In the famed Lamar Valley … bison. In the middle of the two-lane road … bison. In the middle of the parking lot??? Yep, bison. Bison, buffalo … bah! Whatever you call them, they’re everywhere at Yellowstone National Park.

What a wondrous, diverse place – some parts composed of serene forest and lakes, other areas a roiling, boiling, bubbling muck of a landscape. 3,500 square miles teeming with animals and plants of all flavors, waterfalls that capture the imagination, a backcountry that’s larger than multiple U.S. states, and – oh yeah – the largest volcanic caldera on earth.

Our intrepid tour group attempted to tackle ... Read More

Before my recent trip to Cody, Wyoming and Yellowstone, I decided to “road trip it” and see a few other things on my way.  One of the places I decided to stop was a little roadside attraction called Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s never been on my priority list of national parks, but it provided an unrivaled opportunity to see the Rockies in their natural, unspoiled state and a few hard lessons on altitude sickness.

First thing first- the altitude! My hometown has an elevation of an entire 705 feet. The Alpine Visitor’s Center in the park is at 11,796 feet. I’ve driven through mountains with no ill effect, but I attempted a half mile hike at the Alpine Visitor’s Center and thought I was going to keel over on the side of... Read More

Question: Sue asks: We are planning to drive from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to Mount Rushmore and then to Yellowstone. I am finding that hotels at Yellowstone are already booked and wonder what other lodging recommendations are reasonably close. Is Cody too far away? Any insight on "must-see" areas would be appreciated.

Answer: Suzy Peterson, travel planner at the Sioux Falls AAA office says: Cody is approximately 115 miles and a 2 1/2 drive from Yellowstone. It is a great place to stay even though it’s a bit of a drive back and forth.

Things to see in Yellowstone National Park include the majestic Lower Falls of the Yellowstone... Read More