If you happen to be in Florida this holiday season you don’t want to miss this awesome tradition. The light tours run until the first part of February, so you still have time. We were in Orlando over Thanksgiving week and took a day trip to St. Augustine (it’s a 2 hour drive from Orlando). I will warn you though if you plan to go next year that same week be prepared for crowds! We went the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), and the streets were packed full of tourists. We were so grateful someone suggested that we get in line an hour early. We also had Fast Pass tickets (I highly suggest this). I know that sounds crazy, but the line behind us had literally hundreds of people in it. Whew!
OK, so what is the Night of Lights Tour? St. Augustine, Florida is a super cool historic coastal city. In fact, it is America’s oldest city. And they take decorating with lights to a whole new dimension. The businesses have a competition to see whose decorations are the best (viewers vote online), so they spare no expense. Some of these places make the Griswold’s house look dull (If you have never seen “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” 1989 you have no idea what I’m talking about, and I’m showing my age). The town says the tradition was inspired by an ancient holiday practice brought there by the Spanish of displaying lit candles on window sills. To experience the glow of the season and see the more than 3 million lights adorning every corner of the city’s historic district, you take a ride on the Old Town Trolley’s Nights of Lights Tour! I call it the Christmas Trolley. While waiting in line an elf hands you your “ticket,” which is really a pair of “magic” 3-D glasses. When you put the glasses on the lights take on a whole new character. It is so cool! For example, there were small round bulbs strung around the tree trunks, but with the glasses on they looked like bright star bursts! And the mood on the trolley is very fun and festive. Christmas songs are playing the whole time, and some people sing. Everyone is in a good mood, and the people we passed all waved and cheered us on. We had great weather, but it can get chilly so you will want to bring a coat or jacket.
Tours depart from the Visitor Information Center, 10 West Castillo Drive, and each tour takes about 30 minutes with continuous departures every 10-15 minutes from 6pm to 9pm. This season the tours are held nightly from November 24, 2019 – February 2, 2020, but it may be different next year. When the tour ends you are served homemade sugar cookies and hot apple cider! It was super fun. St. Augustine was voted “One of the Top Ten Places to See Holiday Lights” by National Geographic Traveler. Hopefully you can add this to your must-see list this holiday season or plan a trip for next year!
For a review of the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine see my blog post here. It is a definite must-see!
Earlier this month I was fortunate to get to interview a seasoned travel agent. Mike Stetson of Custom Travel in Collierville, Tennessee has over 30 years of travel experience and was so full of information and travel stories that I couldn’t write it all down! Below are the highlights of our conversation. I hope you find his insights helpful as you plan your next trip.
Cindy – Thank you so much for agreeing to tell us a little
bit about travel. Your agency is called “Custom Travel’ located in
Collierville, TN. What is this agency’s area of expertise?
Mike – We are a full service agency. We have 6 employees and
between us all we have been to every continent.
Cindy – How long have you been in the travel industry and
how many countries have you personally visited?
Mike – I have worked in the industry 30 years and have been
to 132 countries myself.
Cindy – What made you want to get into this line of work?
Mike – I grew up an Air Force Brat and traveled a lot
growing up. I first started out working in the toy industry and traveled
internationally for my job. I moved over into travel, because it seemed like a
safe, highly regulated industry with a lot of potential for me.
Cindy – What is your most favorite place you have ever
traveled to?
Mike – Any place that I haven’t been is my favorite, because
I’ve been so many places over and over. I’ve been to Cancun over 150 times,
London over 50 times, Italy over 100. I’ve been on 450 cruises. Now most of
these were group tours. But if a place is new to me I like that.
Cindy – What is the best time of year and does location
matter?
Mike – As a general rule the best times to travel are
between April 20 and May 20 or between Sep. 10 and Oct. 10. The most expensive
time to travel is holidays – like July 4 or between December 18 and January 2.
Traditionally the worst days to travel are the Wednesday and Sunday before and
after Thanksgiving Day.
Cindy – Unfortunately for me as a teacher I can only travel
during those expensive holidays! L
Can you give my readers any tips or tricks for getting the best airfare?
Mike – Always book your flight far in advance. 330 days out
frequent flyer tickets go on sale. So you don’t want to buy then – that’s too
early. But 200 – 270 days out is the best time to find good prices on airlines.
Cindy – What documents should I carry?
Mike – Really a passport is all you need. It is recognized
everywhere.
Cindy – What are your thoughts on travel insurance? Should
people purchase travel insurance?
Mike – It depends. First, you should ask yourself, “Why am I
buying it?” Am I accident prone? Do I get sick a lot? Do I have ill parents at
home? Things like that. Then look at the cost. Some companies are self-insured.
You want to look for one that says you are covered if you cancel for any
reason. Otherwise there might be things they don’t cover. There are several
good companies to choose from.
