Renee Blare Christian Author

TRAVELING WYOMING: Avoiding the BOREDOM BOOM on the Journey to The Park

So, you want to visit The Park, aka YNP, aka Yellowstone National Park and the Tetons. However, you don’t merely want a visit… you want THE TRIP. The vacation of a LIFETIME in two WEEKS.

You’re driving, of course. You own or rented one of those fancy coaches everybody and their dog wants and you are SET. It’s loaded to the gills with videos for the 2.2 kids, food for picnics, and lots of games, tablets, phones, and chargers. You even threw in that fancy telephoto camera you nabbed for a steal on Amazon after New Years.

Now you need to figure out which way to go and what to see on this trip. The Park is the ULTIMATE DESTINATION but what is between HERE and THERE? Ummm… either unscalable mountains, uncrossable desert, or… nothing but flat prairie? WHAT!

The kids will “drive” you crazy between now and then! When you finally arrive, you will end up feeding them to the bears or diving under a buffalo just for relief. Not to mention the stress of the “are we there yet?” questions every five miles.

Oh boy. You need a plan. It must be sound— bullet-proof— and you need one… NOW.

Does this sound familiar? At all? Suddenly, the need for leashes comes out and NOT for the dog. A Park like Yellowstone is no small feat to tackle in the summer with small children and you need preparation AND several stops along the way to manage the overwhelming energy of untapped youth on the road. Otherwise a “bomb” begins ticking in the RV… waiting to explode. And mom and dad are the unsuspecting casualties. It’s the BOREDOM BOOM.

What’s the BOREDOM BOOM? It’s what happens when a family with 1-3 children and 1-2 frazzled parents haul tail across country on vacation to experience the wonders of the Nation and do so in 1-2 days in ANY vehicle. Said family pours out of said vehicle at said destination and promptly EXPLODES with pent up energy resulting in chaos and pandemonium. The result? Behavior unlike anything they have ever done before or since.

HOW TO AVOID THE BOREDOM BOOM…

WYOMING…

Wyoming is very DECEPTIVE. This state is one of the most interesting and historical states any American citizen will have the luxury to cross in their lifetime. Transportation-wise, it is criss-crossed by three interstates, I-80 in the South, I-90 in the Northeast, and I-25 running North and South through the central part of the state. These main arteries allow for quick access to the main passageways to YNP.

ADVICE: Find a map, digital, paper… and use it. Do NOT trust your GPS. It will not be updated or correct and send you to an unsafe location. People have been LOST due to their GPS functions in their phones and cars. DO NOT TRUST OR USE THEM.

Wyoming has spotty cell service even on the interstates. Always tell a third party where and when you are leaving and expect to arrive at your next destination when traveling. Contact them when you arrive therefore IF YOU DO NOT, the authorities can be notified immediately.

This state is THE LEAST POPULATED IN THE USA with less than a million people. It has harsh, mountainous terrain as well as desolate areas with no towns for hundreds of miles. Be safe in your travels. Use your common sense and brain.

That being said, it is also FULL of history. The Oregon, Mormon, Texas, Overland, and other migratory Trails run through this state as well as the Pony Express and multiple Stage stops. The largest copper mining Tram in the world was built in 1903 from Encampment, WY and its remnants can still be seen today throughout the Snowy and Sierra Madres Mountains.

The Mormon Cart sites, Independence Rock, Devils Gate, Hells Half Acre, Fort Laramie, Guernsey, and Caspar as well as numerous other historical sites line the highways as you travel each of them. All you need to do is stop and go look. This is not even mentioning if you venture into our state from another path, you will glimpse Devils Tower or from the other, you can stop by the Killpecker Sand Dunes or take a peek at the Wild Horse Sanctuary.

Many spectacular wonders await the traveler in Wyoming on the way to the glory of the Tetons and YNP. Take your time and enjoy the drive. Make it to the Park so you can relax— BE RELAXED when you arrive. The animals, ALL of us deeply appreciate it.

Wyoming welcomes you. If you want to know the best passages across our tremendous state, stay tuned to Traveling God’s Country. I’ll be posting!

Safe traveling and God bless you.

In Christ always,

Renee B.