Here is a place of  wonders, reasonable prices, and perhaps the world’s greatest fly fishing.  Every year about the second or third week of June is “heading off to  West Yellowstone and the National Park for me. 

For more years than I want to own up to,  I have fished the Firehole River in the park for fabulous trout fishing.  (Next month there will be a more fly fishing specific article about the flies to use, fly rods, etc. in the Fly Fishing/Golf section of the magazine.)  Interested in “around the world” fly fishing?

In the northeast corner at the edge of Yellowstone National Park is the quaint little town of West Yellowstone. Most all of the stores are along the one main street (Canyon) running through town.   My favorite dining place is Buckaroo Bill's.  Among the business places in West Yellowstone (Where I have been visiting for some 20+ years now), is Buckaroo Bill's Dining, owned by Bill and Ms. Gaily Arnado offers such fine, rustic, dining that I ate over 80% of my noon meals there during my June 2006  fly fishing trip that lasted some 14 days. One won't find finer people caring for their customers than Ms. Gail and Bill, and the quality of food is excellent!  They are also managers, as well as owners.

If it is pizza, fine steaks, great burgers, wonderful stew and cornbread, tacos,

barbecue, sandwiches (excellent barbecue sandwiches), chili, and don’t forget their special ice cream. (I have never seen such large servings.)  (Picture of Bill and Ms. Gaily to right)

This is a place that “no matter what you order, you can’t go wrong – it is all good.”    There is outside dining for the “nature crowd,” and inside for the “want-it air-conditioned” crowd.  People-watching is a much employed occupation in West Yellowstone, and outside dining positions you to experience some of the finest people-watching in the West.

The young people that Bill and Gaily employee each summer are bound to keep you pleasantly waiting while you food is being prepared by bringing popcorn, keeping your tea refilled, and sharing from their lives if you ask- sometime if you don’t ask. 

When you go in, tell them that John C. Jones,  President of Photoandtravel.com

sent you,  and you just might get some special treatment.   If they ask, “Who?” show them my picture with my camera located on the wall, and the articles that are  laminated and used for placemats at each table – if they ask “Who?” they must be new help.    Many people buy the placemats for souvenirs. 

I don’t know of a better place in America for family vacation, fly fishing, camping, or just having a “good time,” than Yellowstone National Park and West Yellowstone.  Happy Traveling