Advice for Yellowstone????

[Lyn5]

Hello, I need advice on vacationing at Yellowstone. I have been there once as a child, many years ago I am looking into going the first week of June in 2007. It would be my Dad (he is in his early 60s and is in great shape for walking/outdoor activities), DH, DS (who will be 6 1/2), DD (who will be 5) and I. We want to stay in a hotel-type of logding (not camping) and I plan on flying in and renting a car....any advice on the following would be much appreciated:

What town to stay in? Names of hotels that are great for our type of family (ages of children w/ Grandpa) ? Types of fun activities? What airport to fly into? Anything else that would be helpful to know. Thank you.

 

[pdchris]

Well, I've only been there twice. Last time my DS and I stayed at one of the cheaper lodgings which was a mistake. There were like 2 rooms in a wooden bldg and the walls were very thin. In fact, my son told me the next day (he was about 14 then) that he heard the couple next door making love!
We were there in Aug and it was hot! One night I had to get a cold, wet towel and place it over my face just to cool off enuff to sleep.
OTOH, we had a great time. If you want a hike, try Mt Washburn. It is one of only 2 mountains in Yellowstone that still has a manned fire tower. It's a hike though. About an 8000 foot climb over 13 miles but the view is spectacular! We also stopped in Jackson, Wyo just west of Yellowstone. Very nice town with some nice shops.

 

[Ronda93]

West Yellowstone, Montana has really boomed over the last decade. They have all manner of accomodations... Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn. I've stayed at the Gray Wolf Inn. Seemed just like a Hampton Inn (as if the franchisee changed his mind).

Enjoy your visit!

 

[Bojo]

Having been to YNP twice I would recommend staying in the park if at all possible. The hotels around Old Faithful are nice as is the one in Mammoth Springs. I believe you can access YNP hotel information through the National Park website. (Just google National Park and it should come up.)
If you can't get reservations in the park, then West Yellowstone is right across the line and is more of a resort town with multiple housing options. Don't forget Grand Teton, just down from Yellowstone - its worth an overnight trip!
PM if you want additional information.

 

[chyam]

Have to agree with some other posters.......try and stay in the park at least for a couple of days, the park is huge and it is a drive from the nearest towns........I would also try and stay a couple of nights in Jackson and visit Grand Teton national park, it too is well worth your time. I have stayed in the old Faithful Inn one part of it is very rustic with bathrooms down the hall, so you if you want to stay there make sure you get a room in the newer park, also at least at this Inn there were no TVs in the rooms when I was there. If anyone in your party likes guns and western relics check out the Cody museum in Cody Wy. they also have alot to do in Jackson. The Tetons and Yellowstone are very close to one another.

 

[JulieWent]

West Yellowstone, Montana has really boomed over the last decade. They have all manner of accomodations... Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn. I've stayed at the Gray Wolf Inn. Seemed just like a Hampton Inn (as if the franchisee changed his mind).

Enjoy your visit!

We stayed in Gray Wolf Inn last summer, but we asked for a suite instead of a room and really enjoyed it. Big kitchen and living area (full-sized cooking area). We also loved Gray Wolf because it was right across from the Grizzly and Wolf Rehabilitation Center. That was one of my son's favorite places. (He's 10.) (Ask when your children can help feed the grizzlies. I promise they won't actually feed your children TO the grizzlies!)

West Yellowstone was so much nicer than Cody. (We stayed in Cody for a few days, too, because my parents were work / camping there for the summer. My mom grew up in Cody, and we spent a lot of time there when we were kids.) But West Yellowstone is RIGHT at the Yellowstone gate, and Cody is a good, hard drive from the east gate.

Next time we go back, I have to say that I'd stay in the park in the Roosevelt area. It's the most rustic area of the park, and that's where we saw the most wildlife. (We saw a grizzly and about six black bear over there. The wolf dens are over there, too.) Since it's so much easier to see wildlife near sunset, I'd like to BE in the park near sunset instead of trying frantically to drive OUT of the park.

Our favorite "Yellowstone" activities: a trail ride inside the park. Make sure to book in advance because they were full on a lot of the dates we were there. A whitewater rafting trip that we took out of Cody. I think you can catch these just about anywhere around the park.

