THE JOURNEY MAKING PLANS Home to the world’s largest concentration of geothermal features (more than 10,000 in total), North America’s largest high-elevation lake and hundreds of species of wildlife, the 3,400-square-mile park (larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined) is a gargantu-an attraction. We knew it was going to be difficult to see everything in one single trip, so we came up with a list of can’t-miss sights, which included Old Faithful (of course), Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. Months before hitting the road, we also had to decide where to stay. Lodging and camp-grounds fill up quickly, particularly during the busy summer months. We reserved two nights at Grant Village , a rustic lodge near Yellow-stone’s South Entrance and one night at the historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins . The park is full of lodging and campground options, but Grant Village and Lake Hotel’s proximity to the things we wanted to see and Yellowstone’s South and East entrances made them ideal headquarters for our adventures. As a rookie wilderness explorer, packing for Yellowstone was challenging. Gavin, who introduced my hesitant soul to camping and appreciating the great outdoors, argued for comfort, so I packed some of my favorite cot-ton shirts and sweaters, cozy pants and a light jacket. No hard-core hiking clothing or gear was necessary, he assured me. From our home in Boulder, Colorado, the road to Yel-lowstone is lined with small frontier towns, blond wheat fields and grassy farmland peppered with herds of pronghorn and tail-wagging cattle. Keen on catching a glimpse of Grand Teton National Park, we chose a route that would take us through Jackson Hole , the gateway to the Teton Range. By afternoon, we found ourselves driving through Jackson, where 1890s-era wooden sidewalks, elk-antler arches and blocks of pre-served buildings begged us to stop and stroll. With our hearts set on finding a viewing spot of the Tetons and reaching Yellowstone before dark, we drove on. Less than half an hour later, we marveled at the spiky, snow-streaked peaks of Grand Teton National Park from the side of the road amid a small group of bison, who nonchalantly grazed just feet from the scenic pullout as onlookers eagerly snapped photos. We made it to Yellowstone’s South Entrance before dark to check into Grant Village Lodge. Our room had everything we needed, includ-ing a small sitting area, queen bed equipped with warm blankets, convenient one-cup cof-fee maker and a bathroom with a small shower and hair dryer (Yay!). We grabbed a quick bite at The Lake House restaurant, just a five-minute walk from our room. In the casual dining hall nestled on the banks of glistening Yellowstone Lake, smiling servers dished up heaping bowls of pasta, broth-soaked noodles, salads and wings, wel-coming comfort food after our long voyage. 16 Wyoming Official Travelers Journal
Wyoming Official Travel Guide 2017 Wyoming OTJ: Page 16
