Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Food
Food in Yellowstone is generally more functional than fun, though you shouldn't have dif-
ficulty finding somewhere to eat whatever your budget. The parks offer a multitude of
fast-food outlets and sandwich bars, as well as the occasional need-to-eat-something-dif-
ferent gourmet restaurant.
Outside the tourist-driven eateries in the parks, local cuisine is a stick-to-your-ribs diet
of biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steaks, turkey loaf and mashed potatoes, plus table-
shaking half-pound burgers and bloody steaks. One local 'delicacy' that always gets fois-
ted (with a grin) on tourists is Rocky Mountain Oysters - deep-fried bison testicles, nor-
mally served in pairs.
If you plan on sticking to a strict vegetarian diet while traveling in Greater Yellowstone,
you'll have to get used to two things: baked potatoes and grudging looks from local ranch-
ers.
Given the lovely locations and abundant picnic areas, picnicking is a popular option. A
cooler is an invaluable piece of equipment during the heat of summer, and ice is available
at most park junctions. The majority of campers bring a dual-burner stove to speed along
cookouts. At the end of the day, even the blandest can of beans tastes like heaven when
cooked over an open fire and under a blanket of stars.
In this topic we use the following definitions for a main course, not including tips or
drinks:
budget $ under $10
midrange$$ $10 to $20
top end $$$over $20
Insurance
Foreign visitors to the US should take out adequate travel insurance, purchased before de-
parture. At a minimum, you need coverage for medical emergencies and treatment, in-
cluding hospital stays and an emergency flight home if necessary. Medical treatment in
the USA is of the highest caliber, but the expense could kill you.
You should also consider coverage for luggage theft or loss, and trip cancellation insur-
ance. If you already have a homeowner's policy, see what it will cover and consider get-
