After seeing most of the famous spots in Yellowstone on our recent trip, looking back, the Biscuit Basin area was actually one of my favorites. In contrast to the close-by areas like Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful, Biscuit Basin was just as beautiful in my opinion and way less crowded which made it a lot easier to enjoy. From colorful hot springs to boiling water to small geysers, this area was a pleasant surprise!
Happy 4th of July to all the Americans out there! And what better way to celebrate our national holiday with a post about an American landmark – Yellowstone! So if you’re headed towards this famous US landmark, here’s everything you need to know before visiting Yellowstone!
I wasn’t sure what to expect at Yellowstone National Park, and while Nick had been as a kid, neither of us really had any idea what we’d think of our time there. We had two days in the park and afterwards, I can say that we definitely learned a lot about this famous National Park.
One thing we found on our first day when we went into the park mid-day, it’s a way better plan to go super early and leave around mid-day. The tour buses and vans full of people between 11am and 3pm were a little chaotic and it felt like Disneyland at a lot of the famous spots. We found it was way better to get up early and be in the park for sunrise and stay until around 11am or Noon, then head out of the park when it’s the busiest.
I didn’t quite realize how expansive Yellowstone is and how far each of the famous spots are from each other so expect to be driving a lot.
The signage in the park isn’t great and doesn’t call out everything you might be looking for, so be sure to bring a map. There also isn’t cell service in most of the park, so a paper map is a must!
Bison are everywhere in the park and while the first few times we saw them I got super excited, after awhile, we ended up saying “oh another bison.” We had high hopes of seeing other wildlife and headed to the areas where people suggested we’d see some, but we didn’t find much else. I think to see a lot of the wildlife in the park, a tour specifically for that might be your best bet.
There is not nearly enough parking at the main spots in Yellowstone considering the tour buses take up a ton of it, so people were parked way down the road from the main areas. We found it was faster to park on the road and walk in rather than sit for 10 years in the very crowded parking lots.
At the main spots, be prepared to do quite a bit of walking once you arrive and park. For example, the Morning Glory Pool that’s at the area around Old Faithful is a solid 2-ish mile walk back in there which we weren’t expecting. So where clothes that you’re comfortable walking in.
The weather in Yellowstone can range from really cold to really high in one day. Our days in early June started out really cold, in the high 20’s and got up to the 80’s during the peak of the day, so layers are key to stay warm in the morning and then shed them as it gets hotter. Also wear lots of sunscreen as you’re out walking a lot and the sun can be quite strong.
After 7 full days in the car on our road trip from Portland to Yellowstone and a number of places in between, I feel like I’m a road trip expert. This trip was really different for us than our usual travels and it definitely took some getting used to. And while at the end, we were so ready to be home and out of the car, here are my tips for a long road trip, some we did, some we wish we would have done to make the most out of it!
We were in the car for multiple hours a day so snacks and drinks were an important necessity. The places were were going didn’t always have a lot of restaurants, so we brought stuff that would keep us filled up while out and about. We also brought a cooler with drinks and filled it with ice every day in our hotels so they would stay cold.
Long hours driving can be really wearing, so Nick and I switched off driving along the way. Sometimes he’d drive one day and I’d drive the next, or we’d switch on and off during the same driving day. Whatever you system is, switch off driving so you both get to be behind the wheel.
On this drive, there were a ton of places we didn’t have cell phone service so a paper map came in really handy. We just bought a Western United States map before we left so that we had at least something we could rely on when we didn’t have service. We only had to use it a couple times, but when we needed it, we were sure glad we had it.
Car chargers are a must for a long road trip, without them our phones would have been dead and our directions lost. Be sure to have enough for however many people you have in the car!
This is one thing I wish we would have done better actually. Every night going into new hotels, it got really tiring taking up all our luggage. We had a lot more than usual as we went through a ton of different climates and we were gone for a while, plus Nick had a ton of camera gear and then all our drinks, etc. I wish we could have found a better way to consolidate so you’re not carrying so much into hotels every night.
One thing I wish we would have done better was to add a few more 2-night stays to our itinerary. We did stay two nights in Kalispell outside Glacier National Park which was really nice but I would have liked to have done 2 nights in Bozeman and perhaps 2 nights in Ketchum on the end as well so that it gave us more time to just unpack and relax a bit. So for the future, I would add more 2 night stays in certain destinations.
