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Location: Texas | My husband and I didn't get to go on a honeymoon when we got married last July, so we are now planning a trip for our one year anniversary this summer. We both love the outdoors and would like to get away from this South Texas heat, so we agreed that a visit to Yellowstone National Park sounded perfect.
Can anyone give me some suggestions for lodging, activities, must-see's in Montana and Wyoming (or within a reasonable driving distance)? We will be making the trip mid-July, so maybe we can catch some of the big rodeos? |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Cheyenne Frontier Days is last week of July I think, get a hotel far in advance though as they fill up fast. Cody is right out of Yellowstone and I think they have nightly rodeos. Casper might have a pro rodeo in July, not sure. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
  
Location: Bandera, TX | I'm a S. TX girl myself but I will answer you. Start at Jackson and work your way up. I love the drive up the Snake and into Yellowstone thru the Tetons.
I would allow at least a week in the park. Go slow and see lots. Rodeo's are all around the park that time of year. But the drive away from the park will take away from your time there unless you plan on getting to them going into and leaving. Redlodge is the closest rodeo and on the NE corner of YSP. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 104
Location: Southern Michigan | I went to College in Dillon, MT and I LOVE that area. I would definitely suggest Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons aren't too far away either. Glacier park is breath taking, but probably too far of a hike away. Also The badlands are one of my favorites. If I could have my dream vacation, I'd hit up western South Dakota-across northern Wyoming hitting up the western towns, going into Yellowstone & Tetons. The anywhere in west-south/west Montana is breathtaking. Virginia City, Nevada City are fun little ghost town attractions. Hope you have a great time! |
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Location: Texas | Thank you all for the info! Any suggestion where to fly into/out of? Or places to stay that would have more "honeymoon" vibe rather than "family vacation" vibe? Lol, I have been doing some research and it seems like a lot of the accomodations are geared toward attracting large groups... don't really want to be surrounded by large groups of children! :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 512
| Highly recommend the Tetons!! Breath taking! Spent two summers there :) Prefer the Tetons over Yellowstone. Yellowstone is super crowded. You should not go in June as it is the rainy season. July and August and perfect weather! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: So Cal | We stayed in Jackson Hole for 2 days in the middle of a road trip from Cali-Canada and back, and it was my favorite part. It was a last minute decision so we ended up having to spend a lot on a room, but it was totally worth it and I would recommend where we stayed... It was the Rustic Inn, it is right on a creek, you can get a really nice log cabin type room. The creek is cute and we sat out there for awhile. Also the cabin was great, one of those fake fireplaces, nice bed, etc.
We also drove around the park and saw the Tetons, beautiful!!! We also went up some lift thing on one of the mountains, sorry for not knowing what it was but it's up above some resort and took us to a height where there was a little snow in August. Also beautiful!!! Can find out specifics if you want, my bf's brother lives there so knew all the places to have us go. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | I have been through that area.... Right after the big fires swept through.. It was still a wonderful place to see and right out the South gate is Jackson Hole and the Tetons... Yes.. Have a good time...  |
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Location: Texas | I looked up the Rustic Inn and it's beautiful! Thanks for the suggestion turnnburnkota. I'd appreciate any and all info you can give me! |
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Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: So Cal | Ok so it's the tram from Teton Village (there are hotels at the base, also). We had free passes, but apparently it's like $30- kind of a lot but pretty cool. |
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Elvis has left the building!
Posts: 2514
| Chief Joseph Scenic highway between Cody and the Northeast gate of Yellowstone through Cooke City MT is a beautiful drive. Recommend it highly if you can make it. Cody does have nightly rodeos then and Casper rodeo is in July also. Cheyenne also toward the end of July I think. If you have the time fly into Denver and drive to Wyoming from there. Will see it all then! |
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | I would go to Jackson over Yellowstone any day but if you are a first timer it is pretty neat to go to the park.
There is a rodeo every Wednesday and Saturday in Jackson and there is also the nightly rodeo in Cody. If you make it Jackson take the tram up the mountain for sure! There is also an Elk refuge as you are making your way out of town towards the park.
My grandma is from Jackson so I have spent a lot of time there. If I could afford to live there that is where I would be. |
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Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | Also Cody has a shoot out in town a few time everyday along with the museum. They also have trolly tours around town. |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | We are going to yellowstone in June. We are going to stay in west yellowstone Montana and drive in and out of the park. There are quite a few campgrounds and cabins up there and it looks beautiful!
