This route brings you to the northwest corner of Wyoming and south-central Montana: the 18-million-acre parcel known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Day 1: Arrive in Jackson, Wyoming

Start your Rocky Mountain getaway in the world-class resort town of Jackson. Serviced by more airlines than any other town in the state, Jackson is relatively easy to get to and a comfortable launching pad for a Montana/Wyoming vacation. Check out Town Square, with its famed antler arches, and the downtown area for window-shopping and lunch, before heading up to the National Museum of Wildlife Art for the afternoon. In the evening, drive to Teton Village or nearby Wilson for dinner, perhaps with a stop to fish on the Snake River en route, or if time permits, a ride up the tram at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Take your pick of lodgings in and around Jackson.

Day 2: Grand Teton National Park

But of course you didn't come to Wyoming for the civilization. Get up early and head immediately for Grand Teton National Park. Stop at the visitor center in Moose before catching a boat across Jenny Lake to the trail leading up Cascade Canyon; take it at least to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, but you'll get away from most of the crowds if you continue up the canyon for another mile or two. Either bring lunch with you or come down to one of the numerous eateries in the park. Spend the afternoon ogling the majestic mountains from the numerous overlooks, and take a stroll around Willow Flats and look for moose or hike up Signal Mountain (you can drive to the summit as well) for a magnificent perspective. For hungry, budget-minded types, I love the nachos at Deadman's Bar in Signal Mountain Lodge. Spend the night in one of the park's lodgings or campgrounds.

Day 3: Arrive in Yellowstone National Park

You got a taste of the in-your-face grandeur of the Tetons, now it's time for the subtler, wilder confines of Yellowstone National Park and its amazing amalgam of wildlife, geysers, and hiking trails. You'll drive out of Grand Teton National Park through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway before entering Yellowstone, and will soon arrive at the trail head to Lewis River Channel to Shoshone Lake, the largest backcountry lake in the Lower 48. Pack a lunch or plan for a late lunch at Old Faithful, where you'll spend the night after a stop at West Thumb en route. In the evening, watch the famed geyser erupt, and then stroll the boardwalks for a glimpse at some of the lesser-known thermal features here: Castle, Grand, and Riverside geysers are all awe-inspiring sights to behold. Stay at one of the myriad lodging options at Old Faithful; eat here as well.

Days 4 & 5: Yellowstone National Park

Now that you've whet your Yellowstone appetite, you've got 2 full days to get your fill of hiking, wildlife-watching, sightseeing, or whatever else might tickle your fancy. I recommend visitors spend the first half of Day 4 exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone area, gawking from the overlooks but also hiking one of the rim trails, visiting Clear Lake and Lily Lake, or walking down the metal staircase known as Uncle Tom's Trail for an unbeatable perspective of the base of Lower Falls. Drive up to Tower-Roosevelt in the afternoon to unwind on the porch at Roosevelt Lodge, where you'll sleep in a dinky cabin after enjoying a cookout on the trail. The next day, you're in prime position for an early start of wildlife-watching in the Lamar Valley -- "the Serengeti of North America." Have lunch in Cooke City and perhaps do a little fishing in Trout Lake or Soda Butte Creek before reversing course for Mammoth Hot Springs. After walking the boardwalk here, have dinner at Pedalino's in Gardiner, Montana, or have a quick bite at Mammoth before heading to Boiling River for a soak before the sun sets. Stay in either Mammoth or Gardiner.

Day 6: The Paradise Valley & Bozeman, Montana

From Mammoth or Gardiner, drive north on U.S. 89 up the idyllic Paradise Valley to Livingston, Montana. Wander downtown Livingston, visiting one of the town's three museums, check out a gallery or two, and have a bite to eat. Next, drive west on I-90 to downtown Bozeman, Montana, for the evening. Spend the afternoon strolling Main Street, and settle on a restaurant downtown -- there are plenty to choose from -- and perhaps a watering hole for an after-dinner drink. As for accommodations close to downtown, I can't recommend the Lehrkind Mansion enough.

Day 7: Bozeman, Montana

After breakfast at the Lehrkind or one of the noshing spots on Main, head south to the Museum of the Rockies, on the campus of Montana State University. This top-flight museum offers a view into one of the best and brightest paleontology programs in the country and a look at the largest collection of American dinosaurs in the world. Either have lunch at the museum cafe or head back downtown before venturing south into the Gallatin National Forest for an afternoon hiking or fishing expedition. For dinner, try Montana Ale Works or the Mint in nearby Belgrade, a very Montana kind of place.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.