TravelStream™ news feed for member beverlyks on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/beverlyks en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 26 May 2008 13:38:54 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211208120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211208120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211208120/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 13:38:54 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States

We got out of the hotel and on our way back into Yellowstone around 10 am, and spent the entire day in the park, getting back to Gardiner around 8:30 pm. It was a great day!

We started off driving through Mammoth Springs heading towards Old Faithful. Our first stop was just south of Mammoth, at the Upper Terraces, where we checked out several hot springs. Then we headed south once again towards Norris - a geyser basin 26 miles from Mammoth. The drive there was spectacular. The road was narrow and winding. At times we were down to 25 mph. There are no shoulders to the road, and often drastic drops ... if you dared to look off the side. There are many places where you can pull off the main road and take pictures of the spectacular scenery and wildlife. We took advantage of that!

Finally, we reached Norris and walked through the basin taking many geyser pictures. There are all kinds of geysers, bubbling and spraying away. In many of the geysers, the water is hotter than boiling. Steam rises from the various ponds, cracks, and crevices. There is a boardwalk to follow through the area. Truly amazing. We spent a good 1 1/2 hours there.

Back on the road, we continued our drive to Old Faithful... 21 more miles to go. Of course this portion was a repeat of the first leg. Beautiful scenery and plenty of wildlife ... and lots of stops and picture taking. 5 hours after leaving Gardiner, we finally got to Old Faithful. I was as impressed , if not more so, with the Old Faithful Inn as I was with Old Faithful geyser. We got there about 3 pm, and the Park Rangers were estimating a 3:20 eruption. Just enough time for an ice cream cone! A few minutes after the estimate, Old Faithful erupted , spraying water and steam into the air. Cool to think I actually got to see it!

After Old Faithful's show, we walked over to the Old Faithful Inn and checked it out. I have read all about it and was thrilled to be there. We made reservations for dinner and went for a walk to see the hotel while we waited. At 5 pm we were seated in the dining room and N order a bison steak while I chose wild boar. There were other "safe" choices, but we decided to try something different. For dessert we shared a Yellowstone Sundae - Huckleberry ice cream with a huckleberry sauce. Very good.

The drive homeward was faster, but we still had to make some photo stops!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211814300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211814300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211814300/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 12:07:55 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Well, we're finally home... it was a great trip! We've done some reflecting and made a "Best/Worst" list.

Best Hotel: Mystic Lake Casino Resort, Prior Lakes/Minneapolis, Minnesota Well, we had a suite, and a package deal, so we enjoyed the luxury on the last night of our vacation. Perfect way to end a holiday!
Worst Hotel: The Days Inn, Jamestown, North Dakota. I'm surprised that Days Inn has allowed this franchise to carry its name! Dingy room. Bathroom appeared to still be under construction ... drywall mud that hadn't been sanded/painted. Chipped tub so rusty metal showed. Bathroom so small the toilet and tub were practically touching . Vanity actually part of the bedroom. Smoking rooms across the hall from non-smoking... meant the hallway smelled like tobacco smoke and it drifted under the door so our room smelled stale too. Thin walls so you can hear everything outside the hotel, other rooms, hallways.

Best Internet Service: Mystic Lake Casino Resort, Prior Lakes/Minneapolis, Minnesota AND Best Western Medicine Hat, Alberta. High speed wireless - fast, easy to connect. Mystic Lake didn't use a password. Medicine Hat had a password but you only needed it once as it never lost connection.
Worst Internet Service: Days Inn Jamestown, North Dakota: although supposedly high speed wireless, they had a complicated password and 3 servers to pick from and you kept getting dropped and not always reconnected. Sometimes 3 or 4 tries to reconnect - and we both have new laptops capable of all kinds of stunts! Also, the Best Western Seven Oaks in Regina - dishonorable mention: have to get an Ethernet cable from the front desk + password. could only sit on the bed to use your laptop. although connection was good, the Ethernet cable was a pain.

