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National Park Road Trip 2024
  • Di and My's World Journey

National Park Road Trip 2024

Myron and Diana exploring 4 of our National Parks. Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 1, 2024
    Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.01.2024 Sunday Rapid City, SD Day 1

    September 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Go West, they said. So we did.
    We left around 9:00 am. Our first stop was to see Dignity of Earth and Sky statue at the Chamberlain rest stop. She is gorgeous. Diana also learned there are three divisions of the Sioux tribe, Nakota, Dakota and Lakota.
    We stopped for a quick lunch at Al’s Oasis and shared a hot beef. Food was good. Hadn’t been here in years.
    Stopped in Wall Drug. It had also been a long time since we were here. Arrived in Rapid City and checked into the Comfort Inn and Suites. The best part of the day was meeting up with Randy and Vicki from our WC. We had dinner at the Dakotah Steakhouse. Great food and a great visit.
    That’s a wrap for Day 1.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.02.2024 Monday Deadwood, SD Day 2

    September 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Happy anniversary to us. 24 years and counting!
    It’s very hot today. High of 99. After breakfast we checked out of our hotel and visited the Chapel in the Hill. It is a replica of Borgund Stave Church in Norway, a 12th-century church of wooden boards & steep gables. It was built in 1969. Very cool, Diana hadn’t been here for years and Myron had never seen it. Of course, we bought a nativity set. Also 3 little trees that are made out of the roof shingles.
    We are playing tourist of the Black Hills today. We made a brief stop in Keystone and then onto Mt Rushmore. We then meandered over to Crazy Horse Monument. (Myron had never been)
    We stopped for lunch at Hill City and to look around a few of the stores.
    We continued to venture north to Deadwood where we stayed at the Hampton Inn connected to the Tin Lizzie Casino.
    We perused down Main Street, hit a few casinos. Myron is a winner, Diana not so much.
    Diana participated in the Wild Bill Hickok poker game at Saloon #10. Fun!
    Grabbed some appetizers for dinner then back to the hotel.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.03.2024 Tuesday Day 3 Medora, ND

    September 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    It’s going to be another hot one. 95 today.
    Today we left Deadwood and headed to Belle Fourche, SD. Their claim to fame is the Geographic Center of the Nation Monument. It is the center of the nation because the admission of Alaska and Hawaii to the United States moved the location of the official center of the nation. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous U.S. states is Lebanon, Kansas.
    We continue on to Medora, ND. Medora host two things, the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Medora Musical.
    There is a lot of open ranch land from Deadwood to Medora but we managed to se a few herds of antelopes, a few turkeys, lots of oil wells and a massive oil refinery. The Medora Musical is good old-fashioned family fun with thrilling variety acts, live horses on stage, a firework finale, and new twists each summer. All while celebrating the history of Medora, Teddy Roosevelt, and the historic American West with music from country to disco.
    Before the musical we have a Pitchfork Steak Fondue dinner. The food was delicious and the views incredible.
    It was a great night and beautiful weather.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.04.2024 Wed Day 4 T R Nat’l Park

    September 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    We are staying in Medora again tonight because our plan today is to explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It’s cooler today with a high of 82… smoky from the Canadian wild fires. Diana cannot stop sneezing. So some of the pictures are kind of hazy.
    Theodore Roosevelt National Park is an American national park of the badlands in western North Dakota comprising three geographically separated areas. Honoring U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, it is the only American national park named directly after a single person.
    We explored the South Unit of the park is the largest and most diverse. You enter the park right from Medora.
    We also stopped at the Painted Canyon which is part of the park but is situated about 10 miles from Medora.
    We saw a few bison, a couple of hawks, prairie dogs and a few wild horses.
    After lunch we visited the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum. Established in 1995, the hall of fame endeavors to preserve and uphold the historic and modern western lifestyle throughout the state as it pertains to Native Americans, rodeo, and ranching. It was very cool.
    A quiet evening tonight as we are staying in.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    Yellowstone River

