Staying Safe and Enjoying Yellowstone

Marty Behr is such a nice guy, he doesnt mind sharing travel secrets of one of the best see-America-now programs.

And seeing America first is not merely your only option as the world grapples with the Covid-19 crisis, it is among the best travel experiences on the globe.

As luck would have it, Abercrombie & Kent brought Behr on board in 2019not expecting a pandemic within a yearas its managing director of A&Ks U.S.A. Destinations.

They decided domestic travel was very important. It turned out to be a wise move, he says.

Now, A&K is offering what he likes to refer to as a pandemic travel program. But its much more sophisticated than it sounds. One of Abercrombies signature qualities as the world-class travel agency is its personal naturewe like to stay away from crowds, is the way Behr describes it.

Marty Behr Discovering a Private Place

So if youre going to be at Yellowstone National Park and want to see Old Faithful, for example, A&K will not get you there at 10:30 in the morning. Instead, youll have a 5:30 wake-up call, breakfast at 6:30, and you and your tight little group will be watching the geyser erupt at 7:30 or 8without having to elbow your way to the front. Its like having an orchestra seat at Broadways toughest ticket.

The timing is one of our secrets, he discloses. And we like to stay away from the crowds.

Take Grand CanyonIts 250 miles around, but most people go to one spot at a hotel. Behr knows where the wide open spaces are.

Another secret he sharestry to go in the shoulder season, say September, for Yellowstone.

Actually, all of September is one of the best times to travelthe golden colors, the elk are gathering for the winter; the natural symphony of elk noises, temperature in the high 60s.

I suspect all of us are concerned about safety these days. A&K has sought out accommodations away from crowdswith private entrances, no long corridors to avoid passing other people, casitas where possible. And every driver and guide is temperature-tested daily and wears a mask, as do other travelers with you when sharing a vehicle.

In the national parks, many of the restaurants are closed. But dont worry. Behr says his tours also offer gourmet picnics so that you wont go hungry after spending time and building up an appetite in the great outdoors.

Besides concerns about restaurants and crowds, travelers have another thing on their mind these daysgetting there. Commercial plane travel has become daunting to many folks.

Up Close and Personal

Some people are uneasy about flying commercial these days, Behr concedes. His company has launched a program called Tailor Made National Parks by Air, and thats exactly what it is. You fly on private charters, for example, to the three most popular national parksGrand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone. There are similar private trips to Alaska as well.

What has happened in the wake of the pandemic is that Americans have rediscovered themselves and the beauty of this country. There is so much more, too.

You dont have to go 5,000 miles or more to see natural wonders, explains Behr. And while weve been concentrating on the southwest, there is an even larger United States world out thereAlaska and its whales, a wild-horse ranch (there are, youll be surprised to know, an estimated 20,000 wild horses still roaming the American West).

These, and more, can be found at: abercrombiekent.com. Just looking at the pictures on the website will give you a sense of freedom.

Excerpt from:

Listen To This Travel Experts Advice On Safely Discovering Americas Treasures - Forbes