gas station or handy gully in which to do the necessary.

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The 2009 Harley Street Glide that we rented, with the Grand Tetons in the background.

If you have yet to visit the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, I suggest that you hasten forthwith and plan a trip as soon as possible.  For it is within this park that you can witness a story like the following unfold before your very eyes.

My husband and I stayed for several days at Teton Village, which is just south of the boundary into the Grand Teton National Park. We rented a motorcycle for two of those days, and had an incredible experience exploring all corners of the park. At the end of one particularly long day of riding, we were heading back toward our hotel via Rt. 26/89/191, along the east side of the park, north of Jackson Hole. All of a sudden, my husband’s helmet-muffled, “Hey!” and pointing finger turned my attention to the right side of the road, where we saw this:

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The Cody Nite Rodeo Arena

Of all the places we visited during our Epic Summer Road Trip, one of our favorite towns was Cody, Wyoming. Cody is located 53 miles from the East Entrance into Yellowstone National Park, making it an ideal jumping-off point for day trips into the park. But there are plenty of interesting things to do in the town itself, making it a great vacation destination in its own right.

A cowboy at the Cody Nite Rodeo, hanging on!

The second night we were in town, we attended the Cody Nite Rodeo. Since Cody is appropriately named “The Rodeo Capital of the World”, we figured this was one event we couldn’t miss. This rodeo is performed every single evening from June 1st through August 31st, every year since 1938.

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Well, we’re back. Ten days, 3026 miles, and 912 pictures later. I’d like to summarize my trip with some favorite pictures from each day and each stop along our route. Rest assured, you will all be regaled with details over the coming weeks!

7/30: A long-haul drive – Phoenix, AZ to Salt Lake City, UT. The picture is of the Painted Desert in northern Arizona, taken from the truck as we drove along.

7/31: Another long-haul drive – Salt Lake City, UT to Teton Village, WY; exploring Jackson Hole, WY. The first picture is of downtown Jackson Hole with a view of the Jackson Hole ski area. The second picture is of downtown Jackson Hole, by the entrance to the Town Square (one of the famous Elk Antler Arches can be seen to the left).

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The Old Faithful Inn, in Yellowstone National Park.

The Old Faithful Inn is everything that all of the documentaries, Travel Channel specials, magazines, and hundreds of publications say it is. It’s beautiful. Picturesque. Stunning. Historic.

It’s also a darned uncomfortable place to spend the night.

I must say that when my husband and I first set off on our Epic Road Trip, we didn’t expect our stay at the Old Faithful Inn to be the lowlight of our vacation. So here’s a perspective you probably won’t hear very often:

Four Reasons NOT To Stay at the Old Faithful Inn:
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Hello, all! I’m writing this during our Epic Road Trip, from my hotel room in Teton Village, near Jackson, WY. We’re right on the doorstep of the Grand Teton National Park. My husband and I just returned from journeying the length of the park, so before I crash for a well-deserved nap, I thought I would share a few of the scenes from today’s adventures.

Bridge across Cottonwood Creek, with Tetons in the background. Pic taken at the Jenny Lake Visitor's Center in Grand Teton National Park.

Cottonwood creek, with the Tetons in the background, shot from the Jenny Lake Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park.

A moose, pic shot from a road bridge using the zoom lens. Moose Junction turn-off, Grand Teton National Park.

I’ll continue to post as I get the chance, and share this wonderful experience with you all. It’s truly a stunning setting, and we’re having the time of our lives.