    09.05.2024 Thursday Day 5 Lewistown, MT

    September 5, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Following a great two days in Medora we are headed to Lewistown, MT but first we detour to the Little Big Horn Battlefield Monument.
    Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument preserves the site of the June 25 and 26, 1876, Battle of the Little Bighorn, near Crow Agency, Montana, in the United States.
    The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought along the ridges, steep bluffs, and ravines of the Little Bighorn River, in south-central Montana on June 25-26, 1876. The combatants were warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, battling men of the 7th Regiment of the US Cavalry, along with their Crow, and Arikara scouts. The Battle of the Little Bighorn has come to symbolize the clash of two vastly dissimilar cultures: the buffalo/horse culture of the northern plains tribes, and the highly industrial based culture of the United States.
    In 1868, after fierce fighting from 1865-1867 between U.S. Army personnel and Lakota and Cheyenne warriors, several Lakota leaders agreed to sign the Treaty of Fort Laramie. This treaty created a large reservation for the Lakota in the western half of present-day South Dakota; the Lakota's beloved Black Hills area. The United States wanted tribes to give up their nomadic life.
    However, Lakota leaders such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse rejected the reservation system. Likewise, many roving bands of hunters and warriors did not sign the 1868 treaty. They felt no obligation to conform to its restrictions, or to limit their hunting to the unceded hunting land assigned by the treaty. Their forays off the set aside lands brought them into conflict with settlers and enemy tribes outside the treaty boundaries.
    Fascinating site to visit.
    Tonight we are heading to the Mexican Restaurant El Ranchi Alegre.
    Back to the historic Calvert Hotel where we are staying to watch Diana’ s Chiefs.
    It was a great drive today. There was a lot of beautiful landscape to see.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    St Mary LakeWild Goose IslandSunset at our cabin.

    09.06.2024 Friday Day 6 St Mary MT

    September 6, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 50 °F

    80 degrees today. We left Lewistown and headed for St Mary, MT which is the East entrance to Glacier National Park.
    What a beautiful place. We drove up to the Many Glaciers entrance . Took some fun photos of Wild Goose Island. Myron is pretty sure he can make me an instagram star.
    What an amazing place to visit. We did part of the Into the sun road. We are staying at St Mary Village and have a nice little cabin.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.07.2024 Saturday Day 7 Whitefish, MT

    September 7, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 59 °F

    We left our cozy cabin at St Mary Village around 8:45 this morning. We started our journey by entering the Park at the Going in-to-the Sun Road. You did not need a vehicle registration to enter the park at St. Mary at least for 2024. Our best purchase was the America the Beautiful Pass. Lifetime admission for seniors is $80 which we bought a few years ago. We have used it a lot.
    There was so much to see today. Mountains, lakes, creeks, waterfalls. McDonald Lake definitely lived up to its reputation. The colored rocks and views were amazing.
    We stopped for lunch at Eddie’s Cafe and shared a bacon chicken wrap with chips. Diana really enjoyed her Moose Drool beer.
    Our final destination is Whitefish MT where we will spend two nights in a condo. It is gorgeous.
    Tonight we are at the Bulldog Saloon for supper and watching some college football.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.08.2024 Sunday Day 8 Whitefish, MT

    September 8, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    Today we are not touring anything. It is a down day. We had breakfast at the Buffalo Cafe and then watched football for awhile at the Bulldog Saloon. Diana browsed through some of the shops and found a few gems to purchase.
    Early dinner at Abruzzo, an Italian Restaurant that came highly recommended. We shared a Caesar salad and lasagna. Very good but we didn’t finish the salad or entree.
    Back to the condo for the rest of the afternoon.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    Murray's BarMain Street Livingston. If it wasn't smoky you'd see the mountains.Fainting Goat Irish Pub patio2

    09.09.2024 Monday Day 9 Livingston, MT

    September 9, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    This morning we said goodbye to our wonderful condo in Whitefish, MT. What a great place to visit. We were about 30 miles from the West Glacier park entrance. Whitefish is an artsy kind of town with many boutiques and eateries.
    It is very smoky this morning due to wildfires so again our timing is impeccable to be leaving the area.

    We stopped for lunch at a local place called Homestake Pub. Not very big but busy! Diana had a butter burger and it was one of the best burgers she’s had in a long time. Myron had fried shrimp.
    After lunch while leaving Butte we saw this statue high up on a hill. Upon investigating and thanks to Google it is
    Our Lady of the Rockies which is a 90-foot (27 m) statue built in the likeness of Mary, the mother of Jesus, that stands atop the Continental Divide overlooking Butte. It is the fourth-tallest statue in the United States after Birth of the New World, the Statue of Liberty, and the Pegasus and Dragon. The base is 8,510 feet above sea level and 3,500 feet above the town. The statue sits on private land and is lit and visible at night. Picture is a little hazy due to the smoke.
    Really pretty drive as we left Butte and again crossed the Continental Divide.

