Besides its geysers, don’t forget Yellowstone’s own Grand Canyon and falls
5. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Depart Cody and travel to Yellowstone National Park – in addition to its amazing geological wonders and abundant wildlife, Yellowstone is also of great historical significance. In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant designated Yellowstone the world’s first national park, to be set aside and enjoyed by all for generations to come... You’ll stay in two different parts of the park, beginning with Lake Yellowstone Hotel; built in 1891, this elegant, historic hotel features a sun room and dining room with views of Yellowstone Lake, the largest high altitude lake in North America. Have a bite of lunch here before an afternoon of sightseeing in the park. Tonight dine à la carte in your choice of hotel dining rooms. Meals BLD
FACES IN THE ROCK
It all started with a dream – and determination. In 1923, South Dakota State Historical Society member Doane Robinson had a vision of a massive mountain memorial depicting legendary Western heroes that would put his state on the map – think Buffalo Bill Cody, Chief Red Cloud, Lewis and Clark. Mounting a rock-solid PR campaign, he eventually enticed the prolific – and similarly strong-minded – sculptor Gutzon Borglum into the fold. But instead of immortalising regional figures into the Black Hills granite “needles,” Borglum declared that this project, which he rightfully deemed would be his life’s work, demanded a subject that was national in scope and historically timeless. He dug in (figuratively) before getting his way, and digging (literally) the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt
6. GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE This morning set out on a guided tour of some of Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders: hot springs, waterfalls, fumaroles, and mudpots. Wend your way along Lower Grand Loop Road, through three of the largest geyser basins, and to the Fountain Paint Pot – bubbling pools of paint-like, multicoloured silica that look like they belong on another planet! And prepare for a surprise when you arrive at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It doesn’t get as much press as its more celebrated namesake, but it’s just as awe-inspiring in its own way. The canyon plunges some 300 metres to the rushing Yellowstone River and is filled with breathtaking gorges and torrential waterfalls. You’ll also traverse Hayden Valley, originally a lake bed and now a vast plain that attracts herds of roaming bison. Arrive at the Old Faithful Inn for lunch and an overnight stay; a national landmark built in 1904, the log and wood-shingle inn is a rustic work of art, featuring a towering lobby and a massive stone fireplace. Head out this afternoon to explore the Upper Geyser Basin – where you’ll find one of the largest concentrations of geysers in the world. Old Faithful, the famous clockwork geyser, is steps from your door. Meals BLD
in rock at the site of his choice, Mount Rushmore. Borglum and some 400 skilled workers toiled “by the sweat of their brow” for 14 years to complete the sculpture, now a National Memorial administered by the National Park Service. When you see the size of the presidents’ brows alone, you might come away with a new perspective on that saying... and of their work.
7. TOWN OF JACKSON & THE GRAND TETONS Drive through Yellowstone National Park and on to Grand Teton National Park, where you’ll pause at Jenny Lake, a tranquil blue centrepiece in a landscape of jagged peaks and alpine forest. The lake was named after an American Indian woman who married an Englishman in the late 19th century; you can see the reflection of the mountains on the surface of the water. Arrive in the town of Jackson, which was once a magnet for fur trappers, and is now a trendy attraction for lovers of mountain vistas, with the Tetons as a backdrop. Explore the town on your own – there are some great places for lunch – then settle in at historic Jackson Lake Lodge for two nights. One of the most amazing features of the lodge is its dramatic lobby where windows 18 metres high provide stunning panoramic views of the breathtaking Teton Range, among the most picturesque and widely photographed mountains in the world. Meals BD
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