Cindy – What about all these fees we see? What is the
advantage of using a travel agent vs. booking a trip myself?
Mike – Only the airline has a service fee. The travel agent
will quote you the price of airfare plus a $40 service fee. When you look
online, you see the price as is with no fee. However, travel agents are trained
to know where to look for upgrades and deals. You also don’t have to call the
airline when there is a problem. For example, during the recent hurricane
Dorian that pounded the Bahamas the airline we had booked people on had a three
hour wait on hold if you called them direct. For everyone who booked through
us, we were able to redirect all of their flights with no problems. We are on
call 24 hours a day.
Cindy – How can you tell if a travel agent is legitimate or
is trying to trick you out of your money?
Mike – Always beware of agencies online only. Almost all of
the travel scams are online or on the phone. Beware if there is no physical
address – if their phone number is from Florida or California but they have no
real address. If you do get scammed your credit card will usually protect you, but
I always tell people to go with a local agency. There are some good travel
agents who work from their homes, but they are still local. Always deal with a
local agent unless there is a reason to buy somewhere else.
Cindy – Talk a little about all-inclusive resorts and
cruises. What are some benefits and things to look out for?
Mike – With an all-inclusive resort many are located
somewhere remote, and you are locked in to just the resort. So it is nice to be
able to eat at any restaurant there without worrying about paying. Usually
there are different themed restaurants like Mexican, Chinese, Italian, steak,
and things like that so you can have variety. And it is all included. Pay
attention to which room you choose. There is the island view then garden view
then pool view then ocean view then ocean front. The first three are self
explanatory, but ocean view usually means something different in other
countries then it does here in the U.S. “Ocean view” somewhere else means you
can see the ocean even if it is a half mile across the street. In the United
States they cannot call it ocean view unless at least 60 % of the ocean is in
view. And ocean front in the U.S. means there is no obstacle in between your
window or porch and the ocean.
When booking a cruise watch for the cabin you choose. The
progression is inside, ocean, balcony, then suite and the price increases with
each step. There are inside cabins with no window and exterior with a window
but depending on the level your window may be underwater completely. Some
people say they never spend any time in their cabin. They just shower and sleep
there, so they would rather not spend the money. Some people do not like that
claustrophobic feel and want to be able to see out. Sometimes you can upgrade,
but just like with airlines getting an upgrade is much more likely if you act
nice.
Cindy – What is the craziest or funniest thing a customer
has ever asked you?
Mike – I had a guy ask me who was the (expletive) who said it
was going to be a 9 ½ hour train ride from here (Memphis) to Little Rock, AR.
He expected it to be the same as driving and could not understand that if the
route goes to Chicago first it will take 9 ½ hours by train.
Then there was the lady who asked if she could drive to
Honolulu!
One of the funniest stories did not happen to me but it was
a major airline and the video was on YouTube for a long time. The flight was
canceled or delayed or something like that, and this man was irate. He tried to
argue with the lady at the desk, and said “Do you know who I am?!” The lady got
on the intercom and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, does anyone know this man? He
does not know who he is!” That is so funny!
Cindy – That is funny. J
What would you say are the top 3 mistakes travelers make?
Mike – #1 – They forget their passport. Without your
passport you will not get very far.
#2 – Not knowing the rules or customs in the country they
are visiting. America has laws that apply to citizens. So do other countries.
Be aware of the rules and laws where you are traveling. And #3 – They don’t
tell anyone where they are going. Always leave your itinerary with someone back
home.
Cindy – When it comes to spending money on travel, what
would you tell people is worth splurging on, and what would you say is not
worth spending money for?
Mike – If it is a new destination for you, spend money on
tours. You are there to see the country. A hotel is just a hotel. You are only
there at night and will be out sight-seeing during the day. So go with a
moderate priced hotel, and spend more on going out. If you are in Europe go
ahead and go first class on the rail system. You will be so much more
comfortable having all that room. Now in Asia it is just the opposite. Go ahead
and pick a very nice hotel, because what is a $400 hotel over there would be
$700 here. So if you have never stayed in a super luxury hotel, Asia is your
chance.
Cindy – Wow, you have so much information and so many
stories. Thank you so much for sharing your travel knowledge with my readers!
Mike – It was my pleasure.
For more information contact Mike Stetson at Custom Travel.
Do you have any other travel tips? I would love to hear about your funny travel stories and helpful hints.
We have been wanting to visit Discovery Park ever since we heard about it when it was first built, and we were not disappointed. Discovery Park of America, located near Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee, has something for all ages. According to their website, the mission of Discovery Park of America is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. From the 100,000-square-foot museum to to beautifully landscaped 50 acre heritage park outside, there is such a wide variety of interesting nature, science, technology, history, and art displays and hands-on activities that there really is something for everybody. From history to space exploration, Discovery Park of America aims to inspire you to see beyond and provide a greater understanding of our world – past, present and future. The park is located in Union City, TN so if you live in the area, it is an easy day trip from Nashville, Memphis, Jackson, and Dyersburg in Tennnessee and Paducah and Murray in Kentucky. Read to the end to watch our video.
