Yellowstone Adventures
Bozeman Montana to Yellowstone
Yellowstone has been on our nature-loving family’s “places to visit list” for a very long time. Finally, in May, the Yellowstone adventure became a reality that surpassed all of our expectations. Between the wildlife, geothermal features and amazing history, our experience was exceptionally profound. We enjoyed everything that this remarkable and unique conservation area has to offer.
In just one week we experienced the Yellowstone weather from rain, to hail, to snow, to sun, and felt the temperatures plunge drastically. The breathtaking landscapes, the steamy geysers thrusting powerful clouds of water high into the air, the awkward looking bison grazing in flowered meadows, and the solitary grizzlies roaming at the edge of the forest left us in awe. These visions will always stay with us. Looks like we found our park ,which is also, the world’s first national park. This August Yellowstone will take center stage for the National Park Service’s centennial celebrations.
Getting there
We flew from San Francisco to Bozeman, Montana (via Seattle) and decided to overnight in Bozeman. When we reached our hotel, a black-billed magpie welcomed us.
Apparently, this bird had made a large & bulky nest in a tree right by the entrance, and while we were offloading the luggage, it kept coming aggressively towards us squawking loudly in a very intimidating way. Since we had no idea what kind of bird it was, Dominique took a picture to identify it.
After checking in, we decided to explore Bozeman and get a bite to eat. Bison anyone? Ted Turner’s, Ted’s Montana Grill is the place with the largest bison menu where we enjoyed our bison cooked four different ways. Who knew that bison meat tasted so good? We also learned that Ted’s ranch wasn’t too far from the restaurant.
“By creating a market for bison, we’re all saving this great American species. Naturally lean, tender, and protein and nutrient-rich, bison is beneficial to health. Because bison are a natural part of the North American ecosystem, bison ranching can also be beneficial to the environment. Bison is the cornerstone of our menu and we serve it more ways than any other restaurant in the world.”Ted’s Montana Grill
The next morning as we were loading the car to leave, we had another encounter with the not-so-friendly magpie; now more annoyed, loud and aggressive, dipping in and out towards us. Highly entertained, and not knowing what to expect, we jumped into the car quickly. As we were pulling off the driveway, we noticed the magpie’s nest on the ground which explained all the aggression. That was the end of our personal encounter with a magpie. Meeting a black-billed magpie, and having a taste of bison for the first time, was a great way to begin the adventure.
Yellowstone National Park
From Bozeman, we drove to Gardiner, Montana, and took the North Entrance Road to Yellowstone by the Roosevelt Arch. The North Entrance Road enters the state of Wyoming just beyond the second crossing of the Gardiner River. The stateline is close to a sign along the highway that marks the 45th parallel of latitude – the imaginary line encircling the Earth halfway between the North Pole and the equator. Once inside the park, we used the Grand Loop road.
The Grand Loop
The figure-8 road you see on the map, that we used during our visit, to get around and see Yellowstone is the Grand loop. Originally designed and built by Dan Kingman to provide access to Yellowstone’s attractions.
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