    We chose Livingston for our stay tonight as we want to enter Yellowstone National Park from the north to see the northern loop and the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. Gardiner is closer to the entrance but fully booked. Livingston is a cute town with lots of boutiques and restaurants. There are quite a few buildings with the old neon signs. Very cool.
    We are staying at the Murray Hotel. The Murray Hotel is an authentic western hotel restored to its role as the premiere lodging in Livingston. The Murray occupies 4 floors with 30 room or suites that are tastefully furnished with attention to modern comfort and the hotel's historic legacy. They still use the original Otis elevator from 1904.
    We had dinner tonight at the Fainting Goat. We shared a whiskey glazed salmon with roasted potatoes and mixed peas. It was very good. We ordered a bottle of wine and took the test back to our room.
    Livingston is about an hour from the park entrance. We are told there is more wildlife in the north so we hope to see bear or maybe even a moose sighting. Guess we will find out tomorrow. Our weather continues to hold with sunny warm days in the 80s and cool nights in the 50s. We hear that might change by Thursday.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    Yellowstone River
    Yellowstone RiverTower Creek1Emerald SpringSteamboat GeyserCalcite SpringsElkhorn Meadow at Gibbons RiverGibbons River

    09.10.2024 Tuesday Day 10 Yellowstone NP

    September 10, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    We had a great breakfast at the 49ers Diner and then hit the road. It’s 51 miles from Livingston to the North Entrance of Yellowstone. We followed Yellowstone River where many people were fishing for trout. The rapids were nice.
    High of 78 today and sunny skies.
    We stopped at Calcite Springs. Beautiful stop. Our next stop was Tower Falls and Tower Creek. Loved the rock formations.
    Myron saw a herd of about 20 moose but by the time we parked and walked back Diana only saw 1 1/2 as they headed behind the trees so no pictures. We saw a buffalo grazing. No other wildlife spotted all day
    We drove up to Mount Washburn lookout, elevation of 10,243 feet. Quite the views.
    We ventured to The Norris Basin area and saw Emerald Basin and Steamboat Geyser. Stopped to take in the views at Elkhorn Meadows where the elk may migrate to later today.
    We checked into the Holiday Inn at West Yellowstone. Walked down the street to the Grizzly Bar where they serve Czechmate Pilsner. Good beer. We went next door to Three Bear Restaurant. We shared a prime rib dinner.
    Back to the room. We are tired.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    Grand Prismatic BasinGrand Prismatic SpringFirehole RiverWaterfall from Excelsior Pool BasinOpal Pool.

    09.11.2024 Wednesday Day 11 Yellowstone

    September 11, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    Cool here this morning at 50 degrees but warming to 70 later this afternoon. Slight chance of sprinkles.
    Today we had breakfast at Running Bear Pancake House. Excellent. We toured West Yellowstone today as far as Old Faithful. Our first stop was the Upper Basin Geyser. We also stopped at Emerald Basin along with seeing Fountain Pots and Fountain Geyser.
    The park is busy so there is a wait for parking spots.
    We continued on to Middle Basin to see the Grand Prismatic Basin. What a gorgeous area. There were waterfalls coming from Excelsior Geyser Crater. Excelsior Geyser Crater, formerly known as Excelsior Geyser, is a dormant fountain-type geyser in the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park in the United States. An expedition by the U.S. Fish Commission in the summer of 1890 found that it had become an active geyser that erupted frequently but this active period soon ended. It is believed that the powerful eruptions had broken off sections of stone that had damaged its internal plumbing system.
    In 1985, Excelsior returned to activity for a 46-hour period from September 14 to 16. These eruptions were relatively small at 30 feet (9.1 m) but a few were as much as 80 feet (24 m) tall and 100 feet (30 m) wide. All of these eruptions lasted about 2 minutes at intervals of 5 to 66 minutes.
    The Excelsior Geyser no longer erupts but the pool discharges 4,000 to 4,500 gallons of 199 °F water per minute directly into the Firehole River.
    Opal although small was pretty.
    Our final sightseeing stop for the day was Old Faithful. She is spectacular to see in person. We visited the Old Faithful Inn, Visitor Center and shopped the general store for our magnet.
    We returned to West Yellowstone for a very late lunch at the Buffalo Bar. Back to our hotel for an early night in.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    Lamar ValleyBeartooth Highway

    09.12.2024 Thursday Day 12 Yellowstone

    September 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F

    Cool and rainy this morning. Today we continued in Yellowstone National Park and headed over to Yellowstone Lake. On the way we found a lone buffalo.
    ADD Info
    From there we made a last minute decision to head north and go drive the Lamar Valley up to Beartooth Highway. The sun was shining. Hundreds of buffalo in Lamar Valley.
    Beartooth Highway. Wow! The views. Glad we made the decision. There were snow at Beartooth Pass and we had some snow squalls depending on elevation off and on.
    Enjoy the time lapse video I took of Myron driving a small piece of Beartooth Highway. I didn’t even video the switchbacks.
    We returned south to exit the park at the South Entrance. Back through Lamar Valley which took us a little longer as we encountered buffalo on the road. We even saw a herd of elk once we passed Canyon Lake. Definitely a wild life day.
    We crossed the Continental Divide for the 3rd time and made our way to the East side of the Grand Tetons to stay in Jackson Hole tonight.
    All I can say is Jackson Hole is craazy!
    Can’t get into a restaurant before 8:30.
    We’ll see what tomorrow brings.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    Jenny LakeJenny LakeDrive up to Signal MountainChapel of Sacred HeartGrand TetonsGrand Tetons

