Exploring Yellowstone

One of our family’s annual summer trips was to Yellowstone National Park in the Western United States. Yellowstone extends into three different states including Wyoming, Montana, and idaho. In March 1862, Yellowstone became the first national park in the U.S. and is held to be the first national park in the world. Because Yellowstone is known for its wildlife and geothermal features, like the Old Faithful geyser, our family wanted to explore it from corner to corner. We planned a weeklong vacation to pack in everything Yellowstone has to offer. Here are some tips we learned to help you plan a perfect Yellowstone vacation.

Plan Out Your Visit 

The best advice I can give you is to plan your visit efficiently. There are many family activities to enjoy there, not just wildlife and geyser viewing, such as horse-drawn covered wagon cookouts, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, ziplining, and much more. When packing for your trip, be sure to bring hiking boots, comfortable clothes, bathing suits, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats or visors, and binoculars to make the most of your visit. Decide ahead of time what parts of Yellowstone your family will enjoy most and mark the spot on the map. You can use a grid labeling East, West, North and South to section off each part of the park. Create an itinerary for each day’s activities, including meal times. marking off each section on Yellowstone and what you want to do in each. For instance, after our flight arrived in Jackson Hole, WY, we rented a car and drove to the west gate entrance where our hotel was located. I found a reasonably priced hotel that offered family suites accommodating all 5 members of my family comfortably. There were several restaurants and shops within walking distance. And, we could pick up our weeklong gate entrance tickets early for the next day’s adventure. I chose the west gate entrance as our home base because of all the amenities nearby and its central location to all areas of the park. Entering through this gate, you can travel North, South, and East to each area of the park. 

Must See Attractions in Yellowstone

From the west gate entrance and traveling south, you can stop by the visitor’s center and pick up your informational CD, brochures, and a park map if you don’t have it already. These tools come in handy when deciding where to stop along the way. In the south part of the park, there are geysers and geothermal features galore. Here you’ll want to stop by the Lower Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pot, Great Fountain Geyser, and finally, Old Faithful. Old Faithful is one of the most popular attractions in the world. Scientists have been able to precisely time the eruptions down to the minute so you’re sure to see Old Faithful’s marvelous display. It’s a must-see while in the southern area of the park. What’s more, there are marked stops along the way for beautiful waterfalls and river hikes. Some of our best and most memorable adventures were random pit stops to hike down a trail where we saw bison, elk, moose, bears, and eagles. Make sure you have your binoculars handy! 

We didn’t spend as much time in the southeastern grid of Yellowstone, although it is worth the trip. Here you’ll find Yellowstone Lake where you can view wildlife all around you and gorgeous scenery through many easy hiking trails. You can visit the Visitor Center here as well as the Lake Village, Fishing Bridge and Bridge Bay. All have awesome views and educational information as well as lodging, food, and restrooms. One activity I recommend trying before you leave this area is the horse-drawn covered wagon cookout. Our family enjoyed an evening riding in the covered wagon to an open field in Pleasant Valley where the cowboys set up a cookout dinner of steaks, baked beans, cole slaw, and cobbler – and a campfire lit up the night’s sky to thousands of stars above. A band played old western songs sung by a true cowboy as we warmed our hands and sipped hot chocolate by the campfire. My kids loved the entire experience. 

From the west gate entrance, traveling to the northeastern grid of Yellowstone, is where we spent the majority of our time. We had to tackle this section in two days because there was so much to see and do there. This is where Lamar Valley and Mirror Plateau are located. Here we found the most wildlife in their natural habitats roaming the fields. Hundreds of bison, wolves, elk, moose, mule deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and white-tailed deer roam the grasslands that cover the valley. Along the Yellowstone River, which is a natural separation between the East and West northern park, be sure and hit the Tower Falls, as well as the Lower and Upper Falls for the amazing sounds and sights of rushing glacial waters. While near the falls, you’ll want to see Inspiration Point and Artist Point that sits atop a cliff on the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. They are breathtakingly beautiful views that certainly inspire creativity and artistry as the names suggest. The Tower-Roosevelt is located in the northeast section of the park as well. Here you’ll find an observation tower with a 132-foot drop of Tower Creek, framed by eroded volcanic pinnacles. Finally, delve into the past with a stop by the Petrified Tree located near the Lost Lake trailhead. Located here is the largest concentration of petrified trees in the world. 

The last grid on the map for us was the Northwest section of Yellowstone. The largest attraction in this section of the park is Mammoth Hot Springs. This famous Yellowstone site is known for its terrace-like cascade of streaming travertine pools. There are wooden decks surrounding the entire loop so you can view the springs from all sides. While driving through the area, we saw elk close-up roaming and enjoying the green grass. There are several stores, a delicious restaurant, and clean restrooms here as well. Our favorite adventure in the northwest grid was the Boiling River. It’s a must-do attraction for families. Bring your bathing suits as this is one of the only places in Yellowstone you can actually soak in hydrothermal water where a hot spring flows into cold river water. 

Family Activities Outside of the Park

Most of our days were spent inside the park exploring the many geysers, waterfalls, cliffs, and wildlife. However, there are even more adventurous family activities outside of the park as well. We booked a white water rafting and zipline tour in Big Sky, Montana, that was exhilarating. First we rode the rapids of the Gallatin River, which offers beginner to expert rafting, then we soared above the mountains and trees ziplining. Only 1½ hours north of our home base, this was a fantastic family experience and one we’ll never forget. Another adventure we embarked on was horseback riding at the Mill Iron Ranch in Jackson, WY. This was the first time my children ever rose horseback, and by far, their favorite part of our trip. Bordering the Teton Mountain Range on all sides, the trail’s elevation provided scenery and views we’ve never seen before. The authentic cowboy guides you safely to the top of the ridge overlooking Wyoming’s natural beauty. The pictures we captured say it all!

As you can see, Yellowstone National Park provides families with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I highly recommend visiting the park for your next family vacation. If you do, please share your tips and advice with us. We’d love to hear your feedback and see your photos or videos as well. Please connect with us on Instagram @MapsCookingKids or on Twitter @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, Agape, be kind, and happy parenting