How we took the plunge and started living the life we imagined
As our fourth and final stop in Colorado, we are on to another park we have not heard of before our trip – Black Canyon of the Gunnison – a deep gorge with dramatic sheer granite walls in western Colorado.
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Our next stop in Colorado is a park we have never heard of before this trip – Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde National Park is in southwest Colorado. It was established to protect the heritage of the ancient Puebloans and the park contains over 5,000 archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. The cliff dwellings are supposed to be particularly well preserved and spectacular – whole cities tucked underneath cliff ledges. It should be a fascinating visit.
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We are leaving the Rocky Mountains for the tallest sand dunes in North America! Our next park is Great Sand Dunes National Park. We are looking forward to sledding down the giant dunes. The park is located in southern Colorado.
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We are all excited to be going to Colorado. Our first stop will be Rocky Mountain National Park: mountains, wildflowers, alpine tundra, mountain goats, marmots and moose! We are looking forward to the hikes, the views and the animal sightings. And an added bonus – Kay’s brother, Brad, is coming to visit.
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In northwestern Montana on the Canadian border, Glacier National Park is renowned for pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes. With over 700 miles of trails, Glacier is a hiker’s paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. It is also a place to experience bygone days with historic chalets, lodges, and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Wildlife sightings are all but guaranteed, so we are excited to see this park. Upon the recommendation of a ranger at Yellowstone, we are planning on camping at Two Medicine Campground in East Glacier, and it is a highly rated site. The only problem is that it is first-come, first-serve and high season, so we are a bit nervous as to how this will all turn out . . .
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Our next destination is the posh little town of Bozeman, Montana and then on to Polson, Montana – home to the crystal-clear Flathead Lake, lakeshore cherry orchards and the Annual Flathead Cherry Festival.
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Shooting geysers, bubbling and boiling springs, gurgling mud-pots, deep blue pools ringed in yellows and oranges. Weare onto Yellowstone National Park! We are sad to leave Grand Teton; we could have stayed there much longer, but it’s time to go to the park next door. We got a small taste of Yellowstone and its stunning beauty when we drove through on our way from Cody to Grand Teton but now we are here for our official visit! Yellowstone is on top on an active super volcano which is responsible for its spectacular hydrothermal features, including 60% of the world’s geysers.
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We are very excited for this stop – Grand Teton National Park. Dramatic mountain vistas, glistening blue alpine lakes, wildlife and spectacular hiking. We expect this stop to be one of the highlights of the trip and it doesn’t disappoint us!
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We have now arrived in the true Wild West, land of Buffalo Bill and rodeos! Cody is located in northwestern Wyoming and surrounded by mountains on three sides. The town is named for Buffalo Bill Cody, the American scout, bison hunter and entertainer. We have two days and three nights here and we plan on visiting the Buffalo Bill Center, attending a chuckwagon dinner/cowboy music show and witnessing a real live rodeo!
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We leave Rapid City and drive to Badlands National Park. As we approach the park, the trees disappear and the landscape becomes more dramatic looking. More austere, more barren. Just grasslands and rock. As we drive into the park we feel as if we have landed on another planet.
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