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In September, 2007, we visited Yellowstone National Park. We were amazed by the animals we saw

-- up close and personal. I had never seen a buffalo before. By the second day I realized that buffalo

sightings in Yellowstone are commonplace. Likewise with elk. The elk owned the visitors center while

we were there, and they happily courted each other despite the tourists' cameras.

We were also fascinated with the bubbling, steaming and gurgling geysers and hot springs. The

hardened mineral formations around the hot springs were magical. The steam wafting over the ice-

like staircases and between the dead trees was mystical. Just don't stick your hand in the water -- it's

hot!

A few miles south of Yellowstone is the gorgeous Grand Tetons National Park. Our heads still reeling

from watching Old Faithful and the animals and hot springs of Yellowstone, we toured the valley and

gazed up at the Grand Tetons.

At the far northeastern corner of Wyoming we stopped in at Devil's Tower National Monument. A

unique granite monolith jutting into the sky, we never found ET but instead learned an interesting

Indian legend and saw a charming community of prairie dogs living at the base.