Vital Statistics
Capital: Washington DC
Population: 319 million
Language: English
Time: Four zones in the contiguous US, from GMT-5 (Eastern) to GMT-8 (Pacific)
International dialling code:+1
Money: US dollar ($). Tipping is expected.
When to Go:
January, February, March, October, November, December: Snow and road closures can make travelling across national parks impossible. December-February is good for Rocky Mountains snow activities.
April, May, June: Less crowded, some attractions may be closed/have restricted opening.
July, August: More crowded but great for walking.
September: Post-Labor Day (first Monday of September) – crowds diminish: perfect for a road trip. Temps still warm; fabulous fall colours.
Health & Safety
No specific jabs required. Don’t attempt backcountry trails unless able to navigate well with map and compass. Be bear aware: carry bear spray (especially in Glacier NP); make noise as you walk; if you see a bear, don’t run. Check for tick bites after walking in long grass/forests.
Road Trip Itinerary:
Washington
Stay: Hotel Five (Seattle) is close to the Space Needle and Monorail; it offers free use of bicycles.
Paradise Lodge (Mount Rainier NP) was built in 1916 and oozes period charm.
Cherry Wood B&B (Yakima Valley; cherrywoodbbandb.com) offers stays in luxury teepees and the chance to soak under the stars in the outdoor bathhouse.
Eat: The 5 Point Café (Seattle) serves good burgers and beer 24 hours a day.
Drink: Head to Silver Lake Winery and Cultura to sample two very different local wines.
Buy: A Seattle City Pass covers access to the main museums, a boat tour on Puget Sound and a trip up the Space Needle.
Idaho
Stay: The Wallace Inn is suitable for a stopover.
Eat: The Fainting Goat offers tapas and a self-serve wine tasting bar.
Do: Paddle from Coeur d’Alene with ROW Adventures, which offers a range of half- and full-day trips, as well as cycling tours along old railway lines nearby.
Montana
Stay: St Mary Lodge and Resort has cabins with mountain views and great access to Glacier NP.
C’mon Inn is a Midwest chain hotel
Do: Visit the Museum of the Rockies, home to a treasure trove of dinosaur bones discovered in the mountains. For more dino-thrills, try the Two Medicine Dinosaur Centre.
Stay: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is a great place to watch elks bugling. It also offers excellent Lamar Valley Wildlife evening tours.
Jackson Lake Lodge (Grand Teton) has cabins, cafés and a glass-walled lounge with unrivalled mountain views. It also runs remote horseback tours for all levels – recommended.
Homewood Suites (Rock Springs) is well placed.
Windy Hills Guest House (between Laramie and Cheyenne) overlooks Curt Gowdy State Park; sit in a hottub, watching deer feed and owls hoot.
Do: Killpecker Tours runs passionately guided tours of the petroglyphs outside Rock Springs.
Stay: Armstrong Hotel is on the main street, with a jazz bar below and a coffee shop next door.
Golden Leaf Inn (Rocky Mountain NP) is a lovingly restored old house with great views and even better breakfasts.
Eat: Fort Collins Brewery serves good beer and locally sourced food.
Do: Visit Fort Collins to enjoy its organic food store, independent boutiques and coffee shops. Also tour New Belgium Brewery – booking essential.
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