Sheetz

We keep getting fed useful hints and tips from my boss, Wyndham. His latest one is Sheetz - which is as far as I can tell a gas station chain combined with a fast-food eatery and coffee shop.

They have locations all over the North-East, so we will definitely have to try this at least once...

Map from Google Maps via sheetz.com

Wyoming

I'm in love with Yellowstone and we haven't even been there yet. I have watched the BBC programme Yellowstone every time its on, and its been on every Christmas since it was first produced in 2009! It's just a magical place like no other and I can't wait to see it in person.

Whilst researching Wyoming, I was surprised to find another National Park which often sits in the shadow of Yellowstone yet has just as much to offer. Grand Teton National Park is located south of Yellowstone National Park and includes 40-mile-long Teton Range peaks, the Snake River and a number of scenic drives, hikes, lakes and vista's to find and enjoy.

The final place we are visiting in Wyoming is somewhere Lee has been on about going every since I met him 13 years ago! Lee doesn't like mash potato,  but he does love Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Its his favourite film and like any CEOTTK super fan, he has to go just to make sure there are no aliens visiting so we're off to Devils Tower for a night.

State:	Wyoming
Towns of Interest: (FB) = Firebreak	N/A
National Parks:	Grand Teton National Park Yellowstone National Park
State Parks of Interest:	N/A
Places of Interest: (N) = Night Stay	Jackson Hole Aerial tram (10 minute ride up to the summit of Rendezvous Peak) Grand Teton National Park (N)Gros Ventre Loop Teton Point Turnout Snake River Overlook Cunningham Cabin Historic Site Oxbow Bend Turnout Signal Moutain Cathedral Group Turnout String and Jenny Lakes Teton Glacier Turnout Taggart Lake Trailhead Menor's Ferry Historic Site Jenny Lake Excursions (offers small, passenger shuttles across Jenny Lake at the base of Mount Teewinot. The shuttle runs to Inspiration Point every 10-15 minutes during the day, and the Cascade Canyon trailhead can be found on the west side of the lake)Yellowstone (Nx3) Mammouth Hot Springs Obsidian Cliff Norris Geyser Basin Viringia Cascade Firehole Canyon Drive Fountain Flats Drive Firehole Lake Drive Midway Geyser Basin Old Faithful Yellowstone Lake Fishing Bridge Hayden Valley Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Mt. Washburn Tower Fall Pahaska Tepee (Built by Buffalo Bill, its a hunting lodge) Route 14A (Modeled after routes in the alps and the most expensive stretch of highway ever built, its slithers around cliffs, slices a few feet away from seemingless bottomless drops and is a 10% gradient) Big Horn Medicine Wheel (A short trip through an unpaved forest road takes you to this landmark. It is America's version of Stonehenge)Devils Tower Area Belle Fourche River (The town of Hulett sits next to this river. It is a good place for services and supplies) Devils Tower National Monument (N) (Two hikes - the Tower Trail and the Red Beds Trail, loop around the base of the monolith. Try to visit in the morning or the evening when the effect of the light are at their best) Sundance (Town the Sious Indian dance is named after. Follow Route 14 to the north where a paved spur road leads visitors to the Warren Peak Lookout. The fire tower offers a great vie of Devils Tower off to the North West and the Black Hills)
Routes of Interest:	Route 14A - Most expensive Highway ever, goes to Big Horn National Forrest
Where to Stay:	Yellowstone There are 12 park campsites - 5 are reservation and the remaining are FCFS: Reservable Sites: Bridge Bay ($25) Canyon ($29) Fishing Bridge RV Park ($48) Grant Village ($29) Madison ($25) FCFS: Indian Creek ($15) Lewis Lake ($15) Mammoth ($20) Norris ($20) Pebble Creek ($15) Slough Creek ($15) Tower Fall ($15) Guide to the campsites: https://www.justahead.com/where-to-camp-in-yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park All campgrounds are FCFS and $31: Colter Bay Campground Gros Ventre Campground Headwaters Campground and RV sites at Flagg Ranch Jenny Lake Campground Lizard Creek Campground Signal Mountain CampgroundDevils Tower National Monument Belle Fourche River Campground ($20) - No reservations are available for this campground FCFS
Useful Links:	http://www.travelwyoming.com/things-to-do

Brian Dunn's 48-state Road Trip

We've just stumbled across the blog of an American chap called Brian Dunn, who did a 48-state Road Trip back in 2009. It has a lot of similarities to ours - go check it out:

http://www.48stateroadtrip.com

Colorado

I have always wanted to go to Colorado skiing. Unfortunately, we're not visiting during the ski season but there is still plenty to do in and around the 4 National Parks.