In this world of constant chaos and heartbreak, of emotional roller coasters and humanity at it’s breaking point each and every day, I constantly find myself wondering if all the generations before us have felt this way too. If people back in Ancient Greece found themselves feeling the same emotions we’re feeling now or if the people that built Machu Picchu felt the same struggles we do now. And as I wonder how humanity sometimes endures through everything and how often it feels unsafe to even leave your house, it always brings me back to the one thing in the world that does bring safety and joy, and that is love.
Love brings a hope to the world that we desperately need. Love has the power to bring people together, to open our hearts and minds and to really deeply know other people in a bond that changes us. The truth is, I get disheartened, I get distracted, I get angry at how the world works but at the end of the day when I think hope might be lost, I look at Nick and the love that we share, as husband and wife, as best friends and I remember how powerful love really is and how much love can actually heal.
The truth is that love is hard, it’s messy and complicated. And then we add marriage and jobs and responsibilities and mortgages and love can become fragile, it takes constant attention, it takes hope. It takes faith.
So as we celebrate Nick’s 31st birthday today, I can’t help but think about how much his love for me and mine for him gives me hope for not only our futures, but the future of our world. Love if we let it, if we put the energy into it and give it the chance, can truly heal the world and bring us together. So as we celebrate love today, may we all celebrate love everyday and have faith that it will change the world.
Happy birthday my love! May the year ahead bring you more happiness and joy than you thought possible!
When we were planning our itinerary en route to Yellowstone, we stopped over in Glacier National Park on the way East. As we were looking at the map to get from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone, we realized Bozeman, Montana was right on the way and knew we should stop there as Nick has family in the area. We booked a night there en route to Yellowstone, though in hindsight, it would have been nice to have a couple days in Bozeman as it turned out to be a super charming little town and we really enjoyed our time there. To start with, heading to Bozeman from Glacier National Park, we relished in the gorgeous Montana countryside in this area. Along with a night in downtown Bozeman, we explored the surrounding area which brings beauty all its own as well as the charm of the downtown area of the city.
We also took the opportunity in the open areas near Bozeman to get the drone out and see more of the countryside which opened up a whole new level of beauty to see everything from the air! If you’re in the area, even if you’re just spending 24 hours in Bozeman, it’s a fantastic idea!
Rice Thai restaurant
Wild Joe’s coffee
Wander the downtown area
Co-op grocery store
Explore the surrounding countrysides (and stop to play with horses and llamas!)
Amidst the chaos in the world these days and on our way home from Yellowstone, after 7 days of exploring the amazing landscapes we call home on this planet, the US president pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement. As we read that news on our drive home, I realized I find myself thinking more and more about the importance of responsible travel and how important it is for all of us to pick up that torch.
I don’t mean in the sense of being safe, being responsible people while traveling, but going beyond our normal courteous travel habits, going deeper in an effort to make sure that while traveling, we’re also being kind to this planet we call home and the places we see while traveling. You see, I think a majority of people my age as millennials will agree that climate change is real, carbon emissions are real, and green energy is the way of the future. Being in the design industry in a very sustainable state in Oregon, I know first hand how much damage we can do to the planet in the way we build, in the way we use energy. A lot of my day job as an interior designer is working with LEED, a green design standard in building and seeing how we can build buildings to cause less harm to this one and only planet we live on. And with so much going on in our government in the US these days, who seemingly doesn’t agree with the majority of the country on issues like sustainability, it’s becoming vitally important as citizens of this planet, we start realizing how much of impact each of us can have even on our own. And if, like me, travel makes up a big part of your life, it’s important that responsible travel also become more and more part of our routines.
To get down to it, travel isn’t very sustainable as it exists now. Air travel has a huge carbon footprint and relies on releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Once we get to a destination, we’re driving in cars using oil, we’re staying in hotels that require an enormous amount of energy to run. Overall, travel isn’t very “green.” However, that’s not to say that it can’t be or that we can’t offset some of the harms of travel to the planet in order to continue to see this beautiful Earth we call home.
