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Where to pick up groceries/supplies before entering Y-stone/GT

Where to pick up groceries/supplies before entering Y-stone/GT

Old Jul 29th, 2013, 08:28 AM
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Where to pick up groceries/supplies before entering Y-stone/GT

Good morning all --
My DH and I are belatedly starting to plan the details of our trip to Yellowstone & Grand Tetons, Sept. 19-29. We got all the flights & hotels & rental car squared away in February and then life just got tremendously busy and we stopped thinking about it. Now that the trip is less than 2 months away we are starting to think maybe we should get moving on this ... ;-)

We are staying a couple nights at the Old Faithful Inn and have made a reservation in their dining room for dinner one of the nights. But that's all we've got. When we are out hiking, we're mostly pasta/pizza/salad/burger types (I'm a vegetarian so no burgers for me). When we were in Alaska a couple years ago we had an RV so it was easy, obviously, to bring our own supplies for meals & snacks for hiking. How can we do this in Yellowstone/GT? Or should we not plan on this at all and, then -- are there places to eat that we don't really need to make reservations for? Is the best place to pick up fruit/granola bars/whatever in Jackson before setting off? We would love to have a big bag of non-perishable groceries with us. I can imagine that whatever little stores there are in the parks -- and I'm only assuming there are some -- will be super-expensive?

Thanks for any help you can give.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 08:52 AM
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If you're entering from the South, then yes, Jackson is the best place to stock up. From the North, look at Livingston, from the East, Cody and from the West, West Yellowstone.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 09:10 AM
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Also to the north there are grocery stores in Gardiner MT just outside the park. Also fill your gas tank before entering the park. Where are you flying to and out of?
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 11:13 AM
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Here is the link to look at. Not only expensive but also things run out. The food is so-so and often it runs out too.

You should know that while it is respectful to be a Vegan, the Parks do not cater to specialty food.

If you want to ensure your Vegan options, it is best to buy a camp cooler and fill it up at the town entrances above.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/stores.htm

Make sure you fill up on gas too.
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I can imagine that whatever little stores there are in the parks -- and I'm only assuming there are some -- will be super-expensive
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 11:32 AM
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thank you for the quick replies. We are flying in and out of Jackson. We'll be getting a rental car at the Jackson airport. I seem to remember that our flight lands from Newark at around 6 p.m.? 7 p.m.? The first night we are staying at the Ski area at a B&B, so we don't have to drive too far in the dark. I am hoping that we can go to a grocery store in town (are they open at night?) and then turn around and drive up to the B&B. (as I said, it's been a long time since I looked at our itinerary so I'm a bit fuzzy on these details...) Then the next morning we can drive right to GT and do some hiking.

1JAR, thank you for your thoughts. I am a vegetarian, which means I eat fish and cheese. Actually, as a matter of fact what I really am is kosher, which means for religious reasons I am one who doesn't eat meat or poultry that is not prepared in a kosher way; also no pork products and or shellfish. In addition to all this, I don't eat red meat at all. It is too difficult to explain this sometimes so it is easier to leave out the kosher bit and just say, "I am a vegetarian who eats fish." ;-) I am happy to spend 10 days eating cheese sandwiches or PB&J for lunch and cheese pizza or pasta with vegetables for dinner. I just want to go hiking...
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 04:41 PM
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Since you're sleeping in Jackson the first night pick up your supplies there. Nothing is inexpensive anywhere.

If you leave for Yellowstone fairly early take the outside road and make a few scenery stops: Mormon Row barns and Schwabacher landing.

Very few people go to these as 1) they're just off the outside road and 2) they're just off (less than 1/2 mile) the outside road and few people venture more than a few yards from their cars.

There are several other different sights but I'll wait until you get to that. If you do.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 05:02 PM
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hikrchick...I understand the explanation & try to help when I can.

The store I like the best for Vegan type options in Jackson is the link below. There is also an Albertson's chain store...both are expensive but using an Albertsons key chain discount card and maybe splurging at Jackson Whole grocer would be good options.

BTW if you like to eat out, Jackson and Jackson Hole have some great restaurants with Vegan like options.

I love Jackson, Jackson Hole and GTNP...to me the wide open outdoor scenery is special.

http://www.jacksonwholegrocer.com/departments.deli.php

Have fun..it is a great trip.
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Old Jul 30th, 2013, 05:33 AM
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Myer those sound wonderful. My DH reminded me last night that after 2 nights in GT we will head into Yellowstone to the northern area where we are staying at Mammoth. We are used to being up at 6:30 a.m. -- and we are not afraid of walking a half-mile off the road (and we know quite well about walking a couple hundred yards and, surprise, no more people around us) so these walks sound perfect for us.

the one thing I would like to ask, though, is at these trail heads is there a designated parking area? or do we just basically pull off the side of the road and lock the car and hit the trail? Actually I think I'll start another thread.

thanks!
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Old Jul 30th, 2013, 07:43 AM
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The two I mentioned above, Mormon Row Barns and Schwabacher Landing are not hikes. They require no more than a short drive.