We decided we did not want to get up early for the drive, so we went up from Memphis the night before and stayed overnight in Martin, TN. If you are ever in Martin, TN and are not on a diet try a cool restaurant we found called The Grind. It is a mac n’ cheese burger bar with lots of original unique menu items such as their creative milkshakes.
Museum
The museum showcases ten exhibit galleries focused on topics like Native American history, the military, natural history, regional history, science, space technology, art, transportation and more. Here is a list of experiences from their website:
Theater simulation of the 1811-12 earthquakes that contributed to creating the beautiful landscape in this region
20,000-gallon aquarium revealing the underwater life of Reelfoot Lake
Dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric artifacts
Military equipment, vintage automobiles and an actual Titan I missile ready to launch
Interactive displays focused on science, technology, engineering and math – and dozens more hands-on experiences. Enjoy some of my museum photos below:
Heritage Park
The 50-acre outdoor heritage park includes a man-made river flowing through the extensively-landscaped property, along with waterfalls, bridges and other water features. Here is a list of visitor experiences from their website:
Reproduction of a turn-of-the-century town with a working gristmill, windmill and one-room school house
Japanese, European and American gardens
Authentic 120-year-old church
Vintage train station and depot with locomotive, cars and caboose to explore inside and out
Liberty Hall including a replica of the Liberty Bell
One-of-a-kind, nature-inspired playground experience featuring a PlayOdyssey Tower, log steppers, log balance beams, hillside climbers, slides and a mini zip line
Ag Center showcasing the agricultural traditions and heritage of this region
Log cabins, farm buildings, equipment and family items providing a glimpse into rural life in the 1800s Enjoy some of my Heritage Park (outside the museum) photos below:
Discovery Park America is open Tuesday – Sunday. We found it to be very reasonably priced. For more information info@discoveryparkofamerica.com I hope you enjoy our little video:
On our way home we stopped by Reelfoot Lake to take some photos. I had never been there. The lake was formed from the violent New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812. The mighty Mississippi River flowed backwards for three days. How strange! The lake looks pretty cool, because there are Cypress trees growing up out of it. Below are a few pics.
There are birds at the Visitor Center
Here’s a short video of Reelfoot Lake:
What is your favorite museum? Leave a comment below.
I am excited to announce that I have been nominated by Cindy at Trip to Tale Travels for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Thank you so much Cindy! (You have a great name, by the way.) The Sunshine Blogger Award is for new bloggers who people find interesting, creative, and inspiring. It recognizes bloggers who bring positivity and creative content to the community of blogging. Those nominated are to answer 11 questions and then nominate 11 other bloggers. I am so grateful to be included in this honor.
This blog is a new adventure for me and something I have wanted to do for a long time. I’m a teacher, and I love to write and tell stories. I have also always loved taking pictures and creating beauty with art. My hope is that my blog will inspire others to find the beauty and joy in the things they love too. No matter what are circumstances are, there is always something we can be grateful for.
Again, a huge thank you to Cindy at Trip to Travels for reading my blog and thinking of Banjo and Layla when making your nominations. Here are my answers to the 11 questions that Cindy at Trip to Travels has asked me:
Why did you start your blog?
I have always wanted to start an online business to supplement my teaching income, but I never really knew what to do. I stumbled upon an awesome online course on how to start a blog and the rest is history. I love to write and tell stories, and I love taking pictures – especially when traveling. I want to work from home one day, so this was a great fit for me. I am excited to share some of the joys I find in life with others and maybe help someone along the way. There is so much negative on the internet. I think it is important to share the little things that make me happy – things like singing, travel, family, my dogs, and great food!
Layla
What is one thing your readers should know about you?
I am a full-time middle school teacher and am doing the best I can to try to juggle both teaching with excellence and overcome the learning curve of starting a new blog. Please stick with me, and I promise you will see more and better content and more of a social media presence once the beginning of the school year busyness calms down a little. Also, you can rest assured that I always aim to blog with integrity and respect for my readers.
What is your favorite “hometown” dish to eat?
Other than home cooking, Memphis is known for barbecue. They even have a World Famous Barbecue Contest at the Memphis in May Festival every year. My favorite barbecue restaurants are The Rendezvous and The Commissary. But I love all things Italian. There are several authentic Italian restaurants in town. My favorite pizza place is a tiny spot in Collierville, TN called “Ciao Baby.”
What has been your favorite travel adventure?