When I travel, I’m constantly amazed at how incredible this planet is. From the coastlines of Australia to the lavender fields of Provence to the glaciers of Alaska to the mountain peaks of Peru, this planet is simply stunning and worth protecting. And it starts with us as travelers, to help protect this planet we reside on and here’s how we can help do that.
If possible, walking or taking public transportation like trains is a lot more ec0-friendly than driving while traveling. And if you have to drive, see if your rental car company offers a hybrid or battery powered car over gas.
There are an increasing number of hotels headed in a sustainable direction, whether registering their buildings with LEED, which is a green building rating system or just going the eco-friendly route. If you have a choice between an eco-friendly or LEED hotel, versus something else, you can support the environment by staying there over a conventional hotel.
This is good advice for everywhere, at home too, but even more important when traveling to countries that have water scarcities, but using water wisely is super important. Use it only when needed, for example when brushing your teeth, turn it off in between rinses or take a little bit shorter shower – you’d be amazed at home much water is saved just by doing those 2 things on the regular basis!
This goes to both the sustainability of the planet as well as the economics of travel. Buying local products is both great for local business and their economy as well as not releasing more energy into the atmosphere to ship a product from elsewhere. Buy local whenever you possibly can!
When you’re out for the day, be sure to turn off lights in your hotel room or AirBnB or when you’re out driving and pull over to the side of the road – turn off your car instead of idling. Preserving energy when we can is vitally important in the long run and every little bit counts!
US National Parks are a very underestimated part of travel in the USA in my opinion. While many people that spend a lot of time outdoors might head to National Parks regularly, many people who come to the US tend to head to cities like LA or New York and overlook some of the gems we have in this country in the form of National Parks. And while some, like Yellowstone might be busier and get more tourists, others like Glacier National Park can be almost empty at certain times of year, leaving you with stunning views and incredible landscapes all to yourself. Visiting US National Parks does have it’s own set of rules though and there are certain travel tips that are important before you head to one of the US’s prized landscapes. So if you’re headed to a US National Park anytime soon, here are my best travel tips!
You are required to pay a fee for entry into National Parks in the US and even though often there won’t be anyone manning the entrance booths, especially if you’re going into the park early in the morning or late at night, you should still pay the fee. Parks will have a spot by the entrance where you can put your money in an envelope and leave it in a lock box. And while of course you could risk it and go in without paying, you’re a) setting yourself up for a fine if you get caught and b) since you’re using the park and we want to keep them staffed and upkept, it’s important to always pay the fee. Be sure you have small bills though as you might not have someone there to give you change. Check on the park’s website before you go for updated fee amounts.
Most of the National Parks in the US have an abundance of wildlife and animals roaming around – it’s important to look but don’t disturb them. The reason the parks have such great wildlife is because they live fairly undisturbed and it’s important to keep that. Feel free to watch them, but always from a distance, for your own safety and theirs.
Most parks will have speed limit signs posted and it’s important to honor those, even when the roads are clear. First of all, you never know when hikers will be coming out of trails or when animals might be crossing, so going slow is important. But also, you’ll want to go slow to take in all the amazing scenery around you while driving around National Parks.
This tip is primarily for the busier national parks like Yellowstone but can be applied for any of them. First of all, going early in the day will allow you beautiful light for photos. Though also, going early in the day especially in busy parks like Yellowstone will allow you to miss the Disneyland-like feel that happens later in the day as the tour buses are out and about bringing thousands of people through the park. I would suggest planning your day around a sunrise-Noon schedule and be out of the busy parks by Noon or 1pm to miss most of the crowds.
It’s really important to be safe in the US National Parks, as you’re there on your own at your own risk. So if you are going off on your own or hiking through, be sure to practice safety. But also, be respectful. The National Parks are treasured landmarks in the country so it’s really important to have respect for the landscape.
For More on National Parks:
After hitting the end of the Going to the Sun road on the Western side of Glacier National Park, we headed back out of the park, back to Highway 2 which loops you around to the other side of the park on a state highway. Not sure of what the other side would look like, exploring East Glacier National Park ended up being our favorite area of the park. The Rocky Mountains are on display here, with their jagged snow covered peaks as well as countless lakes and vistas.