When driving north a little past the airport the road splits. The left side is the inside road and you've got to drive slower. The right-hand road is the outside road with a somewhat faster speed limit.

That doesn't mean there's nothing to see on the outside road.

After a minute or so you'll see Antelope Flats Road on the right side. Turn onto the road and drive a few hundred yards until Mormon Row. Turn left and drive less than a minute and you'll see one barn on the left with the mountains behind them.

Then go back to the junction of Antelope Flats Road and drive south on Mormon Row and you'll see the other barn on the right with the mountains behind them.

After that retrace your route back to the outside road. Drive north slowly. In a minute or so you'll come to Glacier View Turnout on the right. You can stop there for the view.

Then continue north another minute and you'll see a sign for Schwabacher Road on the left. Drive down the dirt road about a half mile and you'll see a parking area.

You are now down at the Snake River level instead of looking down. Walk over and pick some spots of interest along the river where you'll see the mountains and the reflections in the river.

There are several more turnouts along the road. At the top of GT both roads meet at another favorite spot for photogs. Oxbow Bend. Go there early and late and you'll see the cameras out. Also maybe a bit of wildlife.

Since you're starting in GT where are you staying for these couple of days?

About hikes. There are designated parking areas for all hikes. Some smaller than others.

For instance, I had seen pictures of Moose Falls. It's a pretty small waterfall just inside the south entrance to Yellowstone. I still decided to go there since it's right off the road. Unfortunately the sign when you go north doesn't name the falls. Only when you go south. I felt we past it so we turned around and drove 100 yards back and saw the sign.

The parking area is actually a small pull-off with room for about a dozen cars. There were 4 or 5 cars there. The walk from the car is about 100 yards thru the woods. Easy to follow an actual trail. There were about 10 people there (more than I saw in a lot of other places). A few just sitting and looking. A few in the water below the falls.

It was a nice stop.

Mammoth was my least favorite area. Most everything was dry. I wasn't planning on going there but there were a few waterfalls in the area so we made a few very short stops.

I thought good area to stay were OF and Canyon. Others may have other opinions.

I don't know what your interests are so I'll wait for your other post. I'm into photography so I look for scenery, wildlife and waterfalls.

You can see my trip to YNP & GTNP at:
www.travelwalks.com
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Old Jul 31st, 2013, 09:41 AM
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thanks for all the suggestions! My DH and I are also into photography -- give us a couple hours hiking and some wildlife/gorgeous views, and we're happy.

in GT we are staying at Colter Bay Village for 2 nights. Then we're staying in Ystone at Mammoth and then at Old Faithful Inn. We're going to try to call and upgrade the rooms; I'm not sure at this point I want the bathroom down the hallway ...
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Old Jul 31st, 2013, 10:28 AM
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Dornan's has a great little store with a good bit of grocery/deli/picnic items. This isn't a grocery store, but a large Deli with many grocery supply items too. I suspect it would be more expensive than a sure enough grocery store in Jackson, but we really liked it there and they have good coffee/mocha/latte too.
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Old Jul 31st, 2013, 02:13 PM
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Checked your other thread. I sent you some links to hiking maps.

Colter Bay is at the north end of GT but the park isn't very big so your fine. Not like Yellowstone.
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Old Jul 31st, 2013, 03:45 PM
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The good thing about staying at Mammoth is that it's relatively easy to get to a (very small and limited) grocery store in Gardiner from there...not so good thing is that it's distant from everything else inside the park, but since you are also staying at Old Faithful, that's not a problem. There are some nice drives and places to hike on the north end of the park, so you can do those from Mammoth, and that would include stopping at the Roosevelt Lodge, which is tiny but historic.

Since Yellowstone accommodations are usually spartan, upgrading is always a good idea if you can afford it. Keep in mind that it can take a long time to get from one area to another, depending on road work, etc., so not over-planning each day would be wise.

We have been to Yellowstone several times and always love visiting. Jackson, where you are starting out, is the most cosmopolitan of the towns near Yellowstone entrances, so take advantage of restaurants there if you need a break from National Park food and cooler snacks, which many people do.
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Old Jul 31st, 2013, 08:20 PM
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I'm glad you've got good recommendations for stocking up on groceries, but I will also add that as a vegetarian, I was pleasantly surprised by the number and variety of options in the dining rooms. I was in Yellowstone in Dec so only OF Snow Lodge and Mammoth dining rooms, plus the General Store at Mammot and grill at OF.

OK, not the best food you'll ever have and certainly too pricey, but at least vegetarians aren't confined to one choice per meal.

Have a great time and enjoy all your hiking.
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Old Aug 1st, 2013, 03:11 AM
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When we travel in remote areas we always pick up an inexpensive cooler and ice, sometimes at a "quicky mart" and fill with cheese, drinks, fruit etc. when we turn the car in we look for an incoming group and always find someone happy to have a recycled cooler.

Do get gas before the parks and fill up whenever you get to half a takn.
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