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After his expedition west with Lewis and Clark, John Colter decided
to travel home by way of the Rocky Mountains. In 1807 he happened upon
the Yellowstone basin, and was probably the first white man to see its
geysers and mudpots, but his reports were rejected as ridiculous by
the press of the day. The area was dubbed "Colter's Hell"
and dismissed as the hallucination of a crazy mountain man. Colter's
account was verified again and again, though, as more trappers and
explorers traveled through the area. In 1871, Dr. Ferdinand Hayden led
a surveying expedition into Yellowstone, and included painter Thomas
Moran and photographer William H. Jackson on his team. The release of
Hayden's findings, coupled with the stunning photographs and paintings
of the fantastic landscape, piqued the public interest, and paved the
way for Yellowstone to be designated as the first national park in the
world in 1872.
Yellowstone's amazing concentration of geysers and other thermal
features is the result of a "hot spot" in the earth's
mantle. Several enormous volcanic eruptions, the last only 600,000
years ago, formed the caldera in which the geyser basins and
Yellowstone Lake are located. Old Faithful, one of the most
predictable geysers in the world, is the most popular thermal feature
of the park, but there are about 10,000 other geysers, pools, and
fumaroles for you to see. Each of Yellowstone's geyser basins has its
own character, and each one is worth a visit.
Geysers are only part of the attraction of Yellowstone. It is prime
wilderness area, preserved as it has been for centuries. Herds of elk
and American bison are protected within the park boundaries, as are
its black and grizzly bear populations, and several reintroduced wolf
packs. These are by no means the only species that call Yellowstone
home. Numerous other mammals, birds, and fish, including the native
Yellowstone cutthroat trout, find a haven in the park, making it one
of the best places in the nation to observe wildlife.
Add to this the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its
breathtaking views of Upper and Lower Falls, the lofty mountains of
the Gallatin and Absaroka Ranges, the travertine terraces of Mammoth
Hot Springs, and many other scenic features, and you come up with one
of the most rewarding national park experiences in the world.
Yellowstone is recognized as a Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage
Site.
What to see and do. The 142-mile-long Grand Loop Road winds in a
figure eight past the most popular attractions in the park and
connects with all highways into and out of Yellowstone. Ask for a
schedule of events, obtainable at any visitor center, so you can make
the most of your visit. A three-day stay will allow you to tour the
park's major attractions at a leisurely pace. Should you only have one
day to spend in Yellowstone, park personnel suggest you concentrate on
one or two aspects of the park that most interest you, and spend
several hours at each site. Please note that traffic in the park moves
slowly in peak season, so budget plenty of time to reach your
destination.
The major attractions are Old Faithful Geyser, the Grand Canyon of the
Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake, and Mammoth Hot Springs. The more
remote areas, such as the eerie moonscape of Norris Geyser Basin, home
to Steamboat, Yellowstone's largest active geyser, and Echinus,
popular with "geyser gazers," can offer an equally rewarding
Yellowstone experience. Visit Midway Geyser Basin to see the
polychromatic display of Grand Prismatic Spring, or check out the
Fountain Paint Pots as they burble pastel mud in the Lower Geyser
Basin. See the petrified remains of a redwood forest up on Specimen
Ridge, or take a walk on the boardwalk past Old Faithful to visit
Grand Geyser, Morning Glory Pool, and a host of other thermal
features. If you long to see wildlife in their natural habitat, don't
miss Hayden or Lamar Valleys.
You can certainly see the highlights of Yellowstone National Park
without venturing very far from your vehicle. But the park offers a
full range of recreational activities, from boating, canoeing, and
fishing (park license required for all three), to hiking, horseback
riding, and every type of camping experience. There are close to 1,000
miles of trails in Yellowstone; some lead deep into the park's
backcountry wilderness, and some are scenic loop trails that take
visitors right to the edge of sparkling hot springs or breathtaking
canyons.
Ranger stations are located at or near all park entrances and at
several other places around the park. Albright Visitor Center and Park
Headquarters are located at Mammoth Hot Springs. You will find other
visitor centers at Old Faithful, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, and Grant
Village. There is a Museum of the National Park Ranger at Norris
Geyser Basin and another museum facility at the West Yellowstone
Chamber of Commerce, Public Land's Desk. There are information
stations at Madison and at West Thumb. Because of Yellowstone's high
elevation, snow closes all but one of the park entrances by early
November. This doesn't mean the park closes, though. Once the snow is
deep enough, main roads in the park are groomed for snowmobiles and
snow coaches, and a number of trails are groomed for cross-country
skiing. Mammoth Hot Springs remains open all winter, and is accessible
by car. Old Faithful Snow Lodge can only be reached by snow vehicle,
but is the starting point for many ski and snowshoe treks. Concessions
within the park and in the gateway towns provide snowmobile rentals
and snow coach tour reservations. ©2001 Rand McNally & Company.
