Yellowstone is Huge.

Yellowstone National Park is huge. This is something that locals can’t stress enough and still hopefuls call wanting the “walking tour.” When you’re visiting a place this massive (and your vacation is only so long) you need a plan. First, consider that the Park is shaped like a figure eight (8) and is referred to in loops: The Upper Loop (the top of the 8) and the Lower Loop (you guessed it…the bottom). Yellowstone is flanked in all compass directions by entrances and each entrance is home to a gateway community: Jackson Hole, WY to the south, Cody, Wyoming to the east, West Yellowstone, Montana to the west, and Gardiner, Montana to the north. Each entrance has something special and unique to offer, so before you hang your hat, determine your priorities, and plan accordingly.

Assuming that your Yellowstone priority is touring Yellowstone Park, you should turn your attention to West Yellowstone. This is not to say that the city of West Yellowstone outshines or bests the other towns in Yellowstone Country. It is simply to say that this is the smartest choice for a Yellowstone itinerary. West Yellowstone is ideally situated right where those two loops meet (figure eight, remember?). A line on a map and a road aptly named Boundary Street are the only things that separate this charming community from the country’s first national park. Staying in West you will travel 14 miles from Yellowstone’s west gate to Madison Junction where you will make your biggest touring choice of the day: left or right, Upper or Lower. No other entrance can offer you this potential for minimal backtracking and maximum time spent in the Park versus just driving home.

Location is only one argument for choosing West Yellowstone…but that’s a whole different entry altogether. The point is that there are many things to consider when planning your trip to Yellowstone, and choosing your headquarters should be the start. When you’re ready to put the other pieces in place, be sure and take advantage of local resources and knowledge. The West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce (all cities in Yellowstone Country have amazing Chambers) is a great place to find ranches, hotels, or campgrounds, activities, additional travel tips, and more, more, more.

Trust Me. I Live Here.

Living in Yellowstone Country has taught me something about travel (not that I do much since life around here keeps us so busy). When you’re headed somewhere for the very first time, make a few calls and find a friendly local voice to guide you. It is quite possible that you’ll encounter one or two folks who aren’t overly helpful…. but keep looking. Most of the people living and working in a destination community are passionate about the area and are anxious to share. These beacons may be found answering the phones at hotels, ranches, service providers, or the Chamber of Commerce. (Something to note: most cities are home to a Chamber of Commerce. Who knew, right? These organizations are usually quiet, behind-the-scenes outfits but not in a tourism-rich community. Chambers in towns around Yellowstone [or Mount Rushmore or the Grand Canyon or Yosemite…you get the picture] are hands-on and full of useful resources.)

While searching for your local connection, remember that people working in hospitality deal with the public forty hours a week…so killing them with kindness is a good approach. A friendly and cavalier voice is quite welcome and will often be met by a chattier reservationist on the business end of the call. Speaking from nearly 16 years of front desk experience I can say that friendly people (genuinely kind if possible) are like little gifts and I will spend 30 minutes gushing insider secrets in a show of appreciation. Grumpy people get information, too (I don’t discriminate), but they certainly don’t get the same caliber of insight and helpfulness.

There are lots of amazing resources for travelers (especially if you can find the ones that aren’t getting paid to say good things) but there’s something to be said for the horse’s mouth. Give it a try on your next adventure. Make a call, find a friend, and get the inside scoop on where you’re headed.

Small Town. Big Life.

There was a time when I regretted my decision to live in small town Montana. The ease of being somewhere else - somehwhere bigger - was familar and appealling. Life is harder in a mountain town. Not "cowboy-to-town-for-hard-tack-and-dry-goods" hard, but "there's-no-doctor-here-so-don't-have-your-baby-in-the-truck" hard. Growing up a city girl I didn't know (or care) where our heat came from. I turned a shiny dial at the end of the hall and *poof* the house got warm. Living in West Yellowstone I know exactly where our heat comes from because I'm the one chopping the wood and building the fire. We live 90 miles from WalMart which means you drive an hour and a half to buy underwear. Convenience is not a way of life in the mountains. It's what you trade for quiet streets and clean air. It's what you sacrifice for peace of mind and a greater perspective on the things you need versus the stuff you want.

Swapping the six-screen cineplex for a one-screen movie house was a bold and rewarding move. Everything about Yellowstone Country is engaging. The beauty of the nation's first national park is not contained by the boundaries established through history. It spills over into our backyards and we wake up each morning to the mountains and the rivers and to moose peeking in our windows. Today I sit at my desk looking out at blue skies over Lionhead Mountain and the nearly 4-feet of snow that is my lawn. I'm ten years in to being a Montanan and it gets a little bit better (and a lot more interesting) every day....