Best Price for Gas: Rapid City, South Dakota at $3.49 a gallon (equal to .95/litre)
Worst Price for Gas: In the USA: Grand Portage, Minnesota = $3.99 a gallon (1.09/litre) AND all Canadian gas stations where we paid a few cents +/- $1.25/litre (equal to +/- $4.59/gallon)

Best Breakfast Restaurant: Novia Cafe, Regina, Saskatchewan: Excellent coffee, freshly cooked food (no re-heated bacon), hot food, delicious hash browns, friendly service, good atmosphere.
Worst Breakfast Restaurant: Clark's Crossing, Livingstone, Montana: Well good coffee was about it. Mixed up our orders. One plate had orange slice, the other didn't (both were bacon-and-egg breakfasts). No butter on rye toast. My hash browns undercooked, N's hash browns overcooked. Bacon deep-fried (or reheated via deep fryer)Service was poor. Carts of dirty dishes from previous night's event in adjoining room pushed through restaurant, and past our table.

Best Free Continental Breakfast: Best Western Medicine Hat, Alberta: plenty of choices, fresh options, good coffee - in a room of its own
Worst Free Continental Breakfast: Days Inn, Jamestown, North Dakota: few choices, set up in a small corner of the lobby and being frequented by hotel staff, and a warning that it was only available while supplies lasted. We went to Perkins instead.

Best Lunch: A tie: The Bumpin' Buffalo, Hill City, South Dakota AND Alien Bar and Grill, Albertville, Minnesota. Both had good food, good service, and the servers knew their menu. Both restaurants made sure we were happy ... not hard to do with quality food and service.
Worst Lunch: Dairy Queen, Belfield, North Dakota: Okay, it was a fast-foot joint on I-94 ... what more can I say???

Best Dinner: A 3-way tie, here. Joey's, Winnipeg, Manitoba AND Tumbleweeds, Medicine Hat, Alberta AND Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. All three were memorable meals - delicious, tasty, different, used fresh ingredients. Servers were knowledgeable about food and beverage menu, atmosphere was great. All 3 meals were things I don't/can't do in my own kitchen and thus were more enjoyable.
Worst Dinner: Only a 2-way tie: First Gold Hotel restaurant in Deadwood, South Dakota AND Pizza Ranch in Jamestown, North Dakota. In Deadwood, the portions were huge - family size for an individual. My teriyaki chicken was so salt-ridden it became tasteless. The rice was Uncle Ben's. The waitress was terrible, the service was slow , people who arrived after us got their food first. In Jamestown, the name Pizza Ranch says it all! Although it probably is a good place to take kids as it is primarily a pizza and chicken buffet. Strange pizzas - study the pizza to discover what was served and not eaten yesterday! The taco pizza was interesting. Many of the American restaurants lack fresh veggies - hot or cold.

Best Weather: Yellowstone = we experienced +30C/90F and got the sunburn to prove it! But because we were up in the mountains it wasn't hot and humid... just wonderful!
Worst Weather: The drive from Deadwood, South Dakota to Jamestown, North Dakota = well it really wasn't that bad. Cool in the morning (7C/45F) warming up to 16C/60F. But it was overcast and super, super windy with gusts up to 80 kph/50 mph.

Best Drivers: Montana = polite, courteous, and accepting of tourists who were in awe of the Rocky Mountains and often confused on which way to go.
Worst Drivers: North Dakota/Minnesota along I-94 = okay people, put down the cell phone when you are A) passing people on the interstate B) merging onto the interstate C) in rush hour traffic on the interstate D) when you are pulling recreational vehicles + all of the above! I did like the woman we passed on I-94 near Fargo - in one hand, a cigarette. In the other, a tall tumbler of something amber with ice: iced tea? rum and coke? But she held to 70 mph (115 kph) pretty good with 2 hands full!

Best Beer: Galena Pale (on tap) - enjoyed in Butte, Montana AND Moose Drool (on tap) - discovered in Gardiner Montana AND Fort Garry Dark (on tap + in the bottle) - a Winnipeg Manitoba high lite.
Worst Beer: Teton Dark (bottle) - purchased in Gardiner Montana

All in all, a GREAT VACATION!

I hope you enjoyed reading of our adventure across the Canadian and American West.

