Leaving stethoscopes behind, my husband, Rey, and I began this adventure with a drive north from Denver to Fort Collins, CO.
Originally a military outpost, it's now home to Colorado State University; in 2006, Money magazine named it the best U.S. town to live in.
After an overnight stay in Laramie, WY, we traveled side roads through the beautiful Medicine Bow Mountains to tiny Centennial,
named for its small population. Spring snows had closed the roads, so we drove west to Rock Springs along the interstate:
200 miles of desolate, scantily populated high desert. A summer tip: Rock Springs hosts Wyoming's Big Show, a county fair
that features rodeo events, concerts, and even a livestock petting zoo for kids.
We're goin' to Jackson!
After lunch in Rock Springs, we continued north along more lonely roads until we reached Jackson, gateway to the Grand Tetons
and Yellowstone. After a long day on isolated roads, seeing people was like spotting water in a desert! Jackson's many tourism industries have long made it a favorite celebrity destination. Millions pass through the area on the
way to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Several ski resorts are easily reached from Jackson, the most famous of
which is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Jackson became our Wyoming home. We stayed at a bed and breakfast with a large Jacuzzi tub—a treat for sore muscles after
long days of hiking.
Exploring the majestic Tetons
The Grand Teton region was designated a national park in 1929. Lacking foothills, the Tetons rise abruptly from their base
to a 7,000-foot elevation. The tallest peak, Grand Teton, approaches 14,000 feet. This breathtaking backdrop has been the
site of several prominent films, including "Shane," "Any Which Way You Can," and scenes from "A River Runs Through It."
First, we visited Grand Teton National Park, where hikers can enjoy nearly 200 miles of trails, and the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
A window above its altar offers a stunning view of the Tetons. The beauty and inspiration there made this the high point of
my vacation.
We continued to Jenny Lake Lodge, which lies amid streams and wildflower-filled meadows. Our hike to the lake itself brought
us a clear view of the Tetons' sharp rise. A winding road then led us to Signal Mountain, where an overlook showed a breathtaking
panorama of the entire Teton Range. Later that evening, the two of us dined at Signal Mountain Lodge, as the sun set over
the glistening waters of Jackson Lake.
Yellowstone's natural charms
Continuing north, we arrived in Yellowstone. Famous for its wildlife and geothermal activity, the park covers more than 3,000
square miles, including mountains, lakes, canyons, and rivers. Its notable wildlife includes buffalo, elk, wolves, and bear
cubs—but big brown bears were nowhere to be seen. Because of the park's 1988 wildfire deforestation, many bears hibernate
safely in the high country, emerging from the forest to forage along the roads for human handouts. We had our own encounter
with Yellowstone's wildlife, when a two-ton buffalo halted traffic on our mountain roadway for nearly 20 minutes!
Leaving Jackson the next afternoon, Rey and I followed a circular road on the lowlands of Yellowstone and saw Fishing Bridge,
famous for its fly-fishing. We also saw tiny geysers of bubbling mud. If you're not used to these, hold your nose; they have
a high sulfur content and smell like rotten eggs.
For Rey, the family artist, our visits to Inspiration Point and Artist's Point were the highlight of his vacation. Inspiration
Point showcases the cascading waters of the Yellowstone River's Lower Falls and the colorful rocks of the canyon.
On schedule for Old Faithful
We finally arrived at Yellowstone's most famous geyser, which erupts 130 feet into the air about every 78 minutes, but gray
skies prevented us from getting good eruption pictures.
Our drive east that afternoon through the Absaroka Mountain Range led to our next overnight destination. The Absaroka Mountain
Lodge offers a large main building with several fireplaces; guests stay in quaint log cabins.
After breakfast, Rey and I were off to the corral to try our hands at horseback riding through Shoshone National Forest. Wranglers
saddled and taught us to handle our horses. My horse was named Sundance, and Rey's was named Spunky, which he was not! A guide
led us through Shoshone's gorgeous mountains and fields. After eating lunch and stream-washing our dishes, we all rode back
to the lodge, cantering through wildflower meadows.
Our next stop was Cody, named after one of its founders, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. We visited the Buffalo Bill Historical
Center and the Whitney Gallery of Art before returning to Absaroka for dinner and a walk in the fresh mountain air before
an early bedtime.
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