This is a tough one. When I was single I lived in Germany for four years, so I got to travel all over Europe. I loved living in Germany, and when visitors would come I loved taking them to the traditional walled city of Rothenburg. One of my favorite countries is Italy. I could just eat and drink my way through the entire country (see my favorite food above). I worked with a youth organization in Germany, and one of the coolest places we took kids in the summer was a series of five scenic villages in Italy called Cinque Terre. I love animals, so I also loved the African safari I went on at the tale end of a mission trip. With my husband I think our favorite vacation so far has been Yellowstone. You can check out my six day trip report with pictures and video here.
What are your 5 must see or do items for your hometown or surrounding area?
(1) Shelby Farms Park in Memphis (Cordova), TN – One of the largest urban parks in the United States. Beautiful running, walking, and biking trails, paddle boats, kayaks, horses, disc golf course, zip line, ampitheater, dog park. It is awesome!
(2) The Memphis Zoo – One of the best zoos in the country, hands down.
(4) Anything music – Elvis Presley‘s Home, Live music at Lafayette Music Room or B.B. King’s, free summer concerts at the Levitt Shell, outdoor concerts at Live at the Garden; if you like gospel check out my church Hope Church Memphis – Grammy award winners on the music team. There is always music somewhere in Memphis every weekend – rock, soul, jazz, country, you name it.
(5) I love the Collierville Historic Town Square in my town, a suburb of Memphis called Collierville. It has been listed on several “Best Town Squares in the U.S.” list and is a true hidden gem.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
I think that teaching middle schoolers all day is pretty crazy – I’m just sayin! I was pretty crazy in my 30’s. I was in a water ski club in South Carolina, and we put on water ski shows for fun. I have always been athletic, although you might not be able to tell by looking at me now. The opening act was a barefoot line, and I was the only girl in the barefoot line. The boat had to travel very fast to hold up the big heavy guys, so I was flying! And with no skis! I was also in the ballet line, did tricks in a doubles act, and was in the middle row on a three high pyramid on the water. But later in my 30’s I moved to Germany without having ever been to Europe before and not knowing the language. That was pretty crazy.
What is your life motto and how has it served you?
One is “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” This is a quote from the late missionary Jim Elliot. I try to invest my time, money, and life into making a difference that will last. Decisions that I make are filtered through this value.
What is the one practical piece of advice you would have for other bloggers?
Be yourself. I will be honest, I have been discouraged many times as I have tried to overcome the technology learning curve. Everything is so new to me, and I would compare myself to others with more social media followers or more traffic to their blogs and lose confidence. I have also gained weight in my 50’s and was embarrassed to be on video, but my husband reminded me that I just need to be me – that others will relate to me being real and authentic. So I am trying to do that – to just be me and accept that it is what it is. Be you. Set small goals and stay motivated, even when things don’t move as quickly as you want.
Who is your idol in your blogging niche and why?
I am really too new to the blogging world to have a particular idol yet, but I owe my new blog to Pete and Heather Reese whose 5 Day Start a Money Making Blog Crash Course got me started. I eventually signed up for more extensive training from them after this initial 5 day course, and I learned so much. The great thing about their courses is that you have access to the material for two years and also have access to the VIP Facebook Group where class members can ask questions and get advice.
What is the one thing about blogging, that you have learned so far, that has helped you the most?
I have learned that it is worth it to take the time to watch tutorials or research how to do something if you are not sure. Sometimes trying to figure something out on your own takes longer and can be extremely frustrating. Also, it is OK to ask for help. I have gotten a lot of help from Pete and Heather Reese‘s VIP Facebook page for those who have taken their courses. I also frequently ask people I know locally who have web design expertise questions when I run into a problem.
Hands down….what is your favorite food and where do you go to get it?
I know this is not very sophisticated, but I love a really good pizza – I mean the brick oven kind with authentic crust and not greasy. The place in my town I mentioned earlier, Ciao Baby, imports their tomatoes from Italy, makes their own cheese, and has all fresh ingredients. There are probably other places like that around, but I think pizza is usually better at small family owned places rather than chain restaurants.
I had fun answering these questions, and I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit about me. I am so grateful to be nominated for this award!
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
The Rules
Thank the blogger who nominated you and link to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate 11 new bloggers to receive the award and ask them 11 questions.
List these rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and on your blog.
If you have seen my videos of our Yellowstone trip this summer, you will hear me poke a little fun at my husband for carrying bear spray on his belt. Although I think he got a little too excited about the bear spray (I think he just thought it made him look like a macho mountain man – I mean do you really need to wear it inside?), it actually could save your life in Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding wooded areas.
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
What visitors to the park don’t seem to understand is that animals are dangerous. The rules clearly state that you are not to approach or feed any animal in the park.
