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Aside from deciding where to stay on Yellowstone vacations, deciding whether to eat in or eat out can be the hardest for many people to make. Only in Yellowstone, dining in means eating at one of the many restaurants in the area and dining out means cooking your own meal over a campfire.

Campfire cooking seems simple enough. After all, isn’t it just like grilling in your own backyard? Experienced campers understand the logistics of planning a week’s worth of meals, shopping, prepping, cooking, and cleaning up. You want nourishing meals, comfort food, easy preparation, and easy clean up. One trick that works for many folks cooking their own meals on their Yellowstone vacations is to pre-prep as much as possible. Freeze what you can ahead of time, like pre-made hamburger patties. Clean, chop, or dice your vegetables and store in plastic bags or containers. Keeping packages in zippered bags can keep out the water from melting ice. Some canned items are always nice to have along. Baked beans always taste good with a grilled burger or hot dog. Breakfast cereals and a quart of milk make for a quick, easy breakfast, but try an omelet made in a plastic bag and cooked in just a few minutes in boiling water. Kids love making these! Don’t forget to bring beverages. Water is best, especially in higher altitudes. Dehydration can set in quickly if you’re not careful. Remember the old Boy Scout rule and drink before you get thirsty, then take a drink, and then take another drink.

Some people like to do as little cooking as possible while taking their Yellowstone vacations. They prefer to visit outdoor stores that specialize in camping equipment and supplies. There they find a wide variety of pre-made and freeze-dried foods. Most require water for preparation and some degree of heat. A word of advice is to try a few varieties before you decide to use them exclusively.

Yellowstone vacations can be fun and relaxing, especially in the evenings around the campfire, full from a yummy stew or burger, some fruit, and maybe some S’mores. But smart campers are always careful to clean up their campsite completely and to store leftover food in secure containers well away from camp. Bears can be a problem, even in the campgrounds. Nothing is more tempting to a bear then a readily accessible pile of trash left from the evening’s meal. Check with park staff to learn how you can bear proof your campsite.

Some moms especially don’t like the idea of cooking at all on their Yellowstone vacations, so they are interested in what types of dining is available for their families near the park. The sky is the limit in the communities surrounding Yellowstone National Park when it comes to dining. Many quick service cafes specialize in home cooked meals with hearty breakfasts, filling lunches, and the comfort food we all love. There are more upscale restaurants and grilles in the area than you might imagine, and they have some exquisite menus. Here meals are prepared by chefs who offer the bounty of the land in ways you might never have imagined. How about grilled salmon with huckleberry chutney, served with asparagus and roasted red potatoes? Or how about elk medallions drizzled with rosemary cabernet sauce, served with wild rice and seasoned fresh baby vegetables? Follow up with bread pudding with vanilla cream sauce or a lemon sorbet with fresh huckleberries. Try several of the local communities, lodges, and hotels for the widest selection when dining. There’s plenty for every taste and every budget.

Yellowstone vacations are a great time to try a little of dining in and dining out. A quick breakfast before that hike up to the lake to fish is an ideal way to start the day. That beautiful trout makes a tasty lunch before trying that new hiking trail. And a gourmet meal in town is a perfect way to end any day. See, you can have it all on your Yellowstone vacation.

Joe Dockter
http://yellowstonevacations.blogspot.com