We Just Got Back from Yellowstone

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’ve always told people that everyone should visit Alaska once and Hawaii once.

Add Yellowstone National Park to that.

We stayed at Parade Rest, which is about ten miles outside outside West Yellowstone and the west entrance to the park. Ivylad and I did visit some of the hotels in the park, such as Roosevelt Lodge and Old Faithful Inn, but although I can see the appeal of staying IN the park, they were way too crowded. Parade Rest has about 8-10 cabins, so it’s quiet. They have full housekeeping and a dining hall, so the only thing we wished we’d had was a kitchen or even a mini-fridge to hold drinks (they could have built a decor-appropriate cabinet to hide it.) We heard coyotes howl from the porch of the cabin.

The park itself is spectacular. We saw Old Faithful (of course), Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone River, the canyon, the geyser basin, Grand Prismatic, and Lamar Valley, which is where most of the critters are. We saw bison, elk, chipmunks, a goat, and bald eagles. Everywhere you turn was a jaw-dropping view, mountains, streams, plains, fire damaged forests with new growth, mud pots, and hot springs.

West Yellowstone is a cute tourist town with a grizzly bear and wolf discovery center. We were in town for the 4th of July and it was a typical small town event, with the fire department barbecue, museum pie social, and of course, the parade. A few of the restaurants we cannot recommend, but Running Bear Pancake House has the best hot chocolate and French Toast and the Bar N Ranch was excellent for a fancy dinner.

We visited Earthquake Lake and how Hollywood has not made that tragedy into a movie is beyond me.

We have pictures, but they cannot do justice to the majesty that is this park. Please, put it on your bucket list. You will not regret it.

2

We were there at the same time- although we stayed at the KOA near West Yellowstone. We didn’t go downtown to see the fireworks- we were just too tired to bother- but we did accidentally end up seeing the parade going through town. Or, rather, we tried to go through town to get some grocery shopping done and ended up getting delayed by the parade as it completely blocked off the grocery stores.

3

Those are some pretty brave coyotes getting all up on your porch like they own the place.

4

I have visited Yellowstone a couple times, but this year managed to fly over it in our small airplane. My wife was ready with the camera and a great zoom lens.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Definitely agree that this place should be on everyone’s bucket list.

5

One might say “wily.”

6

Nice shot. :slight_smile:

7

I’m Doing Cycle Greater Yellowstone which starts /ends In West Yellowstone. (the ride itself is outside the park) Since I am in the area, I plan on spending a couple of days in the park, probably in the Norris area.

Last time I did CGY I spent a night in the Canyon area, though I stopped by west thumb to see some geothermic features.

Brian

8

I first saw Yellowstone when I was four years old, not quite five, in 1959. That year we took our first vacation/roadtrip, which was the form most of our vacations took. That one is still referred to as “the Big Trip”

In Yellowstone we counted nineteen bears. I remember Old Faithful, and Morning Glory Pool.

On the same trip, at Yosemite, I remember the giant pinecones.

It was fun. We took a cooler and ate breakfast and most lunches out of that. My parents brought those assorted small boxes of cereal, which I thought were much better than the big boxes.:smiley: Or we might have store baked sweet rolls. For dinner we might eat in a restaurant.

9

Baker I think we had the same childhood! :smiley:

10

Yeah, Yellowstone is awesome. It’s great to kick back, relax and realize everything within 10 feet of you can kill you!

11

We’ve been there several times, the last time in 2004 where we could still see effects of the 1988 fires. Is there still visible fire damage? It seems to heal itself quickly.

We’ve only stayed in the park, at Old Faithful Inn, just for the ambiance. It was fun to get up early and walk the boardwalks before the crowds show up, and stay up late looking at the stars after the crowds leave.

It’s on our travel list to do with the grandchildren in the next year or two. But as we get older, I don’t think we’re in as good of shape as before to do a lot of strenuous hiking.

12

I’ve only visited once but would love to go back.

I have never heard of it: seems strange it is not more well known.

13

Agree with the recommendation. We went there on our “Great American Family Vacation” in 2011. Minivan, pop-up tent trailer, 2 days driving to get there and get home, and camped near Canyon Village. It certainly does not disappoint. We did see bears, elk, deer, bison, coyote, and other animals as advertised; altho no wolves. Plenty of geysers, mud pots, stinky fumaroles (band name?) and awesome scenery. The only downside was the family was very nervous doing any hiking where civilization was out of site, even a short hike to one of the waterfalls a mile from the road. Fear of grizzly bear attack. Whatryagonnado?

14

Our only downside was the difficultly in getting campsites. Gotta get there early, be a little pushy and wait.

Camped next to some lady and I fixed her VW bus for her enough to get to town for a new throttle cable.

15

Saw it first in 1959–family of six camping across the US for five weeks! I was 15. Saw maybe ten National Parks. Yellowstone was the best. Views, animals, natural features. Got to camp West with two wives on four occasions after that. Still the Best Park. I hope to be able to give my kids a monetary gift which will allow them to see it.

16

We learned that in 1959. Get there by 8AM and hope. That way with Yellowstone, Yosemite, Tetons, Mesa Verde.

17

If you ever get the chance, try taking the Beartooth Highway into or out of Yellowstone. It is one of the most beautiful roads I’ve ever been on. (added bonus: you can get the best onion rings in the world at the Box Car in Red Lodge)

18

The only problem with going to Yellowstone is when you get home you immediately want to go back.:smiley:

If you ever get the chance, try taking the Beartooth Highway into or out of Yellowstone. It is one of the most beautiful roads I’ve ever been on. (added bonus: you can get the best onion rings in the world at the Box Car in Red Lodge)

19

Yes. We saw many charred trees with new growth underneath (has there been another fire since 1988?)

The West Yellowstone museum has a nice video on the 1988 fires. The icemelt and rains were much lower that year, but as they discovered, fire is Mother Nature’s way of cleaning house.

I think the next time we go we’ll try to stay at Silver Gate, near the northeast entrance. Much closer to Lamar Valley.

20

You laugh, but coyotes are everywhere, even in cities, and they have little to no fear of going almost anywhere at night. They do a hand-off with the crows at sunrise and sunset. The crows rule the day, the coyotes rule at night.