Join Safari Yellowstone for a tour–lasting anywhere from three hours to five days–and see the Yellowstone that most tourists can only imagine. Get ready for wildlife: you may see brown bears and cubs, grizzly bears, bison, elk, moose, bald eagles, pronghorn sheep and wolves. The tour will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, and all you need to do is relax and soak in the beauty of the national park. For a day indoors, stop by the Livingston Depot Center, a small but fascinating museum that was built by the Northern Pacific Railway to accommodate visitors a century ago. Let the kids enjoy the hands-on exhibits and sit at the controls of a steam engine. There is also a model train display in the basement next door. The building itself is exquisite, with mosaic panels inside and pillars outside.
Head back outdoors for a visit to the large and beautiful Sacajawea Park, complete with statues, trails, picnic tables, a Wednesday farmer’s market and live music at the bandstand from time to time. This park commemorates the Lemhi Shoshone woman who acted as interpreter and guide to the Lewis and Clark expedition. If you have always wanted to fish but were too embarrassed to ask how, then it is time to learn with Rob Olson’s Fishing with Rob expeditions. Book a full-day float trip down the Yellowstone River and watch the water flow by while you learn tricks of the fly-fishing trade.
Leave the fish behind and hop on a horse at the Bear Paw Outfitters for some Western trail riding. The owners are serious about safely showing you a good time, which makes for a great outing. You do not need to have any prior experience to enjoy a day on a horse; the outfitters will supply you with all the instructions you need—as well as some delicious food along the way. One of the greatest family activities anywhere is a day at Gem Valley where you can “mine” for beautiful Montana sapphires and garnets. The gravel comes from premier mines so that you can experience the excitement of gem mining without the back-breaking digging. You can also have your gems polished and help make them into beautiful pieces of jewelry.
Book today with Choice Hotels in Livingston, MT to get the cozy room and amenities you need for good rest and relaxation. Once you arrive you can focus on enjoying the rugged beauty of the area, whether you do it on a safari, by horseback, on the river–or even all three!