And now .... back to the real world :)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211687760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211687760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211687760/tpod.html Sun, 25 May 2008 13:15:37 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

We left Duluth about 3 pm - looking forward to a drive so familiar we could probably do it in our sleep! Moved my watch ahead 1 hour ... now I'm on Thunder Bay time for the first time in 2 weeks!

The drive north was as beautiful as ever. This time however we didn't stop at any of the many wayside rests/state parks along the way. Nonetheless, many others were out enjoying the day ... the parking areas were full and people were wandering all over.

The further north we drove, the less leaves we saw. We had already seen the leaves pop in Winnipeg and Regina, so it wasn't that Canada was behind in the arrival of spring. Lake Superior's cool breezes slows everything down. There was a green blush to the forests so it won't be long before we too are feeling spring-like.

We noticed a real difference in the air. The temperatures were fairly consistent across the mid-west USA ... what was different was the crispness of the air. Only on the shores of Lake Superior!

We crossed the border with little difficulty... despite the arrogance of the young custom's officer. A half-hour later we were back in Thunder Bay!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211683200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211683200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211683200/tpod.html Sun, 25 May 2008 12:47:54 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Duluth, Minnesota, United States

We were up early in our suite at the Mystic Lake Casino Resort... waiting for our room service breakfast. It was huge ... and part of our package. By 9:30 am we were on our way, heading north. It took an hour to get through Minneapolis-St. Paul. Saturday morning traffic on Memorial Day Weekend was quite busy ... I guess everyone was heading out of the city, too. I was surprised that the traffic didn't really let up all the way to Duluth.

We arrived in Duluth and got our first glimpse of Lake Superior in 2 weeks. We've traveled this route before so we knew the beautiful view that awaited us as we reached Spirit Mountain (okay ... a northern Minnesota mountain is NOT a Rocky Mountain... but the view of Lake Superior cannot be met anywhere!).

In Duluth we headed for the Hermantown-Miller Hill Mall area and did a bit of shopping and grabbed lunch. It was nice to drive through a city without looking at a map! About 3 pm we were ready to finish our journey, and after gassing up, headed north on Highway 61.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211546460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211546460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211546460/tpod.html Sat, 24 May 2008 00:50:03 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Belfield, North Dakota, United States

We left Deadwood early this morning, our mugs full of hot coffee. It was overcast and only 7C (45F). We headed back the way we had come, going north on Highway 85 through Belle Fourche into North Dakota. The forecasted wind was not as strong as expected and traffic was light.

The terrain was typical Great Plains. At one point we passed North Dakota's highest peak - only about 3400 feet.
We stopped at a Dairy Queen for lunch just before entering the Interstate - this time the I-94 - at Belfield, North Dakota. Just a quick lunch, and we were on our way. The further east we went, the less clouds we saw, and the temperature began to climb.

[the pictures for this leg are with the next entry]
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211512920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211512920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211512920/tpod.html Sat, 24 May 2008 00:41:23 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Jamestown, North Dakota, United States

About 4 pm we checked into our hotel for the night - the Days Inn in Jamestown, about 95 east of Bismarck. A bit of a surprise for a Days Inn... more like a local motel. I now know why it only cost $69 - I think I would rather of spent a few more dollars and something a bit better ... but it is only one night, and tomorrow we'll be in Minnesota at Mystic Lakes Casino Resort - a much better experience, I'm sure!

We were surprised to find, when we turned on the news, that really, really bad weather is following us! Colorado and Wyoming have had tornadoes and Rapid City had thunderstorms. Weather forecasts for tomorrow aren't that great either ... I think we should stay ahead of the ugly stuff... I also discovered from my fav weather website (Wunderground) that Yellowstone has had snow, and is getting more overnight - 20 inches by the time it stops - and at elevations of 6000 feet and less! I think we left there just in time, too! Hard to believe that I got a sunburn there less than a week ago!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211248800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211248800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211248800/tpod.html Sat, 24 May 2008 00:39:35 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Gardiner, Montana, United States

We started our return trip from Yellowstone National Park to Gardiner about 6:30. It took us close to 2 hours to get back partly because of picture taking moments, and partly because of the low speed. We both were both glad to get back to the hotel, tired(and sunburned) but thrilled with the day we had.

