FAVORITES !!

        The summer has just flown by !   This is our last week of working here at Grizzly and it's almost bittersweet.  On one hand it's nice not  to be going to work each day but we are definately going to miss  Yellowstone.  

      I thought I would tell you some of our favorite places  in town and in YNP.   One morning a week we'd walk the four blocks to our favorite coffee shop, THE BOOK PEDDLAR .   As we enter the store we are greeted by the fragrant smell of fresh brewed coffee.   A rustic western interior with rough hewn shelves on the walls, holds a variety of books filled with the local history, tales of cowboys, ghost stories to be told next a crackling campfire, local flora and fauna and everything you could ever want to know about Yellowstone.  Toward the back of the store is a slightly raised wood plank floor, enclosed by a pine rail fence, with knotty pine tables and chairs.   The barista gives us a hot mug and we pour any of the specialty brews sitting on an old  kitchen wood cookstove.    It's always busy !   Inevitably, we find ourselves visiting with the folks at the next table only to end up exchanging business cards.   Some people are so interesting.

      The CANYON STREET GRILL is a fun place for lunch.  Big red booths line two walls as the decor is  kind of retro 1950-60's, with an old car front in one wall and posters of James Dean, Betty Boop, Elvis, etc. 
It's a Mom & Pop store run by local residents.  Quite a number of the college aged students hoping to make it in Hollywood work there during the day and act at the evening performances at the PLAYMILL THEATER.   Their menu includes Wolfman Jack sandwiches, (one of many) and a great burger with fries or green salad.   I like their chicken strips.

      THE HOMEROOM is our favorite Gallery.   The building used to be the school gymnasium and now has beautiful paintings, pottery, furniture and artistic accessories.  We never get tired of browsing here and almost always walk away with some little ' find'.

      The IMAX, aside from showing films about YNP, Amazing Caves and Tales of Lewis & Clark on a 60' - 80' screen, has the best  a 50 cent ice cream cone in town.  Not too big...not too small !  :)

      In the Park we enjoy the drive to CANYON VILLAGE.   Fabulous Visitor's Center!  Lots of displays and Rangers to answer all our questions,  a really nice outfitter store in case you need outdoor wear, sandals, boots and even fishing gear.  Artist Point is just down the road and that's where the best views of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone can be seen.

      LAMAR VALLEY is in the NE corner of YNP.  Herds of bison are grazing on the grasses across many acres of meadow.  The wolves that were introduced back into the Park in 1975 can sometimes be seen in the distance.  People from all over set up chairs and huge spotting scopes along the banks of the road and wait all day for glimpses of the wolf packs.  If asked they will give you more info about them than you really wanted to know!   This is Norm's favorite spot. He'll spend all day walking along the banks of the Soda Butte & Lamar River's fishing  thinking  he's gone to" hog heaven" or in this case "fishing heaven" !   I do have to say, it is a thing of wonder watching how, with the sunlight behind him, he casts that fishing pole, the line forms a consistant 'S" again and again until  finally  the line goes taut and you know there is a gorgeous trout fighting on the other end !   With great care, not to overly tire the fish, he reels it in.   The barbless hook is carefully removed and then Norm cradles it in his hand under water so Mr Trout can rest, get it's bearings and swim safely away.   AAHHHH !!!   What a sight !     Now, Norm's down the river a ways searching for his next catch !

      On our way back to West Y.  we like to go through MAMMOTH.   As we enter the village, Elk can be seen grazing or just laying on the well manicured lawns.   There are two nice gift shops here and a Grill that serves a decent, reasonably priced burger.   The highlight here are the terraces of alkaline that cover one hillside.  Apparently,  however,the area has been hit with a slight drought.  Water would cascade down these terraces leaving the alkaline deposited on the 'shelves'.  This year they aren't quite as spectacular because of the lack of water but......Still, pretty impressive!

      These are just a few of our favorite things (Oh...I should break out in song !)