The Beartooth Highway

(Not sure why my photos didn't rotate)  Leaving the Northeast Exit of Yellowstone is Highway 212 (aka The Beartooth Highway)

A friend of mine mentioned that this road is spectacular, so I talked Onions into exploring this road. 

On the south side is the Absaroka Mountains. 

Then the road turns north and starts to climb over the Beartooth Mountains.

Coming from the south, one reaches a large broad high-alpine (10,000 feet) plateau.

Then you begin the descent. And there is a stunning valley.

The road leads you down to the valley floor and you drive north into the town of Red Lodge.

We stayed in Red Lodge for the evening. Onions has discovered a love of fried chicken.  We scoured the menus or town but didn't find fried chicken.  The closest we could get was chicken friend steak.  It was a risky order....but he left the plate clean!

We visited Mart's In-n-Out burger joint in Livingston TWICE.  Once on our way into Yellowstone and once as we were returning to Bozeman!!!

Grand Teton National Park

The Teton Range with Jackson Lake

With just the mountains as the main event in Grand Teton, we took advantage of some of the activities offered.  First off, an evening raft trip down the Snake River.

Started off with a riverside BBQ.

Floating down the river we saw bald eagles, pelicans and beavers!

Sunset over the Tetons!

The next day...horseback riding!  Onions first time on a horse.

Onions Goes to Yellowstone

A direct flight from Beijing...and we arrived in Seattle on Saturday June 7th. We decided to head up to the Boeing Factory Tour.

This building is the largest building in the world by volume.  Within, the 747, 767, 777 and 787 are built/assembled.

New planes ready for delivery.

Onions is visiting the States for two weeks and I decided that we should take a five day trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons!  A flight to Bozeman and a two hour car drive...we arrived at the North Entrance.

Right past the entrance is Mammoth Hot Springs.

I managed to get us a reservation for two nights at the Yellowstone Lake Lodge.  Here's the view....

Dinner in the dining room!

Lounging in the reading room!

The next day, we drove throughout the park.

Sulphur Pot.  Yellowstone is a geothermal dream...steaming hot liquids bubbling up from the earth.

Upper Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

The view of the Lower Falls from Artists Point.

As you are driving through the park, anytime you see a mess of cars...you pull over, because there is an animal sighting!

Driving through the park, you see these steam plumes off in the distance...

Hot springs...

And geysers....

You can walk right up them

The most famous of the springs is the Grand Prismatic Spring.  Unfortunately, the steam coming off the surface obscured the view across the the entire spring.  But you get an idea of the brilliance of the colors right here at the edge.

We left the park through the Northeast Entrance.  This part of the part still shows the scars of the last big fire.

The Northeast corner of the park is dominated by the Lamar Valley.

Animal watching heaven!