Yellowstone National Park, USA
Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park can be a bit overwhelming due to the size of the park (over 2 million acres) and the figure-8 Grand Loop road system (Grand Loop 142 miles). It can be difficult to know how to best navigate the park to see the sights – especially if you have limited time.
We spent just over two days in Yellowstone and this is a bare minimum! There is so much to see and many walking opportunities. There are boardwalks for viewing amazing thermal areas, scenic drives, wonderful overlooks and wildlife viewing.
We hope this blog will assist you in planning your trip.
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
Leaving Yellowstone National Park through the southern boundary we are about to take one of the most beautiful drives in the USA – through the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Take a look at our slideshow of Grand Teton National Park and Jackson.
The drive begins on the John D. Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway along Jackson Lake with views of the Grand Teton mountains on our right. This sets the scene for our stay in this beautiful area – the Grand Tetons rise up and dominate the landscape.
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
A visit to Salt Lake City was an unexpected highlight of a recent trip to the USA. Our biggest mistake was only allowing a morning to see the city!
Salt Lake City is the location of the world headquarters of the Mormons (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). There is much to see in and around Temple Square.
Take a look at our photos of Salt Lake City
Alaska
Alaska is a paradise for nature lovers, a place to experience beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife.
Have a look at our slide show of Alaska.
With just a short time to experience Alaska, we rented a car for 5 days from Anchorage and travelled to Homer, Seward, Girdwood and finally Denali – a highlight. To visit the Inside Passage we took a 7-day cruise on the Star Princess – sailing from Whittier (near Anchorage) to Vancouver.
To avoid the crowds, we like to travel out of high season when possible, so this trip we took in mid-May and spent about 12 days in Alaska.
While we chose to do a self-drive trip, if you prefer not to drive, Alaska has excellent rail tours – www.alaskarailroad.com
Alaska Cruise – 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers – Star Princess – 19-26 May 2018
The 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers by Princess Cruises is a spectacular trip between Whittier (Alaska) and Vancouver (Canada). It is an excellent way to experience the highlights of the natural wonders and charming towns along the coast of Alaska and the Inside Passage – many of which can only accessed by sea.
Take a look at our photos of the 7-Day Voyage of the Glaciers
Summary of Itinerary (Southbound):
Whittier (Anchorage) – Yakutat Bay (Hubbard Glacier)
Yakutat Bay – Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay – Skagway
Skagway – Juneau
Juneau – Ketchikan
Ketchikan – Vancouver
There are also cruises that offer this itinerary northbound.
Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada
The city of Victoria, located on Vancouver Island, is the capital of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Victoria is a charming city where we stay a couple of days – primarily to visit the beautiful Butchart Gardens.