Taking a NW, US. vacation sights to hit and ones to miss. ?

**Olympia** · 06-29-2010 10:24 AM

Greetings all,
Taking a vacation in late Aug. into Sept. Thought i might get some input from some of you that either live or have visited. Sights to hit and ones to miss.
Teton, Yellowstone, Rushmore, Crazy horse, Custer Battlefield......
I would welcome any advise, info, or thoughts you care to share.

**sourpuss** · 06-29-2010 10:27 AM

I've been to all of those, except Crazy Horse.
Are you driving? What's your route?

Teton = Must see
Yellowstone = probably should see if you've never been there.
Rushmore = meh, I'd skip it
Custer Battlefield = if it's on your way, it's definitely interesting

**Olympia** · 06-29-2010 10:39 AM

Sourpuss,
We (hubby and i) watched the PBS special on the National Parks and fell in Love.
We plan on Flying to Salt Lake, and driving to all of the above. Hubby wants to fish. I think he stated the Snake River, or it may be Jenny Lake.
Any thing in between that is as picturesque?

**Olympia** · 06-29-2010 10:50 AM

Sourpuss..
We will be in between Teton and Yellowstone, staying in Tetonia,ID. Have you been to Jackson Hole?

**LanaBear** · 06-29-2010 11:01 AM

lol - I opened the thread up prepared to pepper you with suggestions to all kinds of places in Washington and Oregon, but I see that you don't mean THAT far NW.

I've done the Yellowstone, Teton's, Rushmore thing and pretty much agree with sourpuss on all that. However, if you haven't seen Rushmore, I guess it is alright, but it is one of those things where you will stop, get out and look at four heads on the mountain for 5-10 minutes, hop back in the car and pretty much say what sp said. "Meh, we could have skipped that."

Maybe toss on Devil's Tower if you will be in the area... There are a TON of hot springs in Wyoming too... I used to love going to Thermopolis (hubby can knock off some fishing at Big Horn River, while you relax in the springs

), but Hoback Junction is good too.

There's plenty to do in SLC if you spend any time in the area coming or going.

**Olympia** · 06-29-2010 11:11 AM

We had originally wanted to include much more in this trip. Oregon, Washington, Black Hills....... But, Tuition Increases have put the Kibosh on that part for now. But I am sure we will go back that way and hit what we missed this time.

**LanaBear** · 06-29-2010 11:18 AM

That would be a lot for one trip anyways. A LOT of driving! You could easily kill a week in Yellowstone, Teton's, Jackson Hole, etc. Then you won't feel rushed the whole time and end up feeling like you weren't really on a vacation.

**Olympia** · 06-29-2010 11:52 AM

Thermopolis sounds sinfully delicious. Oooooo.... I emailed the web site to hubby. The day he chooses to fish I may hot spring it or decide to draw/paint along the water side with him.. Depends on where he fishes..
Thanks LB i intend on visiting.. And i am sure you will pop to mind!

**sourpuss** · 06-29-2010 01:03 PM

I agree, spend your time in Teton and Yellowstone. Just start at the bottom and work your way up. Don't plan a lot because you'll literally drive at a snails pace and there are traffic jams about every mile because everyone has to completely stop and take 50,000 of each and every elk that is in the park. Jackson is awesome, Yellowstone fishing will be great that time of year. It will be hot though, so I'm not sure how much you'll want to sit in the hotsprings. There's tons of hiking. And if you need to shopping and a break from the parks, Jackson Hole has tons of shops and stuff.

You can skip West Yellowstone, that place is a dive. Just go to Old Faithful and turn back the other way, haha. About 50 miles from the West entrance to the Park is Virginia City, a touristy ghost town that's kind of fun if you're into that sort of thing.

Your husband will need a special fishing license to fish in Yellowstone, and I think they only allow flyfishing, but I've poached it before and never got caught, but better safe than sorry.

**Olympia** · 06-30-2010 06:03 AM

LB and SP
Well after discussion last eve. We are limiting our visits. Teton and Yellowstone, and only as far as Cody Wyoming. Rushmore, Crazyhorse, Custer, Black hills, sites in Washingon...... all will wait for future visits. I discovered some hot springs in ID. Ever been to any there....?