Sunday July 22, to Sunday July 29, 2007
by Chan Panchal
Highlights: After landing at Rapid City, South Dakota Airport, we transferred to our Hotel Radisson. The next morning we visited Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore National Monument.
(Two nights in Radisson, Rapid City, South Dakota).
3rd Day: we visited the Western Cowboy town of Sheridan in Wyoming and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Billings, Montana.
(One night in Crowne Plaza Hotel, Billings, Montana).
4th Day: On our way to Yellowstone National Park we visited Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming; stopped at the Continental Divide; and arrived at Yellow Stone.
(Two nights in Old Faithful Snow Lodge, in the Yellowstone National park, Wyoming).
5th Day: We took a full circle guided tour of Yellowstone Park.
6th Day: On to Grand Teton National Park, took a Snake River Float/Raft tour, visited the town of Teton village and arrived at the town of Jackson.
(One night in the Virginian Hotel, Wyoming).
7th Day: We drove thru Oregon Trail, took a tour of the Mormon Tabernacle and arrived in the Salt Lake City, Utah
(One night in Hilton Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah).
8th Day: We left for our journey back home, New Jersey.
Details:
Sunday July 22, 2007. From Newark, NJ, we flew on Northwest Airlines, at 6.20a.m, arrived Minneapolis at 8.15a.m.; departed 9.30a.m. and arrived in Rapid City at 10.30a.m. (We drove and parked our car in Newark long-term parking lot – 7 day, $15 per day). At Rapid City we were picked-up by Radisson Hotel and were able to check in at 12.30p.m. (Spent two nights in Radisson).
It was a very hot day i.e. actual temperature 104F. We did try to walk on the Main St., where all U.S. Presidents’ statues were located, however, we came back in a short time due to extreme heat. Had dinner at the Hotel restaurant called Enigma. 8p.m. Caravan had a welcome meeting in the hotel and we met Tom, our tour director.
Monday July 23, 2007. We had breakfast at 7a.m., left for Crazy Horse and MT. Rushmore at 8.30a.m. Our bus was very comfortable and because of hot weather, each passenger was given a bottle of water couple of times a day. We were 44 passengers including our tour director, Tom, and our driver, Charlie. It was an unusually hot morning and later that day the temp. went up to 105F. On our way to Crazy Horse, we passed by bare country farm and saw baby black bears and passed black forests. Spent 3 hours at the Crazy Horse area. First we watched a 15 min. movie and then visited the museum, gift shops and residence of Korczak Ziolkowski’s (the main sculptor) residence and took many pictures. Left at 12 noon and arrived at Mt. Rushmore at 12.30 p.m., stayed up-to 3p.m.
We took a tour of this great National Monument called Mt. Rushmore, with the sculptured faced of Presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Arrived through the black hills to Rapid City. Once again walked around town to look at the presidents’ statues and explore the downtown. Had dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Tuesday July 24, 2007. Weather was hot/sunny and clear. Once again, breakfast at 6.30 and left our hotel at 8a.m. on our way to Wyoming; 375 miles journey from Rapid City. On our way we passed one of the camps of motor cycles gathering. In the second week of August, 250,000 motor cycle riders will get to gather in Rapid City for 2 weeks. In a city with population of 60,000, during these two weeks, there will be an additional 500,000 people.
Note: Once again we passed black hills areas. Because US Gov't took thousands of acres of black hills areas, Native Americans are not happy and they are still not happy about it, even though the Gov't has put $300 millions in an escrow A/C. Even today, they have refused to accept this money.
On our way we passed a Spearfish theater with a capacity of 6,000, largest in the state of South Dakota. We also passed and took pictures of Buffalo ditch, where Native Americans will dig a ditch and once a wild buffalo fell in it, they will then finish it off. This will be very useful in every way during the winter season.
Also passed 1st Devil’s Tower. Theodore Roosevelt, although never setting an eye on the Devils Tower, recognized it as a scientific wonder and proclaimed this magnificently columned natural structure America’s first national monument in 1906.
After that we stopped in the town of Gillette around 10a.m. for a coffee break. We continued driving in Wyoming. The speed limit in this part of the land is 75pmh. We arrived in the town of Sheridan around 12noon and had a buffet lunch at the Holiday Inn.
After lunch we continue driving and entered the state of Montana, “Big Sky Country”. Visited Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in the Crow Nation. Watched a short movie of the battle, where in 1876, in the valley of Little Big Horn, combined Sioux and Northern Cheyenne forces led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse overwhelmed Custer and his Calvary. At this time the real temperature was 106F. We arrived in Billings at 5.30p.m. The town Billings is very Industrialized and famous for computer software, potato and sugar beans.
This evening we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant.
Wednesday July 25, 2007. Weather was little cooler this morning. Breakfast at 6.30 and in bus at 8a.m. This morning we started our journey toward Wyoming to the town of Cody through the wide-open spaces of Montana.
In Cody we visited the world famous Buffalo Bill Historical Center known for its Wild West exhibits. Saw the Plains Indian Museum and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, with paintings and sculptures by revered artists such as Frederic Remington and Charles Russell. In Cody also visited one of the oldest hotels, Hotel Irma, famous for old style rooms, menu and very unique cherry wood bar.
Left Cody around 1.15p.m. and crossed the Continental Divide and entered Yellowstone Park for a two night stay in the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Checked in hotel at 5p.m. and at 6.10 p.m. we went to see the most beautiful thing in the park i.e. Old Faithful Geyser where every 90 minutes the Old Faithful Geyser shoots thousands of gallons of steaming water into air, sometime up-to 100 feet. Also walked in surrounding areas (mainly on the built-in platform/promenade) to observe various types of geysers.