©2001 randmcnally.com inc. All rights reserved.
Recreational Vehicles (RV's)
RV's offer the ability to travel in comfort and convenience not found
in any other form of transportation. Accommodating up to 7 people. RV's
make traveling an adventure and create memories that will be talked
about for many years.
RVN4FUN ® is dedicated to providing you with
exceptional service and the cleanest rv rentals in the business. Along
with our superb fleet of motorhomes we also offer additional items
that will enhance your motorhome experience. If renting a motorhome is
what your looking for... look no further... get instant motorhome
rental quotes from approximately 300 locations in the United States
and Canada. Try to reserve early if you are planning a vacation in
June, July or August. Motorhome rental locations fill up during these
months and you may find it difficult to locate your desired size,
model and pickup location if don't reserve early.
RVN4FUN offer several recreational vehicle types:
Truck Campers are a favorite among sportsmen.
The Fun Mover is perfect for the outdoor
enthusiast who wants to include an ATV, Waverunner or Motorcycle
into his weekend.
Our most popular model… the Class C – Cab-over
is preferred by families. Offered in three sizes
For the traveling executive who wants to combine
business with pleasure reward yourself with the luxurious Class A
Motorhome.
Whether it’s a weekend at the track or a vacation
with friends and family, whatever the occasion -- renting an RV offers
freedom, flexibility and fun… an ideal way to strengthen family
bonds that bring lifelong memories.
All our motorhome rentals are equipped with a
refrigerator, microwave, stove, and bathroom, open this link for a
complete list of RV
types and amenities.
Camping
Whether you seek the solitude of a backcountry camping site or an RV
park with full hook-up, laundry room, playground, swimming pool ...
ect. when choosing a campsite, remember there's something for
everyone. Today's privately-owned parks specialize in providing an
environment where you can enjoy outdoor recreation without completely
abandoning civilization. Many RV parks cater especially to adults
while others are "children-oriented".
There are a wide variety of camping opportunities available. What
is the best one for you and your family?
A campground is a camping area, usually in a rural or
natural setting. A campground accepts tents and usually RVs. There
might be little formal development.
Public campgrounds are managed by governmental agencies
and offer the best natural surroundings inside national parks. The
campsites are spacious but typically have little formal development,
the exception being the campgrounds that are managed by private
enterprises, in which case there may be flush toilets, drinking water,
and a common use dump station. Due to the high demand for these spaces
during peak season, you may want to reserve your campsite in advance.
RV Parks devote considerable
attention to formal site development. It generally caters to hard
shell RVs and
their requirements. RV parks cost a bit more than campground,
usually around $20, and can offer amenities that make them attractive
to many reasons. Here is an example of an upscale RV Park.
Cherry Hill
Camping Resort was started in 1967 by Grant and Mary Lloyd and is
located on a bluff overlooking the Salt Lake Valley. Cherry Hill is in
the original fruit farm that has been operated by the Lloyd family
since 1924. Their sons, Bruce and Keith now operate this family
business that has expanded to a Full Service Campground
with the following facilities: Water Park with Pirates Cove Activity
Pool, Olympic Sized Pool, and Cardiac Canyon River Run;
Miniature Golf Course, Batting Cages, Hamster Haven Playport, Group
Pavilions and a Restaurant. New this year is a climbing activity
called The ROCK that will test your nerve and skill. The ROCK is a 30'
pinnacle with 4 climbing paths to choose from. Whether you're looking
for a thrill of a splashing waterslide, the satisfaction of a hole in
one, or just the relaxing shade of a nice tree, you'll find it at
Cherry Hill.
If you find that you are having too much fun to go home, just pitch a
tent or park your motor home in one of our 240 campsites, nestled
among 800 trees. Our camp sites are shaded, level and clean. Most of
the RV sites are 30 amp with some 50 amp. We accommodate tents and all
RVs up to 40 feet. Family Reunions, Youth Groups, and Church Groups
are welcome. Full camping services are open April 1 until November 1.
Limited winter camping is available.