We started with the short drive from the East entrance of the park to Two Medicine, which is a lake and campground area that’s only about 25 minutes from the entrance of Glacier National Park on the East side. It was a beautiful spot but definitely one of the busiest areas we encountered since it’s so close to the entrance and easy to get to. But it was also where we saw mountain goats that completely made our day, so it was well worth a few more cars to see that!
After that, we headed up on the drive toward St. Mary. We actually had no idea where it would take us and just went with it, which I’m so glad we did! This drive is stunning. It takes you up high in the mountains with vistas looking out over the Rockies and the lakes below. Multiple times it felt like we were transported to Switzerland instead of being in Montana, and was by far my favorite part of Glacier National Park. If you follow that road to the end, it spits you out at a Northern exit of the park, which you can then take the small highways back down around and head South toward the entrance to get back on Highway 2.
-Have $30 prepared to pay the entry fee to the park for a single vehicle for a week.
-Be prepared to drive a lot.
-Stop in the pull outs, don’t pull over on the side of the road.
-Have your camera ready as amazing spots just appear suddenly.
-Bring a paper map as there isn’t much cell service in the park and we found that the signage isn’t great to help you figure out where to go.
When we were planning our road trip to Yellowstone, we figured we should see other spots along the way since we didn’t know when we’d get back to that area of the US. So along the route, we diverted North through Montana to see Glacier National Park. We didn’t know much about it, other than we knew it would be beautiful. When we booked the trip and did a little research, it looked like not everything would be open in May when we would be visiting since they are usually still plowing snow in parts of the park. That ended up being true, including the Going to the Sun Road which is supposed to be stunning and drives you through the whole park, however that’s not to say we still didn’t see a lot and were able to take in the park in late May.
We started exploring West Glacier National Park, entering through the West entrance which is about 45 minutes from Kalispell, Montana where we were staying. The highlight upon entering the West entrance is definitely Lake McDonald, which spans for a long way and offers stunning views of the mountains in the distance and colored rocks along its shores. Make sure you stop along the pull outs to take in all the views out over Lake McDonald, it really is stunning. We went first thing in the morning and the stillness was so peaceful. The early morning light held a blue tint on everything, which made the scene so tranquil and quiet.
When we were there in late May, we could drive the Going to the Sun road only just past the lodge. But not to worry, you can still see more of the park on the East side which I’ll be talking about tomorrow!
-Have $30 prepared to pay the entry fee to the park for a single vehicle for a week.
-Be prepared to drive a lot.
-Stop in the pull outs, don’t pull over on the side of the road.
-Have your camera ready as amazing spots just appear suddenly.
-Bring a paper map as there isn’t much cell service in the park and we found that the signage isn’t great to help you figure out where to go.
-The Going to the Sun Road which runs through Glacier National Park isn’t usually open fully until mid-July, but there is still much to see if you go at other times of the year as well.
The Palouse, as it’s called, in Eastern Washington State was my #1 spot to see on this trip and I walked away from the trip with this stop still being my favorite of the whole trip. I saw a photo of the Palouse years ago and have wanted to visit for a long time. The area of my neighboring state is a dream: rolling hills covered in green and gold that truly look like a painting. Seamlessly weaving into each other, the hills create a landscape that doesn’t even look real.
We wanted to see the Palouse from Steptoe Butte at surnise, a vantage point in the area where you can see all around for miles as the rolling hills spread far and wide. So we left our hotel in Moscow super early (like 3am early) to get out to the area as the sun was rising, stopping for some early Dawn moments on the tiny curvy country roads that you take to get there. We stopped at one spot on a dirt road out in the middle of no where in the Palouse, rolling hills around us, a lone Cyprus tree in front of us and I swear, it felt like I was transported to Tuscany.
After almost getting our car stuck on a muddy patch of that dirt road, we made our way up Steptoe Butte as the sun was rising, taking in the views of the landscape around us. It was breathtakingly beautiful and a great reminder that you don’t need to go far from where you live to see incredible landscapes. This spot will be one I go back to in the future, being only 5 and a half hours from Portland. It was a memorable one and I’m so glad we started our trip off with such beauty, a place that truly is a remarkable landscape and looked more like an oil painting than real life.
