This year for mine and Colton’s birthdays, we went with Bree and Ben to Yellowstone National Park. People travel from all over the world to see the sulfur pools, hear the bugle call of an elk, perhaps even the howl of a wolf. No matter what they hope to see or hear, the thing on everyone’s list is Old Faithful, the famous geyser that erupts on a schedule. It’s so popular that there are timers at the visitor’s center so you don’t miss it, and benches surrounding a boardwalk so everyone can spectate.
Aside from Old Faithful, there are many bubbling sulphur pools and buffalos herds to see. I’ve been to Yellowstone several times throughout my life, but never during the fall. It was a little crazy, because we were tent camping and it was barely 30 degrees. Needless to say we packed many layers and two sleeping bags each.
It was such a beautiful time to be in Yellowstone. Because it was so cold, the rivers and pools generated a lot of steam. The buffalo lumbering through a field of steam was a sight to see. There also weren’t that many people around. Surprisingly, there was a giant group of Asian tourists tightly bundled up. Maybe someone forgot to check the forecast before they booked? There was even a couple dressed in their wedding attire trying to get some pictures on the boardwalks. I was super impressed with her short-sleeved-ness when I was wearing 7 layers and a winter coat and all you could see were my eyes.
I absolutely love walking around the boardwalks. I love smelling the strange egg scent through the crisp, clear air and hearing the boiling bubbles through the mud and water. We found a hike that led around some of the more popular pools, and we decided to follow a small trail straight up the side of the mountain to see the whole valley. It was definitely worth it. Close to the pools, we weren’t able to see all the colors because of the steam. High up though, we were rewarded with a beautiful display of rainbow pools.
It was a gorgeous trip, and on our way out of the park, we drove through the Teton area of Wyoming. We glimpsed an elusive coyote, a couple female moose, and finally, what we were all hoping to see, a year-old bear cub eating berries surrounded by a group of tourists and a somewhat stressed out park ranger.
Yellowstone Falls
It’s such a peaceful place there with many family-friendly hikes and walks. It’s also a very large area; we barely saw a corner of it on our short visit.
Tips for Traveling to Yellowstone
- There are several options for lodging, ranging from the nice Yellowstone Lodge located near the visitor’s center and Old Faithful, to many tent and trailer sites around the area.
- Bring binoculars! Wildlife is often spotted, but sometimes they’re very far away.
- Good walking shoes for all the boardwalks and hikes
- Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, the usual. 🙂
