Are you thinking about a Vacation to Yellowstone ? Here are some tips to help with planning your summer vacation .
Deciding what to do
Yellowstone National Park is a incredibly large place. The park encompases 3,472 square miles (or 2,219,789 square acres). It is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
Because it is so vast , it is important that you choose what you would like to do before you start your trip. One good way to learn your options is to buy or rent a Yellowstone DVD when you are doing your planning . The DVDs can give you several good ideas about what to do, and where to visit, and might show you some places that you won’t have the opportunity to visit while you are there . Once you know these things, you can start planning your itinerary.
Lodging and Camping options
There is a lodging option for everyone in Yellowstone. You can "rough it" in the back country, camp in an organized camp ground, stay in a lodge such as the Old Faithful Inn, or stay in a hotel in the city of West Yellowstone.
One lodging option that more and more people are choosing is an Island Park Rental Cabin. Island Park is located about 20 miles from the west entrance to the park, and for the same price as many hotel rooms, you can rent a cabin with bedrooms or a loft that can sleep up to 10 people. Not only can you have more people stay than you could with a hotel room, but by using the cabins full kitchen , you can save a lot of money by preparing your own meals or sack lunches.
Where to Visit
If you have never been to Yellowstone, Old Faithful is essential on your list of stops. If you have visited before, there are still many other great places that you should see , including fishing bridge, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with the upper and lower falls. If you like the thermal and geologic features, don’t miss the Norris Geyser Basin. For viewing wildlife , one of the great places is the Hayden Valley.
What to do
There are many things to do inside Yellowstone. Depending on what you like , you might consider walks on the hundreds of miles of available trails. You can go fishing in some of the over 220 lakes that contain over 107,000 acres of water. You can wade in the over 1,000 streams with a total of 2,650 miles of running water. Be sure to check the latest fishing regulations before you plan your fishing outing .
If you like wildlife, you can try to find the famous Grizzly bears, or try and spot the newly re-built packs of Yellowstone Wolves. In addition to these, keep your eyes open for moose, elk, deer, buffalo, eagles, osprey, pelicans, otters, and many other animals.
One of everyone’s favorite activities is swimming in the firehole river. There is an area set aside that anyone can swim in, and for the more adventurous there is diving off cliffs. The swimming area requires a short walk from the main road , and can be difficult for people of have a hard time walking. Be sure to check for road or facility closures before planning your swimming outing.
Activities outside the Park
When you visit Yellowstone, remember there are many things to do outside the park. These can include plays, cowboy poetry, shopping, chuckwagon dinners, rodeos and horseback rides . Search for the cities near the park such as West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole for more options .
