On Day 13, we set off from Colter Bay Village Resort to hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point on Jenny Lake. This two mile (each way) moderate hike culminates near the Jenny Lake ferry boat shuttle dock on the far side of Jenny Lake, where the trail climbs up from the lake, following swift-moving Cascade Creek to Hidden Falls. From there, hikers can continue .5 mile to Inspiration Point, … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 12): Colter Bay Village, Grand Teton
July 8, 2010 By
Day 12 found us crossing the national park border from Yellowstone to Grand Teton to check in at Colter Bay Village Resort. Located within the park boundary and managed by Grand Teton Lodge Company (go through them when booking), Colter Bay Village Resort comprises of a campground, tent village, and cabin village clustered around the shore of Jackson Lake. The resort also includes a marina, … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 11): Yellowstone National Park
July 7, 2010 By
Day 11, we drove the short distance on Hwy 191 from Big Sky Resort to Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone crowds swarm the Old Faithful hub of this massive park, so after entering at the West Entrance, we drove north from the Madison hub to Artists' Paintpots, then back-tracked to Firehole River for a wonderful swimming hole. At Artists' Paintpots, you'll find a well-maintained loop trail … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 10): Big Sky High Ropes Course
July 6, 2010 By
Before we started our session on the High Ropes Course at Big Sky Resort, I wasn't sure whether it would be too challenging for my kids (ages 11 and 8)...and myself! The apparatus--a maze of ropes, logs, planks, and even tires suspended in the high alpine air--was certainly intimidating! But from the moment I saw Calvin and Nate shimmy up the rope ladder to enter the array of elevated challenges, … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 9): Zipline and Bungee Trampoline!
July 5, 2010 By
We were all excited to wake up at the Big Sky Resort's Summit Hotel and get going with an activity-packed day…without getting in our car for a change! We grabbed a quick bite to eat in the Mountain Mall, then arrived at BaseCamp (located right next door on the plaza) for our first two activities of the day. If you're a guest at Big Sky Resort (or a day guest), you're going to want to spend … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 8): Big Sky Resort’s Summit Hotel
July 4, 2010 By
After driving from Glacier National Park to Boulder Hot Springs, we were more than happy to end Day 7 and enjoy Day 8-9 at the Summit Hotel at The Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, Montana, our home base for family fun and a little R&R before continuing on to Yellowstone. I cannot say enough good things about Big Sky Resort in general and the Summit in particular. If you have kids in tow (or even … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 7): Boulder Hot Springs
July 3, 2010 By
31 Hot Springs Road Boulder, MT On Day 7, we said goodbye to Glacier and the Many Glacier Hotel and drove south to Big Sky, Montana, with a midway stopover in Boulder. Boulder Hot Springs Inn and Spa is located almost mid-way between Butte and Helena just off Interstate 15 in Boulder. Sitting on almost 300 acres, it's in a very pretty location, and the geothermal waters are wonderful. We … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 6): Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
July 2, 2010 By
Day 6 was our last full day at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park. For today's featured pit stop, we decided to hike from Logan's Pass to Hidden Lake. We drove the approximate 21 miles back to the St. Mary Visitor Center Park Entrance, then another few to the Logan Pass Visitor Center at the peak of the famed Going to the Sun Road (en route, we stopped to let a black bear cross the … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 4): The Many Glacier Hotel
June 30, 2010 By
On Day 4, we drove from Spokane, WA to Glacier National Park, which took us along Hwy 2 and Hwy 93. 94 years old, the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park opened to the public on July 4, 1915. The hotel was declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 1976. Located in the northeastern section of Glacier National Park on … [Read more...]
A Pit Stop a Day (Day 3): Mobius Kids Museum
June 27, 2010 By
808 W. Main (Riverfront Square Lower Level) Spokane, WA Day 3 found us spending the day among friends in Spokane, WA for the city's annual Hoopfest basketball tournament. The kids and I temporarily escaped the crowds and heat at Mobius Kids, an expansive children's museum right in the heart of downtown. Mobius Kids is great for all ages with exhibits including a play city, a construction … [Read more...]
