Stop over on way to YNP

Looking for a place to stay on a one night stop over on my way from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone. Plan on arriving fairly early in the day and would like to stay near Pocatello or Idaho Falls. Was thinking about a day at the mineral pools and setting up a dinner wagon ride at a ranch (can%26#39;t remember the name). Any suggestions?

Stop over on way to YNP

When are you going? There are a couple of places near Idaho Falls that offer the ';Wagon Ride'; type experience - but none are open this time of year (February). Our favorite is Mountain River Ranch (208-538-7337)which is about 15 minutes outside of the city (in a town called Ririe). It%26#39;s got all of your classic stuff (shootout, wagon ride, dinner show). Prices are very reasonable.

Lava Hot Springs is a great place to stop and enjoy the mineral pools. It%26#39;s about 45 minutes southeast of Pocatello. If you%26#39;re coming in the summer, you can also rent an inner tube and float down the river through town (that%26#39;s the BIG excitement in Lava - but it really is fun). It%26#39;s also got a huge outdoor pool with 10 meter diving platform for the not-so-feint of heart.

I would highly recommend Idaho Falls over Pocatello for your overnight stop. Pocatello doesn%26#39;t have a real ';downtown'; area with shops and restaurants like Idaho Falls does (they%26#39;re both very small towns - so don%26#39;t expect a lot - but there%26#39;s a lot more to do in I.F.).

What are the ages of your group (kids, elderly)? I can recommend soome specific restaurants/things-to-do if you%26#39;d like.

Stop over on way to YNP

Thank you so much. I was beginning to think that nobody went to Idaho. My kids are 14 and 10, girl and boy respectively. We plan to be in IF by around noon time and hope to spend the better part of the day exploring.

I really think the Wagon Ride dinner thing sounds like something very different than any thing here in NJ.

We will probably stop there on our way back to SLC from Jackson Hole. Wanted to try two different towns.

Idaho Falls isn%26#39;t exactly a hotbed of tourism - but, yes, people actually do come here (mostly on their way somewhere else!). My kids are 13, 11 %26amp; 9 and they absolutely love Yellowstone. We go every year for a weekend at the Old Faithful Inn - you will have a wonderful time.

Jackson Hole isn%26#39;t quite as kid friendly (it%26#39;s more of an adult town). Lots of (for this area) ';expensive'; shopping, and a few really fun bars and restaurants. If you%26#39;re there for the 4th of July, you will definitely enjoy the parade (lots of horse- drawn entries). There%26#39;s usually a mountain man festival going on around the same time at Teton Village - worth a few hours if you can make it. (This is the real McCoy stuff -axe throwing, animal skinning, living-in-an-isolated-cabin-type bunch.)

Idaho Falls itself doesn%26#39;t have a whole lot touristy to offer - but we%26#39;re near lots of interesting places.

Hope you have a great trip!