Summer in West Yellowstone may be our favorite time of the year and now is the best time to start planning your own Montana summer vacation. Winter may not be done with you as you read this, stomping into the spring season and throwing a temper tantrum in the form of an early spring snowstorm, but in your dreams, you are somewhere warm, somewhere lush and green, and somewhere that has played a significant role in history; in your dreams you are exploring all that West Yellowstone has to offer during the long and lazy days of summer. We at Sweet Home Montana can help you make those dreams come true with this guide to getting a head start on your summer vacation planning in West Yellowstone, as well as showing you all the comforts found in our vacation retreats!
Packing Your Suitcase
Sometimes packing for vacation can be the most difficult part of your planning experience, but we can make it easier for you, offering tips and hints that will make your suitcase one that is well-packed. Even in the summer months it can get cool at night and the daytime temperatures rarely top the mid-80s, so we suggest packing so you can dress in layers. Tee shirts, jeans, flannel shirts, and a jacket are the best articles of clothing for your adventures, and because you will be spending a lot of time outside hiking and looking at the wildlife, your most comfortable hiking shoes are highly recommended. Sunglasses and sunscreen will help keep you comfortable against the summer sun, and of course, cameras and binoculars will ensure that you not only spot all the different species of wildlife, but that you can capture their images forever.
Planning Your Adventures
A West Yellowstone vacation is unlike any others, celebrating the beauty of the countryside, the wildlife that inhabit the region, and offering a peek into history that will fascinate and entertain and there are many ways in which you can explore it all. You could just get in your rental car, drive around and stop whenever you see other cars stopped, knowing that the group of people you spy have probably spotted a moose or a bison. Or you could check out the tours that are offered in the area first, getting an idea as to what you may want to explore in more detail later on in your vacation. Tour companies such as Fly Yellowstone (629 Airport Rd) or Yellowstone Expeditions (536 Firehole Avenue) offer some really excellent tours of the area, giving visitors a Yellowstone experience they will never forget. Fly Yellowstone covers the area from the sky, offering 30-, 45-, and 60-minute flights through the big skies of Montana, while Yellowstone Expeditions keeps their adventurers’ feet on the ground, offering van tours of the area and the opportunity for many exciting wildlife encounters.
Where to Eat
The culinary landscape of West Yellowstone is surprising in its variety, and although you can’t really plan what type of food you may be in the mood for in advance, at least you will know what to expect. A Bad Dog sandwich at Beartooth Barbecue (smoked sausage topped with chopped beef brisket on a hoagie), tacos from Taqueria Malverde Taco Bus, and the ultimate breakfast sandwich served at Ernie’s, a favorite spot known for its great food and friendly service. These are just an example of some of the delights you can enjoy during your time in West Yellowstone, meals that will haunt your dreams in the most exciting of ways once sampled.
The Plan to Relax
Perhaps the most important part of your summer vacation planning schedule is the plans you will make to relax as often as possible. Real life is hectic, busy, and chaotic and the serenity of the landscape of West Yellowstone combined with the comforts and luxuries found in our West Yellowstone summer sanctuaries will provide the perfect counterbalance to your real life woes. Choose an escape with a bubbling hot tub on back decks, watching the sun set as you sip chardonnay and savor the jets that are hitting all the right spots. Plan a night at home playing board games, streaming music, and staying warm in front of a roaring fire or pencil in an all-American barbecue enjoyed on the deck of a cabin offering panoramic views of the West Yellowstone countryside. And when the moon rises over that landscape and you can’t keep your eyelids open another second, our tranquil bedrooms are where you will get the best night’s sleep of your life. Wake up every morning feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready for more West Yellowstone adventures. Reserve your favorite Sweet Home Montana summer sanctuary today!
