1.) From "Home" to Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado - August 28 - September 4, 2005.
Mostly a fun part of the trip, leaving the "least" coast behind. About half way through Missouri you can relax and know things are getting back to "normal" again.
Rolla, MO. - Univ. of MST (formerly) Rolla [UMR] - St. James Winery - Johnny's Smoke Stak - Zeno's Motel - Route 66 - Meramec Spring Park/Trout Hatchery Colorado is much higher in altitude than most of the rest of the Rocky Mountains. The problem is yuppies like to go there to shop.
Grand Lake, CO - Mountain Lakes Lodge - Rocky Mountain National Park 2.) Big Al the Allosaurus in Laramie, Wyoming - September 4 - 6, 2005.
Much of the inspiration for this trip was Big Al. Isabella was very fortunate in that the volunteers at the museum came in on a holiday (Labor Day) to give her (us) a personalized tour, including the Allosaurus featured in the BBC production, The Ballad of Big Al.
Univ. of WY Geological Museum - Featuring "Big Al" as seen in the BBC production Walking with Dinosaurs. 3.) Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Wyoming - September 6 - 8, 2005.
The Hatchet Resort, formerly known as the Hatchet Motel is a neat place to stay right outside of Gr. Teton NP. The history of the place is interesting, read their website for details.
Hatchet Resort - Lewis and Clark Expeditions (Outfitters) Jackson, WY. - Grand Teton National Park Yellowstone National Park 4.) Montana and Glacier National Park - September 9 - 14, 2005.
Departing Yellowstone via the west entrance and heading north toward Bozeman was a real treat. The Madison River flows through a beautiful valley alternating with meadows and trees. All down hill saved on fuel too. We stopped at Three Forks, where the Missouri River starts. For Lewis and Clark 200 years ago, arriving here was significant because their guide Sacagawea began to recognize the area as home. Two Medicine Dinosaur was an interesting place to stop and rest. No pictures from here, but we saw the Seismosaurus model and talked to a resident paleontologist.
At Glacier we met up with a colleague from work who was recently retired and on his first vacation to Glacier. I finally got to go on a hike to Ptarmigan Tunnel. Of course it was snowing. Marvin's Photos from Glacier. Marvin also has a website: "My 2005 in Photos".
Bozeman, MT - Three Forks, MT - Two Medicine Dinosaur, Bynum, MT - Glacier National Park, MT - Montana Road/WX/Traffic information 5.) Devils Tower, WY. and Mount Rushmore, SD. National Monuments, Badlands National Park, SD. and "Home" - September 14 - 18, 2005.
The L&C Interpretive Center was very well done. It is certainly worth the time to stop and deserves much more. There is a shortened version of the Ken Burns PBS film. Over US 212 between Crow Agency and Alzada, MT the deer are plentiful but this is the last stretch where your vehicle can "stretch".
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Great Falls, MT - Livingston, MT - Little Bighorn, MT - Devils Tower, WY - Spearfish, SD - Black Hills/Mt. Rushmore, SD - Badlands, SD - Sioux City, IA/Sgt. Floyd - Iowa City, IA./Dino-Dyno