    09.13.2024 Friday Day 13 Grand Tetons

    September 13, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 41 °F

    What a difference a day makes. Cool this morning but sunny and 63 this afternoon . We start the warm up back into the 70s and 80s tomorrow.
    Today we are touring around the Grand Tetons.
    We entered the Park from Moose Entrance. We did the 42 mile loop road with many stops along the way. We saw Teton Glacier partly obscured by clouds. We stopped at Jenny Lake to take in some amazing views.
    Drove to the summit at Signal Mountain which has an elevation of 7727 feet. Pretty drive and views.
    Next was a stop at Signal Mountain Lodge which sits on Spaulding Bay.
    Pretty views of the Tetons with the Bay.
    We made a brief stop at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart built in 1937.
    A few more views of the Tetons and a final stop at Mormon Row to see the iconic barn.
    We headed back to Jackson Hole to explore the town.
    Can’t come to Jackson Hole without visiting The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and having a Moose Drool beer. Myron had his usual Miller Lite.
    We stopped at the Jackson Drug Co. which opened in 1919 and had a glass of wine. A lot of history in this town.
    Tonight we had dinner and a show at the Jackson Hole Playhouse. Oklahoma, a great musical.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler
    Myron's bacon omeletteDiana had the classicValley in Togwotee ForestGrand Tetons from Togwotee Forest

    09.14.2024 Saturday Day 14 Buffalo, WY

    September 14, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 32 °F

    Going to be a beautiful day. Sunny and 76. Today we say goodbye to the Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole and we begin our trek back home. We have a few more things to see along the way.
    We had breakfast at the Bunnery Bakery and Restaurant. Good food but such huge portions, no wonder we skip lunch most days.
    We drove through the Togwotee Forest. Such pretty views.
    There were many forest fires active in Shoshone National Forest.
    The Painted Hills by Dubois, Wyoming were spectacular along with the red canyons as we entered the Arapahoe and Shoshone tribes reservation.
    We drive thru Wind River Canyons. Amazing. The canyon walls were very tall.
    We are heading to Thermopolis, Wyoming to visit a friend of Myron’s who served on policy board with him on NFDA. His wife Becky just passed away from cancer on September 2, 2024.
    He wasn’t home so on to Buffalo, WY where we will stay tonight. On our way we drove the Big Horn Mountains. Beautiful and majestic!    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.15.2024 Sunday Day 15 Devil’s Tower

    September 15, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    Once we had breakfast we headed East on I90 to Devil’s Tower, WY.
    The laccolithic butte made up of igneous rocks known as Devils Tower is a jaw-dropping geological feature that rises 867 feet above Wyoming's rolling prairies.
    It is the First National Monument named by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906.
    Glad we stopped. Very cool.
    We took US Highway 14a through Spearfish Canyon on our way to Deadwood to stay for tonight before heading home tomorrow. An afternoon of football and beers are calling us.    Read more

  • Di and My's World JourneyNational Park Road Trip 2024Traveler

    09.16.2024 Monday Day 16 Home

    September 16, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Today we are going home. We were up early and after breakfast hit the road.
    We had such a fun time. When we left Baltic we decided to play the license plate game throughout the whole trip. We had rules. The vehicle had to be on the road moving, not pulled over to the side. No cars in parking lots. No semi trucks. We found 45 of the 50 states. We missed Delaware, Hawaii (understandably), Rhode Island, South Carolina and Vermont.
    Every National Park and/or National Monument had something to offer.
    We don’t hike so that changes how and what we see. There was a hike in Glacier that was only a little over a mile down to some falls but bears were spotted in the area and we didn’t have bear spray so we passed.
    We saw some amazing country and more than a few surprises along the way.
    We met people from all over the globe and everyone was very friendly.
    Prices naturally were high around the Parks for lodging and food.
    We tried to not drive more than 4.5 hours between where we spent our nights.
    We are already talking about where our next road trip will take us. Stay tuned and thanks for joining us!    Read more

    Trip end
    September 21, 2024
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