Mountain West By Sue Arko

Imagine a region where mountains seem to touchRiver. While in Missoula, visit the hand-carved
the sky, where sweeping plains seem to reach toCarousel for Missoula. Crafted by volunteers, it is
the horizon, where clear rivers flow over polishedone of the first fully hand-carved carousels to be
rocks, and where an abundance of wildlife frolicbuilt in the United States since the Great
and play. This region is the Mountain West, USA.Depression. The carousel revolves to the sound
And Imagine … a train running through it.of the largest band organ in continuous use in the
A restored streamliner train, complete withUnited States.
refurbished cars from the 1880's, travels on theThe rail portion of the journey concludes the
original Northern Pacific route. This route,following afternoon in Livingston, Mont., located
completed in 1883, was America's secondjust 50 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.
transcontinental rail line and is the most scenicIn the 1880's, soon after the railroad arrived,
route through the American West. Operated byLivingston was the original entrance to
Montana Rockies Rail Tours from June toYellowstone. The historic Northern Pacific
September, the Montana Daylight Train travelstraindepot has been restored to its original
through the Rocky Mountains along a 478-milegrandeur and houses exhibitions of Western
route between Sandpoint, Idaho and Livingston,history, railroad history and art of the region.
Montana.In Livingston, guests board a comfortable
This signature rail tour lasts three days and twomotorcoach and travel to Gardiner, the new
nights. Add to this, scenic, mildly adventurous, andnorthern entrance to Yellowstone, for the
historical extensions by deluxe motorcoach forevening. President Theodore Roosevelt visited
tour itineraries that explore the entire region.Gardiner in 1903 to dedicate the arch made of
Spokane, Wash. is the gateway for most of thebasaltic rock, which marks the entrance to the
eastbound departures. All guests arrive in Spokane"Yellowstone Wonderland." This arch is inscribed
and spend the night in a comfortable hotel. Earlywith the words "For the Benefit and Enjoyment
the next morning, the journey begins by boardingof All People." The next three days are spent
a motorcoach and traveling 90 miles to Sandpointdiscovering Yellowstone National Park and the
Idaho.Grand Tetons National Park.
Surrounded by the Selkirk and Cabinet mountainPowerful natural forces, including furious volcanic
ranges, Sandpoint is a world-class ski and summerexplosions, crashing waves, grinding glaciers,
resort area. Idaho's largest lake, Lake Pend Oreille,shuddering earthquakes, and strong winds,
lies on one side of the town and the lazy Pendcreated the diverse landscape that became
Oreille River on the other. Talented artists, actors,Yellowstone National Park in 1872. Many
and musicians live in town and offer year-rounduncommon sites are contained in the 3,472
shows and festivals, making Sandpoint Idaho'ssquare miles of Yellowstone. Old Faithful Geyser is
largest arts community. Soon the call is heard, "Allthe most famous and the most consistent of
Aboard" and the Montana Daylight Train departsYellowstone's 10,000 hydrothermal features. It
Sandpoint. All travel is during daylight hours, soerupts 18- 21 times each day, normally reaching
nothing is missed along the way, beginning withmaximum heights averaging 130 feet for about
the bald eagles, which can be seen along the20 seconds. The eruption then ends with a few
shores of Lake Pend Oreille.puffs of steam. Other highlights in Yellowstone
Comfortable hotels are utilized each evening. Theinclude the Norris Geyser Basin and the Mammoth
first stop is Missoula, Mont., located at the mouthHot Springs area.
of Hellgate Canyon and on the banks of the Clark