State:	Colorado
Towns of Interest: (FB) = Firebreak	N/A
National Parks:	Mesa Verde National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - not visiting Rocky Mountain National Park
State Parks of Interest:	Eleven Mile State Park
Places of Interest: (N) = Night Stay	Mesa Verde National Park (N) Balcony House Guided Ranger Tour Scenic Drive Durango (Restored downtown with gas lamps and victorian shops) San Juan Skyway (Route 550 from Durango to Silverton and then Silverton to Ouray) Silverton (The quaint streets are lined with historic relics) Ouray (Known as the Switzerland of America - known for the hot springs)  Black Canyon National Park (Nx2) South Rim Visitor Center Drive Along the South Rim Road (This 7-mile drive has 12 overlooks to test your fear of heights. A lot of the overlooks do require walking a short trail but nothing difficult. If you’re limited on time, be sure to check out Pulpit Rock, Painted Wall, and Sunset View) Explore the Inner Canyon East Portal Road (gives you access to the river. Keep in mind that it is extremely steep (16% grades) with hairpin turns. They don’t allow vehicles over 22 ft) Warner Point Nature Trail (although the hike itself wasn’t exciting, the views at the end were worth it) Sunset View (enjoy the sun going down. It’s probably the best spot for photos) Salida (Historic town - downtown historic district with many gallaries, bars, restaurants and unique stores) Collegiate Peaks Overlook (Above the Arkanas River Valley, view looks west) Driving Route 24 Eleven Mile State Park (Impressive views and mountain ranges which take in several areas) (N) Georgetown (Historic mining town) Route 119 (View of Mount Evans, passed enterance to Golden Gate Canyon State Park and a view of Downtown Dever) Brainyard Recreation Area (Two looking glass lakes - short paved trail to Long Lake Trailhead where thre is splendid views of peak haloed by clouds) Long Peak Trainhead (1.5 hour round trip to hike to the summit with great views of the central Rockies) Estes Park (popular recreational center with an aerial tram to Propspect Mountain summit for panoramic views) (N) Rocky Mountain National Park Park Headquarters (Information on the National Park) Deer Ridge Junction (start of the legendary Trail Ridge Road - 48 mile route rises 12,000 feet, meandering for 11 miles across tundra that looks like Alaska) Many Parks Curve (Panoramas of the park) Forest Canyon Overlook (Overlook high above the Forest Canyon) Lava Cliffs Overlook (View of the Volcanic ash desposited 26 million years ago) Alpine Visitor Center (National Park Visitors Center) Fairview Curve (An overlook with amazing views of the Kawuneeche Valley) Grand Lake (Colorado's largest natural lakes) (N) Tabernash (Remarkable views of the peaks of the Continental Divide) Winter Park (One of Colorado's most popular ski resorts) Berthoud Pass (Reowned mountain road - white-knuckled curves and stunning views) Rimrock Drive and Colorado National Monument (One of the grandest scenic drives in the American West, the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive offers redrock canyons, crisp blue skies, and glorious views along the way for motorists and bicyclists. The road is inseparable from the identity of the Monument. The drive provides access to Saddlehorn Visitor Center and campground, 19 signed viewpoints, and 14 hiking trails — from ½ to 14 miles round trip. Many short, easy trails allow you to gaze upon or walk up to towering masses, while backcountry trails head down into remote canyons full of bird song and solitude) (N)
Routes of Interest:	23-mile Rimrock Drive (One of the grandest scenic drives in the American West) Berthoud Pass (Route 40 - Gerogetown through the Rockies) Route 119 (Up to the Rockies) Route 24 San Juan Skyway (Route 550 from Durango to Silverton and then from Silverton and Ouray (known as Million Dollar Highway)
Where to Stay:	Mesa Verde Morefield Campground and Village ($30) - 267 which very rarely fills Black Canyon South Rim ($16) - can be reserved with electric, 88 sites North Rim ($16) - no reservation, 13 sites East Portal ($8) - no reservation, 5 sites Eleven Mile State Park State Park Camping ($18)Estes Park Estes Park KO ($41 with no hook ups) Grand Lake Elk Creep Campground and RV park ($32 - cabins are $59) Winding river Resort ($37) Green Ridge Park Service Campsite ($21) Rimrock Drive Saddlehorn Campground ($20) - you can book 6 months in advanced or FCFS
Useful Links:	http://www.colorado.com/articles/7-day-colorado-family-road-trip