Family Adventures... On the trail with your tribe
 |
By Porter Fox
Peering through the back window of a station wagon is no way to see the exciting and magical world of the Wild West. But just how are parents supposed to entertain themselves and their children simultaneously?
How do they plan activities to satisfy both ends of the age spectrum?
Well, here's a plateful of ideas for both parents and kids venturing into the new Old West.
First off, how about letting your young travelers share in preserving the memories of your vacation? Give them an inexpensive camera to record their unique point of view. Pose for them in front of the mountains, in front of the geysers, in front of park entrance signs. But don't stand next to the wildlife; unthinking tourists get injured every year trying that one.
The visitors' and information centers located throughout Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are wonderful places for both children and adults to learn about the surrounding natural and historic features. Science schools and naturalist programs are another way to introduce young travelers to the outdoors. And don't bypass all those historical markers along the highways in mountain country.
Throughout mountain country parents will find exciting excursions to enthrall themselves and their candy-crunching offspring. In West Yellowstone visit the Grizzly Discovery Center to get an up-close look at grizzly bears and wolves, then walk next door and view one of the spectacular movies at the Yellowstone IMAX Theater. If you want to get really close to animals, take a tour of the Petting Zoo in Red Lodge.
For the family itching for excitement, though, check out the Alpine Slide at Snow King Resort in Jackson. And while you're at Snow King, hop on the scenic chair lift for a relaxing ride to breathtaking vistas and miles of mountain biking and hiking trails. Local shops offer bike rentals and guided tours around town and along nearby trails.
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort operates a tram to the summit of 10,450-foot Rendezvous Peak, where the views and hiking opportunities appear endless. Grand Targhee Ski and Summer Resort also operates ski lifts for hikers and sightseers. Take a ride with a naturalist up either mountain for a nature hike through spectacular alpine ecosystems.
You can climb even higher in a sail plane, hot air balloon, or airplane. If you feel really daring, try a tandem ride on a paraglider at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort! It's sure to be the high point of your trip.
For a more traditional journey through mountain country, saddle up a horse and lope through fields with the ghosts of Butch Cassidy and John Wayne. Outfitters offer day rides and overnight trips, and dude ranches take guests for days, weeks, or months at a time. To really get into the pioneer spirit take a two-, four- or six-day excursion into the mountains in a real covered wagon with Wagons West or Triangle C Ranch.
Riding a stagecoach through town is always an adventure in midsummer traffic, but the streets in Cody and Jackson clear in the early evening for the staging of Old West gunfights between the good guys in white hats and the bad guys in black hats.
 Live theater continues at the Jackson Hole Playhouse with performances six nights a week of "Big River," and at the Pink Garter Mainstage Theatre, where "Petticoat Rules" will run through Labor Day. Or grab a seat at Pierre's Playhouse in Victor, Idaho, for melodramas complete with sweet heroines, sneering villains, and dashing heroes.
For real cowboy action, head to the rodeo grounds in Cody and Jackson and watch cowpokes battle Brahma bulls and bucking broncs. But tell the kids to beware they may be asked to enter the ring for a calf chase
In the evening, the Western aura of the region blossoms at numerous chuckwagon dinners. Patterned after the traditional Western ranch/trail camp cooking, the chuckwagons serve up hearty food complete with entertainment. Dine while feasting your eyes on the awesome mountain scenery, ride a horse or take a wagon ride to a retreat complete with gunfights and a Wild West show, or be seated for a barbecue dinner complemented by authentic Western singing and storytelling.
On a rainy day when the kids get restless, check out the swimming pool and water slide at the Jackson Community Recreation Center. Movies, arcades, and mini-golf offer other diversions for tykes and a chance for parents to get away.
Hiking in the region's parks and forests is the most down-to-earth way to explore, and families can trek for hours or days along miles of scenic trails. Overnight camping is always an adventure, but claim your spot early in the day or make reservations because there are usually a lot fewer campsites than campers. Also, remember that grizzly and black bears inhabit the region Make sure you understand what precautions are required to hike and camp safely. Drink plenty of water the thin, dry mountain air can dehydrate you quickly. Preparation for and knowledge about an area will make any hike run smoother.
Keep an eye out for one of the many rivers that run through the region. Several companies offer white-water raft rides on class III and IV rapids or scenic float trips through beautiful.
If fishing is what you're looking for, prepare to meet some of the fattest and craftiest trout in the West. Cutthroats in the Snake River and rainbows in the Madison and Gallatin Rivers near West Yellowstone, Montana, fight anglers daily in an epic catch-and-release battle. Ask a fishing shop where the local hot spots are and watch for local fishing derbies and kids' casting ponds. In Teton Village the Crystal Springs pond is stocked with Cutthroat trout for family angling fun. At the end of the summer, before the pond is drained, there is a derby with a prize for the most fish caught and kept. For a serious day behind the reel, hire one of the many experienced fishing guides doing business in the region.
If the town's bustle begins wearing you down, escape to a lake for a boat ride or a swim. Travel across Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park and enjoy a short hike to Hidden Falls. You can cruise Jackson Lake for a unique view of the Tetons, or boat on Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park.
If you feel like taking the helm, several marinas around the region rent power boats and canoes. Rafting companies also lease rafts and "funyaks" inflatable kayaks by the hour or day.
If you have an interest in the history of the region, museums and historical societies offer wonderful insight into both the Old West and the modern West. Also, libraries maintain local literature sections and offer story hours for children.
To get up close and personal with the men and women who settled mountain country, drop in on the Old West lifestyle at Trail Town in Cody, Wyoming, or visit mountain men rendezvous in Jackson (May 26-29), Pinedale (July 7-9), and Red Lodge (July 28-August 6). For a look at Native American culture take in the 17th Annual Plains Indian Powwow in Cody, June 17-18.
Several art shows in the region bring together mountain artists and offer an interesting perspective on Wyoming's landscape and heritage. Live performances and classes during the shows give artists a chance to draw the crowd into their work. On mornings of July 13 and August 17, the Grand Teton Music Festival presents a young people's concert that is free for the whole family.
If you tackle only a quarter of the activities listed here, you'll have little time left over to sit back and relax. So, take it easy and absorb the powerful beauty of mountain country. After all, you are on vacation!
Porter Fox, a former Jackson Hole resident and founder of The Pass, is now the Senior Editor for Powder Magazine.
|
