Family trip to South Dakota and Yellowstone
Apr 17th, 2012, 05:40 PM
#1
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Family trip to South Dakota and Yellowstone
10 of us would like to fly into Rapid City Sd from NewaRK NJ in late August and spend 11 nites winding up in Jackson Hole. There are 5 kids ages 7-11, 3 parents and 2 grandparents in their late 60's in good shape. We would like to spend 3 nites in SD visiting Black Hills, Mt Rushmore, etc. 2 nites in Cody, 2 outside the northern entrance to Yellowstone, 1 in west Yellowstone, and 3 in Grand Tetons/Jackson Hole, the last day for white water rafting on the Snake. Flying home from Jackson. Will drop Van/SUV's in Jackson. Need 3 rooms upscale with A/C and breakfasts. Is this doable? Any Suggestions?
Apr 17th, 2012, 06:34 PM
#2
Do the grandparents really want to do the whitewater rafting?
They could drive the van or whatever(s) back to Rapid City (540 miles- 9 hours) and fly home from there. You will have a hard time finding a rental agency that wants to rent one way between smaller airports.
Finding 3 upscale rooms in the same hotel on the same dates may be difficult.
It sounds like a logistical nightmare to me. Good luck!
They could drive the van or whatever(s) back to Rapid City (540 miles- 9 hours) and fly home from there. You will have a hard time finding a rental agency that wants to rent one way between smaller airports.
Finding 3 upscale rooms in the same hotel on the same dates may be difficult.
It sounds like a logistical nightmare to me. Good luck!
Apr 18th, 2012, 01:03 AM
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In Rapid City I don't think you will have some difficulties to find some rooms.
We've been at Country Inn by Carlson and In Comfort Inn : basic, clean , relatively quite, swimming pool nice for childrens. Our stay at the Alex Johnson was nice, and despite the bad reviews perhaps it will be our adress while coming back, but we have no more small children.
If you want to stay in Custer park, Legion Lake Resort could have some cabins : they have of different sizes and the lake is a good base on the end of the day to relax after visiting...
In Jackson Hole, the cow boy village resort have never disappointed us and it's not far from the south entrance from Grand Teton.
In Grand Teton the Signal Mountain Lodge has also some different sizes accomodations and the lake is also relaxant at the end of the day...but disponibility could be difficult for this summer !!
In Cody we were happy to be at the Cody Cowboy village, out of downtown, not far from rodeo arena.
For West Yellowstone and Gardiner I have no ideas as we have lodged always in the Park...
Erik
PS : I've made some reports on our vacations in SD and Wyoming/Montana : just click on my name and you'll find the way to them.
We've been at Country Inn by Carlson and In Comfort Inn : basic, clean , relatively quite, swimming pool nice for childrens. Our stay at the Alex Johnson was nice, and despite the bad reviews perhaps it will be our adress while coming back, but we have no more small children.
If you want to stay in Custer park, Legion Lake Resort could have some cabins : they have of different sizes and the lake is a good base on the end of the day to relax after visiting...
In Jackson Hole, the cow boy village resort have never disappointed us and it's not far from the south entrance from Grand Teton.
In Grand Teton the Signal Mountain Lodge has also some different sizes accomodations and the lake is also relaxant at the end of the day...but disponibility could be difficult for this summer !!
In Cody we were happy to be at the Cody Cowboy village, out of downtown, not far from rodeo arena.
For West Yellowstone and Gardiner I have no ideas as we have lodged always in the Park...
Erik
PS : I've made some reports on our vacations in SD and Wyoming/Montana : just click on my name and you'll find the way to them.
Apr 18th, 2012, 09:48 AM
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I would stay "in park" at Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. I would stay at Custer State Park in Black Hills.
BTW, Jackson Hole is the entire region. Jackson, the town, is included in that region.
I think returning a van at a different location might be a real problem. Sometimes, even cars are difficult to drop. Not always, but sometimes.
When you say "upscale" what do you mean?
Jenny Lake Lodge is upscale by National Park standards, but I don't really consider it that great of a place to take kids and it isn't truly upscale,IMOP. There are dude ranches that are upscale.
BTW, Jackson Hole is the entire region. Jackson, the town, is included in that region.
I think returning a van at a different location might be a real problem. Sometimes, even cars are difficult to drop. Not always, but sometimes.
When you say "upscale" what do you mean?
Jenny Lake Lodge is upscale by National Park standards, but I don't really consider it that great of a place to take kids and it isn't truly upscale,IMOP. There are dude ranches that are upscale.
Apr 21st, 2012, 05:50 AM
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Has anyone heard of Travel Dream West tours? They give small group tours out west but I can't find any info about them other than the date they went into business (2008)and their office HDQ.The trip they designed looks good from SD to Jackson via Cody and Yellowstone/GTNP but I am concerned about their reliability.
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