Travel/Photography/Tour

California — Yellowstone National Park — California In Seven Days

Joining a tour that passed through California- Nevada-Wyoming-South Dakota-Montana-Utah-Idaho

As I have written in my Globetrotters Writers Spotlight, one of the best places I have been to is the Yellowstone National Park.

After 14 years of planning, it finally happened.

The trip almost became non-existent. My cousin and I were supposed to fly to San Francisco, USA to meet our aunt to join a tour. But some health issues happened to my cousin and she couldn’t make it.

My high school classmates who were based in the US and Canada were heaven-sent for when they learned about my plan, they organized a reunion. Everything was finalized on their end as early as — the end of July. That’s how fast they were. And me — saved by the bell.

And everything went as planned.

My Auntie B and I joined a 7 day-tour organized by a US tour company. The tour fee was — the more, the cheaper. Being 3 was reasonable enough in price, much more if by 4. But with only the two of us, it was pricey.

As I think about it now, I am so glad we did that trip. Auntie B is about to retire and it will be in the Philippines. With the pandemic in its third year, the tour is unlikely to happen for us. And if ever it will be, the enthusiasm and excitement will never be the same. It will be a failed tour, for the beauty of the places to be visited is a mismatch to our mediocrity.

“I’m So Glad I Live In A World Where There Are Octobers” L. M. Montgomery

Being a part of this tour is proof of that quote.

It was an October 7 to October 13 tour. We were only around 30 in the group. The bus was only half-filled. What’s good about this tour, most of the 30 were Filipinos based in California.

First Day

The first pick-up point was in a plaza in Fremont. The second was at San Francisco Airport.

The first destination was the Sacramento State Capitol Museum. Housed on the grounds of the state capitol. The museum includes the historic offices of the governor and legislature.

We explored the different floors of the museums. But with only limited time, we were not able to enter all the rooms and offices.

It’s okay though, my photo-op here and there made up for that. As I looked at my photos today, I have realized that I have no photo of the capitol itself.

Before noon, we’re back on the road for the next destination- Elko, Nevada.

But with several stops along the way, for a nature call and some stretching. That was a long road trip. It was already dark when we arrived at Elko.

A good and long sleep was what everyone needed. But who can resist the lights of Elko.

Second Day

It’s Wyoming from Elko.

It was a very early start for us. Getting an 8-hour sleep was a no-no. It was a tug of war between the effect of Bonamine and the view outside. The view had won. It only comes once in a lifetime.

It’s only October 8 and Wyoming was blanketed with snow.

We stopped at Independence Rock . A little trivia: it is a large granite rock, around 130 ft. high, 1900 ft. long and 850 ft. wide located in the southwestern Natrona country, Wyoming. The rock derived its name from a party of fur trappers who camped and celebrated Independence Day near the rock on July 4, 1830. But it was covered with snow.

And I was not prepared for the snow. I didn’t even have a pair of socks.

Third Day

It’s South Dakota day.

We started the day with a stop at the Lusk Rest Area Historical Marker. It was selected as Wyoming’s first 21st-century rest area upgrade.

Next, was the Buffalo Gap National Greenland, 600,000 acres of grassland sprawled in South Dakota.

We visited The Crazy Horse Memorial. A mountain monument in Black Hills, Custer country. It has been in construction since 1848 and is far from completion. Crazy Horse was a Native American war leader of the Oglala Lakota. Traces of snow was still there. We were able to spend ample time in the Indian Museum of North America.

A few miles away was Mt. Rushmore National Memorial — a huge sculpture carved into Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills. The sculpture has the faces of 4 of the US presidents which was a personal choice of the sculptor based on his perspectives. The mountain that I was been curious about for so long became a reality.

Two and a half hours away was the Devils Tower National Monument. It was said to be a small intrusive body formed by magma that had cooled underground and was later exposed by erosion.