We also visited one of the most beautiful and oldest hotels in the park i.e. Old Faithful Inn.
Thursday July 26, 2007: This morning was one of the most beautiful and comfortable mornings (60F when we started our day and expected to go to 75F). Breakfast at 7a.m. and left at 8.30a.m. for a full day complete tour of Yellowstone Park.
Yellowstone Park was established in 1872 and became the first national park in the world. Now over 90 countries all over the world have national parks. This 2.2 millions acre park contains almost 300 Geysers and over 10,000 hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots. In addition, many varieties of animals are found such as; black bears, moose, elk and bison. The coldest temperature recorded (in 1933) was -66F and hottest was 99F. There are two major attractions in the Yellowstone Park, the upper and lower loops. On the upper loop, one will see Norris Geyser Basin and visit Mammoth Hot Springs. Walk on the raised platforms above the unique terraced pools. Mammoth Hot Springs is one of the best areas in the park for close-up viewing of elk or gibbon. On the lower level loop, one will see Old Faithful Geyser where every 90 minutes the old faithful geyser shoots thousands of gallons of steaming water into the air.
Later stopped at the fall of the river Gibbons. Around 10.30a.m. we arrived at the famous Mammoth Hot Springs and took a tour. Then arrived at the Mammoth Head Quarter and stayed for lunch until 1p.m. The next stop was Grand Canyon, where we marveled at the rushing waters of Yellowstone falls, twice the height of Niagara Falls i.e. approx. 325feet.
On over way to the hotel we passed Fountain Point Pots and Yellowstone Lake. (This lake is the largest in North America 7723 Sq feet). Continued driving and we experienced a “traffic gridlock” created by bisons. During their evening “going home” time, many bisons decided to cross the highway we were driving on. And as per the rule of respecting the animals in Yellowstone National Park, we had to wait, wait and wait for these bisons to cross the highway. Total delay was for about an hour. Then we stopped and took pictures at the Continental Divide/Isa Lake. This line divides our country between East and West.
Arrived at the hotel at 5p.m.and because it was raining, we did some souvenir shopping. After dinner once again before we were tp leave the park the next morning, we stopped at the famous Old Faithful Inn to enjoy the history/beauty of the magnificent structure.
Friday July 27, 2007: Weather was clear and comfortable. Breakfast at 6a.m. and left hotel at 8a.m. We are on our way to Jackson/Grand Teton National Park. On our way to the Teton National Park we observed the jagged soaring Teton Ranges with eight peaks over 12,000 feet. Scenes from the western classic film “Shane” were filmed here.
Stopped at the Colter Visit Center and near-by scenic stop and, took some pictures of Grand Teton Mountains. Next stop was Jenny Lake to take our float trip in the river Snake.
Because weather was clear and calm, we were able to take the float trip in the river Snake. This float ride in a rubber raft for two hours was one of the most beautiful unforgettable memories of our trip. We enjoyed a picnic lunch in raft, while we were floating in the river Snake. We also saw some wildlife as we floated through the park like; waterfowl, beaver, osprey and eagles (including eagles nest). We also took many pictures of Teton Ranges (mountains) and beautiful river including the horse-buggy transfer barge (the one they used to use it in our golden days) crossing the river.
Then, we arrived in the town of Jackson. We had plenty of time to walk around the beautiful downtown. Enjoyed the art galleries and western shops. Walked around the town square and took pictures of the Antler Arch (constructed on all four sides of the park). Also visited the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where, the bar stools was made from horse saddles. Arrived in hotel The Virginian (for one night stay) around 5.15p.m. and left at 6.15p.m. for a real western cowboy style dinner and entertainment at the place called Chuck wagon. It was real treat in terms of how the dinner was served to 700 people within 15 minutes. There was a live old Hi Ho type country programs given by Bob Murphy’s two sons and their group. It was really entertaining evening. Returned to our hotel around 10.30p.m.
Saturday July 28, 2007: This morning was clear with temperature being 65F and expected to go up-to 90F. We had a 6.30a.m. breakfast and left the hotel at 8a.m. on our way south through the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Entered Idaho and crossed the route of the original “Oregon Trail”.
Stopped in the town of Thayne (rest stop) and had hot/fresh/doughnut. Passed a town of Aftan and saw (took a picture) the widest Antler Arch – covering the entire street. Next stop was town of Logan and we had lunch. Stopped at beautiful Bear Lake for pictures. Continued via Logan Canyon to Salt Lake City, Utah, the state capital.
State of Utah: Total population is 2.3 million. The average age in the state is 26 years. This is one of the fasted growing states in USA. Between 1990 and 2000 Utah population grew by 29%. Highest recorded temperature was 117F and the lowest was -69F.
Later we arrived at the Temple Square and visited its beautiful gardens and fountains. Took a tour of the Mormon Tabernacle, home to the Mormon tabernacle Choir. Arrived at Hilton at 5.p.m. (for one night stay). Had farewell dinner at the Hilton at 6.p.m. and after dinner took a stroll in the downtown of Salt Lake City including a short shuttle/Trolley ride. Returned to hotel at 9.30.
Sunday July 29, 2007: Said good-by to our newly made friends and the Salt Lake City and took a 10.a.m. flight to come home. Took shuttle bus to the air port (provided by Hilton by charging $8 PP). After one transfer at Cleveland, Ohio, arrived Newark around 7.p.m., picked-up our car from the long term parking lot and arrived home around 8.30p.m.
Caravan Tour: We enjoyed Caravan tour’s services and their 55 years of experience under the same family management, with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Two things we liked the most: the first was the fact that Caravan includes all activities listed in their itinerary and the second, Caravan does not sell any “optional tours” which can add a great deal of money to your tour.
C/P/Mt.Rushmore-7-2007
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