Island Park Village Resort

Once you reach the office, they give you clear directions that make finding everything simple. Getting there in the first place can be tricky, since the tucked-away roads are hard for GPS to locate. The rooms feel cozy and have heaters for cold nights, and the service was welcoming. The scenery is something else, and makes it easy to relax.

There are plenty of nearby trails for skiing and snowmobiling, and summer brings boating, fishing, and biking. The condos are a good value, with responsive, responsible staff and a local grocery right next door. My only complaint is the pillows: if you prefer soft ones, bring your own.

Our condo balcony faced a grassy farm plain, with snow-capped mountains rising behind it. Not every unit has that view, but it was amazing to take in morning and evening. We used the condo as our base for daily Yellowstone National Park trips. West Yellowstone's entrance is about 25 miles, or 30 minutes, away. Having two bedrooms and two bathrooms for the cost of one hotel room there made the drive worthwhile for our family; otherwise we'd have needed two rooms at twice the price.

We've been coming here for about 38 years and still love it, with too many memories to give it up. Lately, though, it's frustrating as an owner to be told there's nothing available for our dates, then drive up and find the place empty. That's very bad PR.