Yellowstone Natl. Park Page 5 (last page)

Madison-on the upperwest side of the figure 8 park. If you decide to drive to the west entrance (West Yellowstone town). I have never been on that road that there wasn't a herd of elk grazing in the meadow along the road. The town of West Yellowstone is a great visit, also. Madison area is a nice place to check on, especially the Ranger Visitor center. Now, going south from Madison towards Old Faithful (that everyone comes to see) look for a sign to Firehole Canyon Drive and bring your swimming suit with you that day and have it handy. It's a beautiful drive and when you get back there you will find a little old dressing shack. Use it and swim in the wonderful old geyser heated water hole. Another thing I don't think you will find on the Internet or the park paper. They don't advertise it but it's there to use. After your swim keep going south and you will end up at the famous Old Faithful geyser that "blows" up regularly within a few minutes of the posted time. Located on the lower west side of the figure 8. They have benches to set on and get the camera ready while you wait. If you arrive right after it went up you have an hour to tour beauiful OLD FAITHFUL Inn & Store. They also have a Ranger movie worth seeing. It's worth your trip to see such a marvel. You will see geysers all over the park but none as regular and spectacular as the "old girl". You may have noticed by now that several major places are in bold and capitalized. Those are where I recommend you make your reservations if you have at least 4 nights (2 on the upper loop & 2 on the lower) to spend in the park instead of calling up there and just staying at one place the whole time. You will waste too much time on the road driving back & forth. This way you will have a whole day (or two if you have more time) to investigate the area you are staying at. Lots to see everywhere and you want to make every minute count. Driving out the east entrance to Cody, WY (53 miles) is a beautiful drive and the little town has a wonderful museum. Lots antique old guns, etc. The largest collection of Winchester rifles in the country. North entrance is (52 miles) to Bozeman, Montana which is a great place to visit. The south entrance (if you came in to Yellowstone at one of the other entrances) is (55 miles) from Jackson Hole really called Jackson, WY if you want to call there for a plane trip to ski in the winter, etc. Get in the habit of looking for the Visitor's center or Chamber of Commerce in any town you go through on your trip & the Visitor's center when you cross a state line. Everywhere in this wonderful country has great things to see. If you go, and I hope you do, please post me a note telling me about it. Everyone in this great country should visit sometime in their lifetime our 1st national park that started our whole National Park system. Thanks for the forsight of those wonderful leaders so many years ago. I think I mentioned in one of the other pages about driving over from Jackson Hole on Highway 22 to the other side of the Teton's and see them from the Idaho side. Driving over the mountain is a breathtaking view. There is a place to stop and hike, take pictures or just "look". On your way over there shortly out of Jackson is a town called Wilson and if you would like to eat the best trout you have ever eaten rolled in finely chopped pecans eat at Nora's Fish Creek Inn. If you drive a little further north from Victor (where you drank your Huckleberry shake at the old drug store) on the Idaho side. The view of the Teton's doesn't even look like the same mountain and you will be in beautiful flat farming country. Have a wonderful trip. Jeanette
Ideas for next years trip will be next - Olympic National Park in Washington state.