Tomorrow, we head out for Deadwood South Dakota, backtracking through Livingstone to get back on the Interstate (I-90)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211600040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211600040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211600040/tpod.html Sat, 24 May 2008 00:10:55 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Prior Lake, Minnesota, United States

Our second-last vacation day. We were up early at our Days Inn room in Jamestown ... not the most comfortable bed, plus the hotel is rather noisy -- not from the clientele -- from the doors, the showers, the toilets flushing, the bathroom fans. We packed up and were over at the Perkins by 8 am. Passed on the hotel-offered Continental Breakfast - advertised as "from 7 to 10 or until supplies last" (! not a big motel, how hard can it be to have a pile of donuts and a pot or two of coffee out?" LOL

The Perkins wasn't too busy so we were on the road in no time. Traffic wasn't too bad, and an hour and half later we were crossing the Minnesota border. Being in Minnesota was almost like being home. We have traveled here so much over the years that it is familiar territory. However, the Mystic Lake Casino Resort was a new destination.

We were making good time, so I pointed out to N that we wouldn't be able to check in until later in the afternoon. Therefore, since we were passing Albertville, it only seemed right to pull in to Alien's Bar and Grill for lunch and then check out the outlet mall. Of course we got a couple of deals at the mall, and a gallon of bbq sauce from Alien's (we were running out at home ... this is THE bbq sauce to have!)

We drove to the hotel and were greeted with valet and bellman service. We headed up to our suite - we had a package deal - and was pleasantly surprised! It was everything our last hotel wasn't ... and then some! Sitting room with couch and tv, king size bedroom, dressing room and bathroom, and separate entry. Our package included dinner tonight and a room service breakfast tomorrow. We wandered through the casino after dinner - mostly to walk off over-eating :) We threw a few bucks away in the slots, and N played a little black jack - mostly just making a contribution to the casino! We got back to our room to find the pillows artistically arranged and the bedding turned down and 2 chocolates by the pillow. Our room is on the top floor, and people in the elevator commented about our 'elite' position ... I didn't want to mention we got a deal!

We head out here tomorrow, heading north ... for Canada, and for Thunder Bay .... home!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211407200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211407200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211407200/tpod.html Fri, 23 May 2008 01:10:01 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Deadwood, South Dakota, United States

Our return to Deadwood was through a different route - we went south of the Badlands and took Highway 44 into Rapid City and then southwest to hook up again with 385 into Deadwood. We got into Deadwood about 8 pm and stopped at Pizza Hut to get a pie to bring back to our hotel room. We enjoyed our pizza and pepsi while chatting online with Evan - gotta love the web cam! After that, we called it a night ... tomorrow we head into North Dakota.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211356260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211356260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/beverlyks/1/1211356260/tpod.html Fri, 23 May 2008 01:03:20 -0400 Westward Ho! - Road trip to Western Canada and USA, across the prairies and mountains

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States

After leaving Mount Rushmore, we headed north on Highway 16, eventually hooking up with I-90 and heading eastward for around 50 miles. It was so windy, the SUV was being pushed like crazy and the sound of howling wind was constant. We got to the Badlands around 4 pm under partially cloudy conditions. We paid the $15.00 entry fee and before long had our breath complete taken away by the awesome view.

Despite the howling winds, we couldn't get over the amazing scenery. N kept saying how it was SO worth the drive. It tooks us about 2 hours to drive through the area, and I kept clicking away, taking picture after picture after picture. I did have 1 moment of consideration ... we stopped at a picnic spot for a bathroom-break and when I got out of our vehicle I saw a caution sign regarding rattlesnakes. I had totally forgotten that this was a hazard of the area! And I am not up on my rattlesnake-avoidance-techniques/knowledge. What was I going to find in the washroom?? Needless to say it was just me and the wind howling through... but I didn't linger, and I sure watched where I stepped for the rest of the day!
]]>