I was stunned at the name at first. But looking at it, who cares about the name. It even looked like a cake with yellow icing. Aside from the tower, the park was a beauty worthy to explore.

We spent the night at Gardiner, Montana. We arrive there quite late, no stores to buy food. So, cup noodles were to the rescue. Though Auntie B had brought cooked food to save some bucks, my stomach was in rebellion and crying for change after 3 days of eating them.

Fourth Day

It’s Yellowstone National Park Day.

We entered the north entrance of the park, which is in Montana, for the Mammoth Hot Springs. It is a large complex of hot springs and consists of a wide terraced hillside of travertine.

It was so breathtaking as if I was transported into another world. At that moment, it was hard to sink in everything I was seeing.

Then, there’s the Grand Prismatic Spring. It is the largest hot spring in the US. The bright colors came from thermophiles, the microorganisms that thrive in hot temperatures. When grouped together, they appear as masses of color.

There is a boardwalk to view the different types of geothermal features such as the hot spring, mud spots, fumaroles and geysers. I can’t remember which is which and what their names are. All I can remember is they all smell like sulfur.

I was able to watch the eruption of the Old Faithful Geyser but I can’t find a photo. Maybe it was in my …wrecked-cellphone.

Old Faithful Geyser got its name for being predictable in its eruption. Sometimes up to 20 times a day. While waiting, chatting with other visitors is a good way to pass the time. Strangers, they may be but very friendly.

Fifth Day

First thing in the morning….the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. To say that it’s drop-dead gorgeous is even an understatement.

We were taken to the Artist’s point which was said to be the best place to view it. It was so stunning in my photo. Like me saying…is this for real?

Here, my senses were in panic. So much to see, to smell, to hear and to feel. I felt like a small dot in a big open space trying to capture everything I can bear.

There are 2 major waterfalls on the Yellowstone River. The river flows from the upper falls to the lower falls to the Grand Canyon.

Then, the Grand Teton National Park.

The main star of the park is the Teton Glacier. It is the largest of the 12 named glaciers in the park and the youngest of all the mountain ranges in the Rocky mountain chain. A little trivia… Grand Teton means big nipple or big teat.

It’s so silvery as if saying… if you’re looking for a silver lining in your life, you’re in the right place.

We headed to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for lunch. We wandered around the area for a couple of hours. It was nice entering each of the stores there even the only thing that I ever bought was a fist-size pumpkin worth $1.

Mid-afternoon, we headed to Salt Lake City, Utah and made a stop-over at Idaho Falls for some stretching, snacks and souvenir-hunting.

We stayed in a downtown hotel in Salt Lake City. We were able to walk around at nighttime and did some grocery shopping for our food the next day.

Sixth Day

It’s Salt Lake City, Utah day.

We visited the Utah State Capitol, which is the most expensive and magnificent State House in America. We were able to experience the architecture and rich history of the Capitol. It was so grandiose to be a State House.

We went to the Great Salt Lake State Marina, also known as “America’s Dead Sea” afterwards.

Exploring Temple Square was a part of the tour. Temple Square is a center of history and worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Even if I am of a different religion, learning the history and teachings of the LDS church is a knowledge that is very much welcome.

After lunch, we started another long road trip. Around 8 hour-trip to Reno, Nevada.

Nighttime was casino time for the casino-lovers. Auntie B was one of them and it was almost 2 am before she called it quits.

Seventh Day

From Reno, we went to Virginia City.

Virginia City is a town in Nevada. It is an old west town that has wild, wild west vibes. A step back in time city. It was declared a National Historic Landmark district in 1961.

After Virginia City, was Tahoe City. Exploring Lake Tahoe and some shops near the lake.

Then, back to Fremont.

That’s the end of the tour. Seven memorable days.

If you want to have an idea of the cost of the tour, it’s around $700 for each of us. As I checked the tour company’s website, the price skyrocketed this year. With the uncertainties of time, their itinerary is subject to changes, for there are days when some parts of the Yellowstone National Park are closed.