My husband, my parents, and I embarked on a two-week trek across Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and South Dakota. I devoted months to meticulously researching on Google Maps to locate the finest rest stops, roadside shops, and eateries.
I relish having a meticulously planned itinerary with backup plans and an abundance of activities! For this trip, I had everything scheduled to the minute, but by Day 2, I had almost abandoned the plan entirely.
Having a schedule is comforting; it gives me peace of mind. However, I tend to bypass certain stops if we're feeling weary or if we're falling behind schedule.
The main thing I discovered was that Yellowstone in the spring can be full of surprises. I had planned for two days, but one of them had to be adjusted because of potential road closures. Originally, we intended to visit the Upper Loop on the first day, but this had to be altered two days prior to our departure due to a section of the Upper Loop being partially closed. Consequently, I quickly sprang into action and came up with a new strategy to maximize our Yellowstone experience in just one day, beginning with the Lower Loop.
As we are not avid hikers, we mainly visited viewpoints near the road and took short walks to enjoy the scenery. Taking into account the 2-hour time difference, I managed to get everyone ready and out of the condo early in the morning. By mid-morning, we had completed the Lower Loop and even had time to witness Old Faithful's eruption perfectly timed.
Upon beginning the Upper Loop, we quickly realized that the online NPS map was inaccurate and the entire loop was accessible. We encountered an abundance of wildlife sightings, including numerous bison, elk, and even bears! Knowing how rare bear sightings are, I was astonished to witness not just one, but four in a single day!
Next time I'll share my thoughts from our next destination: The Grand Tetons! You don't want to miss this, so don't forget to subscribe!
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