Near+Afar
Yellowstone Grandpa Clayne visiting with his family in 1991
Life is a Trip For the Budniks, memories of Yellowstone National Park last for generations.
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hirty years ago, my grandfather Clayne took the family to Yellowstone, his all-time favorite National Park. He was an avid traveler and explorer, enjoying national parks and white-water rafting. We lost him in 2010, but his memory was alive during this summer’s trip. For the first time since 1991, I returned to Yellowstone with my family (12 of us, to be exact) includ-
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The Local
ing my two kids—one of whom is his namesake. When you make memories while traveling, the memories live on at the destinations. National Parks are even more special because the landscapes largely remain unchanged. And the memories we made then can be passed down to the next generations. We flew into Bozeman, Montana, and spent a
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couple days there hiking and exploring. The scenery is beautiful and the town flourishes with breweries and yummy eats, much like Winter Garden. We rented a 12-passenger van and traveled to Yellowstone National Park through the North Entrance. While on the road, we kept our eyes peeled and stopped for any wildlife sightings. Bison are plentiful in Yellowstone, but bears are the gold star.
We were lucky to have three different bear sightings, including a mama with two cubs. We explored the “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone,” a beautiful canyon with a river running through, passing over giant waterfalls. You can hike along the rim or drive to different viewpoints, including the famous Artist Point and the brink of both the upper and lower falls.