- Full Hook-up
- 30 & 50 amp Service
- Pool /Waterslide
- General Store
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- Restrooms / Showers
- General Store
- Propane
- Laundry Facilities
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Wildlife Viewing
Take a break from the fast-paced world of cell phones, computers,
fast cars, and demanding schedules, and join the more than 66 million people
who went watching America’s wildlife last
year. Our
National Parks offer an outstanding setting
for viewing and photographing animals in their natural habitats. Yellowstone,
for example, has long been known as the pinnacle for viewing wildlife,
home of the grizzly bear and wolf, and free-ranging herds of bison and
elk. It is the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the
largest accessible ecosystems remaining on the planet. It is not
unusual to share the road with bison as they make there way to graze
the meadows.
Always use extreme caution:
Never approach or follow wild
animals; respect their need for space. This includes not following
fresh tracks. Do not block their line of travel or escape routes. Keep
a safe distance from large animals (100 feet / 30 meters - the length
of three buses - is recommended). Use a telephoto lens, spotting scope
and binoculars to get "close". Respect the speed limits
(usually 25 - 45 mph). It exists to protect wildlife and human life.
No feeding it attracts animals to roadside areas where they can be
injured. A vehicle also makes a good "blind" for watching
animals, if you stay inside. Respect the special needs of nesting
birds, denning animals & newborn or young animals - leave them
alone. Elk can be particularly aggressive during calving season (May /
Jun) and mating season (Sep / Oct). Do not park your car within 100
feet / 30 meters of a male elk. They've been known to bend fenders or
worse.
Auto Racing Events
A trend that is growing as quickly as the popularity of NASCAR racing
is the popularity of recreation vehicles (RVs) with fans who attend the
races. Racing enthusiasts have found that their RVs are just what the doctor ordered when faced with crowded
highways leading to and from events, lines for food and facilities at the track,
and expensive and hard-to-get hotel rooms nearby.
For those fans lucky enough to get a spot in the
infield for their RV, they don't have to watch the race from a crowded bleacher
seat. Instead, they can watch from a lounge chair on the roof, with a TV on
hand for instant replays and a refrigerator close-by for instant refreshments.
The winter portion of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series provides a great
opportunity for RV owners to use their RV during colder months. The series
conducts the final four races of the 1996 season in October and November and
then resumes competition with a pair of races in February 1997.
"It is better to come to races in an RV," said Frances Goss, who runs
the ticket office and RV reservations for Atlanta Motor Speedway. "You can
be relaxed when you arrive and leave when you are ready. It is a great way to
attend any sporting event."
About 5,000 RVs come to the NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway,
according to Craig Fischer, public relations manager for PIR. "That number
is growing and growing," he said. Part of the reason is the trend toward
renting RVs to attend races. Many fans fly to Phoenix to enjoy the weather,
then rent an RV to attend the race in style and comfort.
----
While track officials and local authorities may try to reduce the delays as
thousands of fans flock to tracks before races and then all try to leave at
once, those delays are inevitable. An RV provides a comfortable place to relax
after a race, while waiting for traffic to die down. Also, many fans arrive
days before the race, to watch qualifying sessions and support races, which can
mean repeated drives through traffic between the track and a hotel. "There
are a lot of advantages to using an RV," said Richard Sowers, of
Atlanta Motor Speedway. "You don't have to go back and forth to your hotel
in traffic and you can fix your own meals, so it saves money."
The space inside tracks is limited, so most tracks take reservations for the RV
spaces inside. But most circuits have nearly unlimited camping space outside
their tracks, so RV'ers can count on having a place to stay. "There is
always space for another RV," said Carol Edwards, of the PR department at
Charlotte Motor Speedway. "They are very popular with families," she
noted. About 4,000 RVs will attend NASCAR races at Charlotte.
"The number of RVs is staggering," said John Story, PR manager for
Daytona International Speedway.
An RV is a vehicle that combines transportation and temporary living quarters
for travel, recreation, and camping. They are either motorized (motorhomes and
conversion vehicles) or towable units (folding camping trailers, truck campers
and travel trailers). RVs offer a wide range of amenities to suit different
budgets, needs, and tastes. Starting prices can be as little as $3,500 for
folding camping trailers. Travel trailers average $13,000. A luxurious Type A
motorhome can be had for an average of $82,000,with smaller Type C models
beginning at $40,000.
There are nine million RVs on the road and an estimated 25 million Americans
travel in RVs. RecreationVehicle Industry Association is the national
association representing nearly 500 manufacturer and component parts suppliers,
who together produce 95 percent of all RVs manufactured in the United States. .
RESTON,Va.--RVIA
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