Knight Family Trip To Yellowstone National Park

On June 7, 1998, Dad, Mother and Trish Anne headed out to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a week of work for Dad and a GREAT week for Trish Anne and Mother at The Little America Resort and Hotel. To see some pictures of the Hotel and Resort, Click on the "link line" below. While in Cheyenne, we had an opportunity to visit with Beth Bergan who lives an hour away in Colorado. She came up to Cheyenne for a visit and we had a great time talking about old times and eating out on buffalo at the local dude ranch. As you can see from the picture of Beth and Trish in the hotel room, they were glad to see each other again!

Henry D. had to work, so he joined the family on June 12 for the beginning of our vacation in Yellowstone and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We took off from Cheyenne in our rented Buick Park Avenue for Laramie and DuBois, WY. The landscape from Laramie to DeBois was basically range land and wooden wind brakes, but it was really beautiful - especially for those from the East. Henry D. did all the driving and Dad did some follow-up work. That didn't keep him from listening and singing to the Chapel Aires as we clipped along, though!

Our first view of the National Parks was Grand Teton. WHAT A SIGHT! We took some pictures overlooking the Snake River and then it was off to Yellowstone and the Old Faithful Inn for the night. The Inn at Old Faithful was wonderful. Only pictures can show how it is constructed. The family stayed in a room in the Inn that had a wonderful view of the geyser basin in front of the Inn. At night we set on our third floor balcony overlooking a roaring fire in the mammoth fireplace in the main lobby of the Inn. During the day, we made "excursion trips" to other parts of the park - The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, The Paint Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs and Yellowstone Lake with the beautiful Lake Hotel. Henry D. was particularly taken with the beauty of the Hotel and the surrounding mountains. After two days in the Park, we headed out to the Western boundary and the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. There we stayed at the Gray Fox Lodge, a new motel with an indoor pool that the whole family took full advantage of for a good part of the day. Then it was back through the park and over to Colorado to visit with our Cousin, H. C. Pace, and his wife, Sharon.

We had a fantastic ride during the late afternoon and evening over the mountain range heading for Colorado. Henry D. put on the Chapel Aires and we enjoyed singing with - As Trish Anne calls them - "The Ladies" while we passed the time driving and enjoying the WONDERFUL Wyoming/Colorado scenery. H.C. gave us directions for a straight shot into Steamboat Springs and met us downtown when we arrived. It was quite a drive to his "home on the mountain" and the accommodations were great. After a good night sleep, a delicious breakfast [complete with a serenade by H.C. and Dog] it was off with Sharon to see the considerable sights of Steamboat Springs and surrounding area. It was hard to say good-bye to such southern hospitality [via Colorado], but all good trips must come to an end. After saying our good-bye's it was on the road again for our final three hour drive back to Denver for the flight home. The family flew together back to Charlotte where Henry D. left for his flight to Greenville/Spartanburg and we completed the final leg of the trip back to Columbia.

This was a wonderful trip for the family. We only wish that Charlie and April could have gone along with us to enjoy the time together. We packed about all that we could see into a long weekend Friday through Tuesday 2,376 mile excursion, and as a result, have wonderful memories of our 1998 Family Trip Out West!