It is a fact that bison, bears, and elk have injured and killed people. The National Park Service advises staying 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards (23 m) from all other animals. You are not supposed to stop in the road to watch or take pictures, but are to use the pullouts instead.
There are no words. 🙂
How to Stay Safe
Seeing a bear in the wild is a very exciting and memorable experience, but learning safety precautions is imperative. You are responsible for your safety and the safety of the bears.
First, make sure to keep all food and trash in bear proof containers. If bears ever obtain human food, pet or livestock feeds, or garbage they may become aggressive towards people or cause property damage. Many times in order to protect people, these bears have to be destroyed. This is a tragedy.
Wild bears have a natural fear of humans and will attempt to avoid people and developed areas, but fed bears do not. Fed bears will abandon vital natural food sources such as berries, fish, ants, roots, and grubs they need for proper nutrition in order to obtain human foods and garbage. They quickly become conditioned to being fed and will teach their cubs to approach people to do the same. Also, wild bears fed near roads tend to stay near roads, increasing the number of vehicle-animal accidents. There is a common saying that a fed bear is a dead bear.
Black bear we saw in Yellowstone
Tips for Hiking in Bear Country
Hike in groups of three or more people, and make noise to avoid surprise encounters.
Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
Scan ahead for signs of bear activity. Bear signs include scat, claw marks, diggings, and logs or stumps torn apart.
Avoid taking pets; they may attract bears to you. If they are allowed, always keep them leashed.
Bear Spray
Bear spray is not the same as regular pepper spray. It is a unique formula specially prepared for use on bears. Personal defense or pepper spray is not formulated for bears. Official bear spray must have an EPA registration number. It has to contain 1 – 2% of the active ingredients capsaicin and related capsaicinoids. The suggested spray distance is 25 ft. and for a duration of at least 6 seconds.
Don’t get too close to bears.
Never run from a bear! Remain calm, group together, and pick up small children. Continue facing the bear, and slowly back away. If the bear continues to approach try to scare it by shouting and acting aggressively.
If a black bear attacks, use your bear spray and fight back using everything you can – fists, rocks, etc. If a grizzly bear attacks, use bear spray or “play dead” by dropping to the ground, lying flat on your stomach with hands clasped together behind your neck, and bracing yourself with your elbows and toes. All of this advice may sound extreme and unlikely to be needed. However, when we were there a Bed & Breakfast owner told us that one of her former guests was attacked by a bear in Yellowstone Park. So it is real.
Have you ever seen a bear in the wild? I remember camping in the Smoky Mountains as a child and seeing black bears. Leave a comment below and share your story.
I never knew Idaho was so beautiful! I just thought it was potato fields. I guess I never realized that it also has mountains and borders Yellowstone National Park. But day 6 of our trip led us to Harriman State Park in Island Park, Idaho where we went on a trail ride and saw four moose in the wild! Harriman State Park was only about 40 minutes from West Yellowstone and is an 11,000 acre working ranch, wildlife refuge and park. It was gifted to the state by the Harriman family of the Union Pacific railroad empire and is full of quiet lakes, rivers, meadows, and abundant wildlife. Before arriving at the barn we stopped to photograph the peaceful Silver Lake, which serves as a bird sanctuary.
Silver Lake
I want to give a shout out to Dry Ridge Outfitters www.dryridge.com who took us on an awesome 2-hour horseback ride. The horses were well-trained, good-natured, and sure-footed. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. We saw four moose in the woods -two cows, a calf, and a bull. I wasn’t able to get a good picture while my horse was moving, but it was a really cool experience.
Richard and “Tex” got along just fine.
After our horse ride we took the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway and stopped at two recreation areas: Upper Mesa Falls and Lower Mesa Falls. This was only about 15 miles from Harriman State Park, so if you are there I recommend taking the time to view these beautiful falls.
Insider Tip: There was a small parking fee at the state park, but save your stub because this fee is also good for Mesa Falls.
Near Mesa Falls
According to a brochure put out by the Forest Service, approximately 1.3 million years ago, a huge volcanic eruption created an ash layer hundreds of feet deep. This layer was compressed into rock known as Mesa Falls Tuff. Later eruptions filled the area with basalt lava flows, and the Snake River keeps carving the canyon. The Mesa Falls Tuff is the rock ledge that the falls cascade over. The upper one is 114 feet high, and the lower one is 65 feet high.
Upper Mesa FallsAbove Upper Mesa FallsMesa FallsUpper Mesa FallsLeaving Idaho heading back to West Yellowstone, MTBack at our home base of West Yellowstone we saw this random groundhog in a parking lot of a restaurant. It looks like someone has been feeding him carrots.