Hope you enjoy your trip! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 439
Location: Ohio | We live in Ohio and rented an RV and drove all the way to CA and back! Stopped MANY places along the way.... We started out July 4th!! We went to the Fronteir Days and watched the rodeo and went downtown and just walked/shopped... We then made out way up to the Tetons... We visited Jackson Hole which was great! The Million Dollar Saloon is a place you have to visit! Jackson Hole is amazing but a bit pricey on the clothing. We rafted in the Tetons and then drove up and camped at in Yellowstone. My advise is to NOT set a schedule! That way you are not rushed to get somewhere in case you are enjoying where you are at! You could drive for days in Yellowstone and NOT see everything! We did go to a part of teh river that was fed by a hot spring and swam! It was pretty fun but very crowded. After that we made out way to Oregon and camped there.... Which, I honestly had a better time in Oregon that Yellowstone. In oregon it seemed like you could dive an hour in any direction and see a different terrain! This year will be out third trip back to Oregon! I know southren Oregon has several bands of wild horses! Even Crater Lake was a place everyone should see!
I say just plan a road trip and enjoy your time! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1053
Location: Arizona | My husband is from that area and I we Honeymooned up there. We flew in and out of Jackson Hole. We stayed our first night in Jackson and then the next day we drove through the park and out the north side in to MT. I HIGHLY recommend a stay at Chico Hot Springs in Pray, MT. www.chicohotsprings.com. My husband's family friends own the resort and it was AMAZING! They have a natural hot springs pool that is super cool. We did a little fishing along the river there too. After a few nights stay, we drove back through the park a different way and stayed a few more nights in Jackson. We stayed at a bed and breakfast/guest ranch type thing but I can't remember the name. |
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Location: Texas | You guys are awesome! Giving me some great ideas!
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1053
Location: Arizona | I almost forgot, you HAVE to raft the Snake river too. There are outfits in downtown Jackson that schedule the trips. There's a really fun luge thing right in Jackson that we went and rode. We also rode the tram up to the top of the mountain in Teton Village, went to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the Ripley's Believe it or Not. |
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Location: Texas | azleigh - 2014-04-16 11:22 AM My husband is from that area and I we Honeymooned up there. We flew in and out of Jackson Hole. We stayed our first night in Jackson and then the next day we drove through the park and out the north side in to MT. I HIGHLY recommend a stay at Chico Hot Springs in Pray, MT. www.chicohotsprings.com. My husband's family friends own the resort and it was AMAZING! They have a natural hot springs pool that is super cool. We did a little fishing along the river there too. After a few nights stay, we drove back through the park a different way and stayed a few more nights in Jackson. We stayed at a bed and breakfast/guest ranch type thing but I can't remember the name.
Lol, Chico is one of the resorts that I had looked up, but had crossed it off my list because all the photos of the hot spring pool showed it crowded with children! I know that doesn't sound very nice, but we don't have kids yet and want this vacation to be quiet, restful and romantic... do they have a more "mature" area at this resort? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1053
Location: Arizona | vthayer - 2014-04-16 9:56 AM
azleigh - 2014-04-16 11:22 AM My husband is from that area and I we Honeymooned up there. We flew in and out of Jackson Hole. We stayed our first night in Jackson and then the next day we drove through the park and out the north side in to MT. I HIGHLY recommend a stay at Chico Hot Springs in Pray, MT. www.chicohotsprings.com. My husband's family friends own the resort and it was AMAZING! They have a natural hot springs pool that is super cool. We did a little fishing along the river there too. After a few nights stay, we drove back through the park a different way and stayed a few more nights in Jackson. We stayed at a bed and breakfast/guest ranch type thing but I can't remember the name.
Lol, Chico is one of the resorts that I had looked up, but had crossed it off my list because all the photos of the hot spring pool showed it crowded with children! I know that doesn't sound very nice, but we don't have kids yet and want this vacation to be quiet, restful and romantic... do they have a more "mature" area at this resort?
I think some of the rooms might have private spas. I can't remember. But there is no designated adult area. There were kids there but I don't remember feeling overwhelmed by them and they certainly weren't running around all over. I guess it just wasn't something we were worried about. A bed and breakfast may be your best bet. But if you could stand it for one night, I highly recommend Chico. It's just an awesome place! |
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Yellowstone Vacation - MT & WY people, info please