Page 179 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2024 SPAIN

sive, multi-hued limestone terraces as a
backdrop. This area was chosen for a fort
for the US Army on 1896 after park workers
became overwhelmed by vandalism,
poaching and other human incursion on the
park’s protected status. To park officials
and the government, this meant the Native
American tribes living and hunting within
the park needed to be removed by force.
We bypassed the Visitor Center in the
historic fort and headed straight to the
Mammoth HotSprings Hotel & Cabins, par-
tially comprised of an1883 Queen Anne ho-
tel, remodeled in 1936 in the Art Moderne
style. A brief wander through the restored
map room and the desirable, recently up-
dated guest rooms led us to lunch and a
few minutes outdoors to view the astonish-
ing terraces, better appreciated from two
boardwalks beside the sky-high limestone
cliffs. It’s said the Shoshone and Bannock
people used the minerals from the lime-
stone for white paint.
Our rainy afternoon drive included my
favorite stop at the lower falls of the Grand
Canyon of the Yellowstone River, at 308
feet the tallest waterfall in Yellowstone. The
air was a bit misty from the air and the
falls rushing down steep yellow-brown
walls. We had time to wander to various
lookout points, take the requisite group
shots and selfies and soak in the pure air. It
ended all too soon.
Even the most ardent hikers in our
group were happy to have that one-day
road trip, though, with enough stunning vis-
tas to ensure return visits. We had a hard
time breaking up the after-party, but most
of us had dreadfully early wake-up calls for
our morning departures. I was sorry to
leave and certainly hope to return.

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