Sadly, our Wild West Adventure came to an end on Day 7, when we headed back to the airport to go home. We decided to get up super early in the morning and drive through the Lamar Valley on our way out of the park back to Billings, in hopes of seeing some active wildlife. However, genius here (that would be me) accidentally set her alarm for P.M. instead of A.M. causing us to oversleep. But even with the late start we still saw some animals – no wolves or grizzlies though.
Lamar ValleyLamar ValleyLamar Valley
Going back to Billings we went over the mountain pass on the Bear Tooth Highway back to Red Lodge again. If you make this drive all the way over the pass be aware that it takes almost two hours and is super steep. You will also need to make sure you have enough gas and that your brakes work well. The view is breathtaking though!
This was the view from our truck.A View from the Bear Tooth Highway
This was one of the best vacations, and I hope you have enjoyed my daily trip reports. Please let me know your thoughts by commenting below, and be sure to follow me on social media. Below is a short video of Days 6 & 7:
Want to see our entire trip? Here is a video summary of our entire seven day Wild West Adventure:
Day 5 was our big hiking day in Yellowstone National Park. On the way to Biscuit Basin we stopped at the popular Painted Pots exhibit – but not before we stopped to watch a black bear look for fish in the river.
Black BearOn the way to Fountain PotsFountain Paint Pots
According to the informational sign at the entrance, this vat of bubbling mud contains the perfect ingredients to create mud pots: heat, gases, water, volcanic rock, minerals, acid, and even living microorganisms! Heat loving “thermophiles” consume some of the gases and help convert them into sulfuric acid. The acid breaks down rock to form clay – clay that mixes with water in mudpots.
I would not recommend trying to get a facial in this!The coloring is caused by minerals and bacteria.Fountain Painted Pots
After our stop at the Painted Pots we parked at Biscuit Basic and enjoyed looking at even more geological wonders on our way to the back of Biscuit Basin where our trail head was for our hike to Mystic Falls.
At Biscuit Basin
The Mystic Falls trail is categorized as an easy 2.4 mile out and back trail with a waterfall view. That sounded harmless enough, but what we didn’t know is that there is another Mystic Falls trail that is a much longer and MUCH steeper loop. Guess which one we did on accident? Yep. And living below sea level did not prepare us for the altitude either. So we ended up doing a 3.5 mile loop up a very steep mountain. But we had fun, and the views were spectacular!
Insider Tip: When hiking in Yellowstone always bring water, bear spray, and wear lots of sun screen and bug spray – unless you really like mosquitoes.
We hiked pretty high up but saw some awesome views!One of the Views From Our HikeMountain Wildflowers
When we finally saw the waterfall it made the hike worthwhile. So magnificent! And the river below was so beautiful and peaceful. We took our shoes and socks off and soaked our feet in the cool water. There is nothing more peaceful than hearing a rushing stream, feeling the light breeze, and seeing spectacular beauty everywhere you look.
Mystic FallsView of Mystic Falls from the River Below
Back in West Yellowstone we cleaned up from our hike and hit the town for all of the Fourth of July celebrations. This little mountain town goes all out to celebrate with activities all day, ending with fireworks. There were fundraisers, kid’s games, food, live music, and the cutest parade ever! Fundraisers included the Fire Department Benefit BBQ, Pie on the Porch, and even the Seventh Annual Buffalo Chip Chuck (I cannot make stuff like this up)! I was expecting a few kids with their parents on bicycles for the parade, but wow! It seemed like the entire town was in that parade! They handed out American flags to all of us watching, and people on the floats threw candy out to the crowd – yes, they actually had floats. It was an iconic piece of Americana to be sure.
To see some of the parade live watch here:
What are your favorite travel memories during the week of July 4?
This day was our trek to another national park, The Grand Tetons. We got an early start, since we were driving several hours south to Jackson, Wyoming (better know as Jackson Hole). We had to take the same lower loop road like we did yesterday when we saw Old Faithful, but this time we stopped at the Grand Prismatic Spring and walked around Excelsior Geyser. It was pretty cool. Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the nation – 300 feet in diameter and a ridiculously hot temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. It is in the Midway Geyser Basin. The center is this deep azure blue that really stands out because of the contrasting colors of the outer edges. Many of the colors are caused by minerals or bacteria. You definitely don’t want to fall in! There are lots of signs warning visitors to stay on the boardwalk.
Minerals cause the odd coloring.
Another stop on the way was Lewis Falls. It might be easy to miss this beautiful set of waterfalls. It is between the South Entrance to the park and Grant Village at West Thumb on the Lewis River. The falls drop about 30 feet and can be seen from the road.
Lewis Falls
We drove out the South Entrance (still in Wyoming) and into the Grand Teton National Park. The drive provided some beautiful views of wildlife, rivers, Jackson Lake, and the Grand Teton Mountains.
We had planned on going white water rafting on the Snake River, but we decided to do a float trip instead so that we could bring our cameras and take pictures without getting wet. Shout out to Barker-Ewing Whitewater for doing a fabulous job!
