A turn of the Century visit to Yellowstone was a true adventure. Arriving by train near the park entrance, visitors boarded stagecoaches pulled by teams of spirited horses, and began their exciting journey on "The Grand Tour". Park visitor, Fred Smith, 1909

Well, almost 100 years later, I can tell you it is still a Grand Tour. I've just returned from 5 days in Montana and 2 days in Yellowstone and I just can't stop talking about it.

I traveled to The Lone Mountain Ranch outside Bozeman, Mt. with 5 close friends and their families. Together we made up a small town. It was the first "dude ranch" experience for all of us and we had chosen carefully. Lone Mountain caters to families which was evident from the moment we arrived. Round the clock counselors were available to work with the kids; hiking, fishing, riding, climbing walls and obstacle courses, bird banding, canoeing, campfires and an overnight retreat complete with ghost stories! I had heard from others what a great vacation this could be and now as that great philosopher, Mickey Dolan once said "I'm a believer."

Perhaps the highlight of the trip for me was watching my son, Jeremy, catch his first rainbow trout on a fly rod (see photo) in the Gallatin River. What a sight he was with waders pulled up to his shoulders! Our guide, John Hall, was unbelievably patient and seemed to truly enjoy working with kids. We found John through the local Orvis operation located right at the ranch.

The cabins were charming. Not all lined up in a row but spread out among the trees and dotted along side a rushing stream. The food was served family style in a central lodge and featured wild Elk which stirred up the kids. The ranch is open year round and has been rated one of the top resorts in the country for Cross Country Skiing. After exhausting ourselves at the ranch, most of the group moved on to spend a few days in Yellowston e and the Grand Tetons before flying out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If there is prettier country anywhere in this world, I don't know where it is. Old Faithful, herds of wild buffalo, towering waterfalls. We even saw some Grizzly bears! We visited the Old Faithful Inn which is a remarkable piece of architecture and stayed at the Yellowstone Lodge, the oldest in the park. www.travelyellowstone.com

Thanks to Sean Greene, a subscriber, for encouraging me to do this trip.