Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park. Image by Bruce Tuten / CC BY 2.0

Just a few days ahead of the start of the busy season, tourism businesses around Yellowstone National Park are hopeful for record-breaking attendance this year. Industry analysts say falling unemployment, low gas prices and rising wages might be contributing to the increase in travel to the national park. Area hotels are also reporting sharp increases in reservations, assisted in part by recent business consolidations by booking site Expedia.com. On Friday the park’s East Entrance near Cody, Wyoming officially opens, and the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce will host a pancake breakfast to celebrate the opening. Read more: billingsgazette.com