View of the Grand Tetons From our Boat
We saw two bald eagles on our float trip. So cool! We also met some cool people and learned a lot about wildlife from our guide.
EagleWildflowers Along the ShoreThe Grand Tetons
Jackson is a town in Wyoming’s Jackson Hole valley near the border of Idaho and is home to 3 ski areas: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee Resort. It is a very cool town. Although many of the stores and restaurants were high-end in price, there are also your typical T-Shirt and souvenir shops. The Town Square’s entrance has an arch made of shed antlers from the nearby National Elk Refuge. There are also a lot of art galleries and shops. The National Museum of Wildlife Art has works by Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe.
The town is Jackson, and the Valley is called Jackson Hole. The term “hole” was used by early trappers or mountain men, who mostly entered the valley from the north and east and had to descend along relatively steep slopes, giving the sensation of entering a hole. These low-lying valleys surrounded by mountains and containing rivers and streams are good habitat for beaver and other fur-bearing animals.
Lots of Shops and Restaurants in JacksonI Like All of the Cute Alleys.
Have you ever been to Jackson Hole? Have any good stories? I’d love to hear from you. Check out a short video of Day 4 of Our Trip Here:
Our third day of our journey started out rainy, but we were still determined to see the most famous geyser: Old Faithful. The Upper Geyser Basin, home of Old Faithful, holds the majority of the world’s active geysers. So many hydrothermal features concentrated in one area is evidence of Yellowstone’s active volcano.
Insider Tip: Plan to arrive early to the major attractions, as the crowds get larger later in the day.
Partially molten rock, or magma, from this volcano is said to be as close as 3-8 miles below your feet. Magma provides the first key ingredient in creating these thermal features, which is heat. The second ingredient is water, provided by rain and snow. The water seeps down several thousand feet below the surface where it is heated. Underground cracks and earthquake faults form the third ingredient: a natural “plumbing” system. Water that is heated to a super high temperature rises through this plumbing to produce hot springs and geysers.
People line the boardwalk encircling the geyser waiting for Old Faithful to erupt.
Insider Tip: Forcasted eruption times are posted on a board in the Visitor Education Center and in many of the area facilities.
Old Faithful erupts more frequently than any of the other big geysers, although it is not the largest or most regular geyser in the park. It is very cool to see though. The water shoots up very high and lasts several minutes.
Old Faithful is starting to erupt. See my video at the end of this post to watch this spectacular event in action. You can see the hot spots in front of Yellowstone Lake.
From Old Faithful Village and the Upper Geyser Basin we drove to the Canyon area, stopping at Isa Lake on the way. Isa Lake straddles the Continental Divide at Craig Pass. Isa Lake is believed to be one of only two natural lakes in the world which drain to two different oceans, the other one being Wollaston Lake. The east side of the lake drains by way of Lewis River to the Pacific Ocean and the west side drains through Firehole River to the Gulf of Mexico. The lake is easy to find. It is next to the road that connects the Old Faithful and West Thumb geysers basins. This road is called the “Lower Loop.”
Lily Pads on Isa Lake
We continued on to the Canyon area passing on the way one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen, Yellowstone Lake. The water was a deep blue, and the views were extraordinary. Every pull-over area was an awesome photo opp. `
Our picnic spot at Yellowstone lake
Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake (above 7,000 feet) in North America. It covers 286 square miles and has an average depth of 138 feet. The only outlet of the lake is at Fishing Bridge, where the Yellowstone River flows north. This lake is covered by ice from mid-December to May or June. Cold! The central basin and ragged shores were carved from glacial activity and volcanic events. In fact, many of the area’s 1,000 to 3,000 annual earthquakes occur under Yellowstone Lake, causing the water’s edge to continue to be reshaped. Yellowstone Lake is also the site of one of the most extensive conservation efforts in the National Park Service. The park staff is trying to reduce the impact of invasive lake trout on the survival of the native population of cutthroat trout.
Yellowstone LakeYellowstone Lake
After passing Yellowstone Lake we went through Hayden Valley on our way to the Canyon Area. Very early in the morning is a great time to see active wildlife in this valley. Professional photographers set up their cameras and wait super early. But even later in the day we were able to see a few animals and stopped to take some photos.
Hayden ValleyHayden Valley There are lots of elk and bison in Hayden Valley
Passing through Hayden Valley we arrived at the Canyon area, housing Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. This Grand Canyon is full of dramatic geological shapes and colors, and the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River are breathtaking.
