It’s a match made in West Yellowstone, Montana, if not in heaven.  I’m talking about Buckaroo Bill’s restaurant at 24 Canyon Street in West Yellowstone.  Bill and Gail Arnado have put together the American dream.  Their self-owned diner is absolutely the best place to eat when visiting the area.  You want it?  They probably have it!  From pizza to hotdogs, hamburgers to stew, with a few buffalo ribs thrown in between, it’s on the menu.  If you hail from the southern states and like TexMex cuisine, the closest you’ll come to it here in West Yellowstone, is the “El Gringo” served as two large hard shell tacos, filled with seasoned ground beef, black olives, shredded cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, a side of chips and salsa.  Makes me hungry just reminiscing!

I’ve met Bill and Gail personally and they are the greatest people.  Folks around the town love them and can’t say enough good things about the way they do business.  Each of them are actively involved in the community giving back to make it a better place.  They are part of a student exchange program and often times have foreign students experiencing the American work ethic as they wait tables and take orders alongside the local students.  I do smile and chuckle at times when trying to explain “iced tea” especially the way we southerners like it.  On one previous trip, the student brought us tea bags steeping in cups of hot water and glasses of ice alongside – our group just laughed and enjoyed the experience of making our own “iced tea” at our table. 

When you visit Buckaroo Bill’s, you’ll be surprised to find the amount of ice cream that can be had in one scoop!  I’ve taken pictures through the years of young people and seniors alike, trying to consume the “one scoop.”  And then there is the “banana split” a goliath serving of three scoops of ice cream, bananas, whipped cream, nuts, and cherries.  I’ve seen grown men tremble at the site of it.  Several have taken the “challenge” and few have finished it in less than nineteen minutes!  I’ll not tell you more – you must see for yourself!

When you are in West Yellowstone, check out all the wonderful shops.  Many are on Canyon Street and Yellowstone Avenue, but venture out all over the town, you’ll find many surprises on the side roads and down into the town itself.  Most vendors and store owners have only the three seasons to make their living, then shut down for winter except for the necessary services one must have to live, ie: utilities, propane, grocery stores.  A few diners will stay open during the winter to cater to those who come to play in the snow; however, many of the passes into the area are closed when the heavy snows come.  This year we experienced a little bit of the frenzy that comes along with the snow.  Our first few days on our June vacation were snow filled, and tourists everywhere were in the shops trying to buy bulky sweaters and long pants, caps and gloves, just to stay warm.

Speaking of stores and their owners, one of my favorites is Bud Lilly’s on Canyon Street.  Owner, Dick, is dry humored and the ultimate fly fishing businessman.   Besides all the great fly fishing equipment and flies, you’ll find a fantastic array of clothing.  In the back of the shop are “sale” racks.  I’ve found the most wonderful items on sale there and I can tell you the quality of clothing he purchases is fantastic!  Arrick’s fly shop is just across the street and has a wide variety of fly fishing equipment, boots, and waders along with some cozy sweaters and nice assortment of coats, vests, and outdoor wear.  Blue Ribbon Fly Shop  is farther north on Canyon Street.  These guys are the “go to” for fishing around the area and what’s happening on the rivers.  You can get monthly information from them by signing up for their online newsletter sent to your email inbox. 

At the General Store, I came across a “half-off” sale that was fabulous.  It included all ExOfficio and North Face clothing.  Talk about being in heaven!  Give me a shop with these outerwear clothes and then tell me “half-off” which is as good a treat as a mouthful of fresh huckleberry taffy, made on the taffy puller or homemade fudge (which you’ll find in the Rustic Candy Shop on Canyon Street) except, the clothes last longer!

In West Yellowstone the chamber of commerce is a great place to stop by and pick up an itinerary while in the area.  The Wolf Discovery Center is a good place to learn about the wolves which roam through Yellowstone National Park.  The discovery center also houses bears which are unable to live in the wild.  Take your camera and plan to spend time watching and photographing the animals.  There is a local locomotive museum with the history of West Yellowstone, an IMAX theater which not only shows some great movies; it is stocked with a variety of very nice novelties, sweatshirts, tees, and collectibles.  The Playmill Theater has live performances of Broadway style musicals.   Before riding the yellow tour busses, check in with the local chamber of commerce and get a schedule of the happenings around West Yellowstone during your visit. 

If you are planning to see the park, spend at least three days, start out early and take one loop per day to drive and see.  Make sure you have plenty of memory cards or film because you’ll want to capture the many facets of the park’s natural wonders as well as the animals which inhabit West Yellowstone National Park.

This has become one of my yearly treks.  The mountains, pines, rivers, animals, and snow, and my friends I’ve made, make this one of my spiritual places where I’m energized in body, mind, and spirit.  You’ll see what I’m talking about when you visit.  And when you do arrive in West Yellowstone, tell Bill and Gail Arnado, I said “Hi”- and to fix you up with the best in the house – the food is just so good, you’ll have a hard time choosing, in fact you’ll keep coming back to order something new each time!  Happy Traveling!

(photos of Bill and Gail Arnado, ladies eating ice cream, and historic museum are the author’s, photo of taffy puller is from the Rustic Candy shop’s website)