The canyon formed when hydrothermal activity changed and weakened the bedrock, making the stone softer. Then the Yellowstone River eroded the weakened rocks, which deepened and widened the canyon further. The 308-foot Lower Falls marks the point where the volcanic bedrock beneath the river changes from hard rock, which is resistant to erosion, to the hydrothermally altered rocks found common downstream. The 109-foot Upper Falls marks a similar shift. Near the river you can see dark orange, brown, and green areas where there are still-active hydrothermal features, which along with water, wind, and earthquakes continue to sculpt the canyon today. There are several places to view both falls and get some great photos.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is known for the Upper and Lower Falls.
Insider Tip: You will be driving a lot in the large park to see everything, and you don’t want to run out of gas. Make sure to check the map you get when you enter the park your first day so that you will no where gas stations are (there are not very many in the park). Canyon Village is one place we got gas.
Please leave me your comments below. Check out a short video of Day 3 here:
On Day 2 we drove from Billings to Red Lodge to Cook City then into Yellowstone National Park via the Northeast entrance. Yellowstone park is huge! It covers three states (Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho) and has five entrances.
Insider Tip: We had to pay a $35 fee to enter the
park, but it was good for 7 days. You just have to show your receipt and
driver’s license at the gate each time to enter the park through any entrance.
Cook City is a cute little town. Great lunch spot in Cook CityCook CityAs a teacher, I thought this display was so interesting.
We traveled from the Northeast Entrance to Tower-Roosevelt to Mammoth Hot Springs, both of which are in Wyoming. Hotels and campgrounds fill up quickly, so make sure you have secured lodging in or near the park before planning your trip. Also, we learned that we could not get anywhere quickly in the park. Plan a minimum of 40 minutes travel time between junctions or visitor service areas on the Grand Loop Road.
The speed limit in Yellowstone is 45 mph except where posted slower, but it was crowded when we were there (July 4 holiday week) and people frequently pull over to the side of the road or slow down to view or photograph wildlife. One of my biggest regrets is not having a good camera with a zoom lens. All of the shots in this blog post were taken with my i-phone, and so many times the animals were just too far away for me to really get a good photo with my phone. From all of the research and ratings I have read this is the sort of camera I would get:
On this trip my husband actually did all of the driving, and I would look for animals and have him stop or pull over frequently so I could take a picture, but he said he didn’t mind. The views were so spectacular that driving was actually pleasant. Be prepared for a lot of driving in order to see the park. Even though we were just there a week, we still felt like we got to see what we wanted to see in that amount of time. The best thing to do is to visit early in the day to avoid crowds. Park entrance gates are open 24-hours. Wildlife are most active at sunrise and sunset, so arriving early gives you the best chance to observe animals.
We saw a lot of elk.The views driving were gorgeous!Real cowboys in action
Another thing we learned is that cell phone service is very
limited (almost none) in the park and surrounding areas. During peak hours the
cellular network is very slow and your provider may not roam on networks in
Yellowstone. Wi-Fi is available at the Mammoth Hotel, the Old Faithful Snow
lodge, Lake Lodge cafeteria, and the Canyon and Grant Lodges for a fee. The
Visitor Center in Mammoth Hot Springs has free Wi-Fi. Data speeds are very
limited outside of that area through. Very frustrating if you are a blogger!
Elk were everywhere around the Mammoth Hot Springs Visitor Center.
Our first tourist stop in the park was Mammoth Hot Springs, which is made up of all of these rock terraces shaped by water over time. The water concentration and vents change quickly and constantly. Water follows the path of least resistance, whether it is above or under the ground, so it is almost like rocks are forming before your eyes. There are wooden boardwalks that we walked on throughout the rock and water features, making it easy to see everything without having to walk in the mud or hot earth.
Mammoth Hot SpringsThis waterfall is near Mammoth Hot Springs.
From there we went back out of the park through the West Entrance to West Yellowstone, MT. We stayed about 5 minutes from the west entrance at West Yellowstone Bed and Breakfast (https://www.westyellowstonebandb.com), where Deborah was a wonderful hostess.
West Yellowstone, Montana is a cool little town. West Yellowstone was incorporated in 1966 but has existed as a gateway community to Yellowstone National Park since the early 1900s. Although it is a small community with a population of approximately 1300 people, visitation to West Yellowstone tops 4 million people per year. The winters can be extreme, so there are fewer visitors in the colder months. When we were there in July the weather was perfect! Low humidity, mid 70’s in temperature, clean air. Having had allergies all my life and especially during pollen season in Memphis, I was so excited to be able to breathe through both sides of my nose for once! There are several restaurants, gift shops, and ice cream or taco trucks.
Everyone was so friendly!
The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center http://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org is pretty cool to walk through. There is sort of a mini zoo at the end with real wolves and bears. There is also the Yellowstone Historic Center in an old train depot with some history exhibits if that’s your thing. See my Day 5 report for some pics and video of an awesome Fourth of July parade right down the center of town. Tomorrow we will go see Old Faithful! Stay tuned for my Day 3 post.
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