Flights: We flew into Billings, Montana, but we were going to Cody first. I think there are other places to fly into if you're going to West Yellowstone first, but I'm not sure.

Feel free to pm me if you can think of anything else. Last summer was the first time I've been to Yellowstone in a long time, but I've been there a number of times.

Julie

 

[mom2boys]

We were at Yellowstone last summer. It is an amazing place! Like Disney, figure out what is important for you to see & do. Make those your priorities and fill in the rest. One thing you have to realize is that it is a huge park. It takes at least an hour to drive from Old Faithful to Mammouth Hot Springs. If there are bison, elk or other animals near the road, traffic comes to a standsitll. I would advise conquering the park in sections. Heed all warnings regarding wildlife and stay on the trails. Check out the park website. http://www.nps.gov/yell/ It has a ton of info. Of course, Old Faithful was a must for us. We also enjoyed Mammouth Hot Springs, the Boiling Mud Pots, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Paint Pots and more. If you want to see whildlife, your best bet is at dawn or dusk. We saw tons of it near Hayden Valley - also near Canyon Village.

We camped at Yellowstones Grand Canyon. West Yellowstone is a good choice for lodging. You may want to split your stay between West Yellowstone & Cody, Wy. Cody is a neat town with a world famous rodeo. My kids still talk about the rodeo. There is a new cultural center (sorry we didn't have time for it). It also has the Irma -the original Buffalo Bill hotel. We had THE best steaks there - ordered from the menu not the prime rib buffet. At 6 each evening, the towns people put on a old west skit complete with gunslingers right outside the restaurant. For $1 you can reserve a front row folding chair.

 

[Deb & Bill]

First week of June could still have snow, especially on the NE corner of the park. We were there a few years back on Memorial Day weekend and most of the roads had been newly plowed except for the road from Canyon Lodge to Tower Roosevelt. Lake Yellowstone was just breaking up for the spring. Lots of ice on the lake.

In July 2004, we stayed at the Canyon Lodge at the Cascade Lodge. Newer lodging, it was about the only place still not full when we reserved in Dec or Jan before. We had two queen sized beds. No TV. Nice bathroom with tub and shower (in one).

In July 1992, we stayed in one of the older Canyon cabins. Not nearly as nice, but still okay. We have also stayed at the Lake Yellowstone Lodge, Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Snowlodge (winter) and Mammoth Hot Springs (winter).

Gardiner, MT outside the Mammoth Gate might have some hotels. West Yellowstone does have a lot, so you might find something there.

 

[frndshpcptn]

We stayed in Jackson at the Teton Mountain Lodge. It was great and we loved the access to both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons...

 

[TigerBear]

Jackson Hole is definitely worth a visit if you like dining and art galleries. We also loved riding the aerial tram up Rendezvous Mountain which is nearby. It is not in Yellowstone or the Tetons but the views from the top are absolutely amazing! I actually think it was our favorite part of our Yellowstone trip.

 

[Lyn5]

Wow, thank you all for the wonderful replies and offers for pms. Actually, I am a little overwhelmed right now with the park's size and the options avaliable. I was thinking of making this our family trip next summer and staying for a week or so. Now I am going to look into staying in the park and/or West Yellowstone and maybe a night or two in Jackson I will print this thread so that I can look at all the suggestions and check on openings at the hotels. Once I narrow my search...I will most likely be back for more advice Thank you again.

Also, thanks for the advice on the weather and animals. We (DH, DS and I) have winter clothes and boots that should still fit next June, so I may need to look into getting a new jacket and/or bib for DD and see what kind of clothes my Dad has already.

 

[rajak73]

We are going end of August, already have campground reservations, Go to yellowstone.net lots of great information, web cams (when they are up and running) they have a discussion forum on there too, it is helpful. Go to your local bookstore, I think the last book I bought was Inside Yellowstone, very informative, also bought Top Trails, Yellowstone & Grand Teton, Must do hikes for everyone, Frommers Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks 4th edition, National Geographic Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Road Guide, and Yellowstone the Official Guide. Most are avaliable from the book store or go to yellowstoneassociation.org and you can order them there. Very, very informative.

 

[PlutoPony]

We are going at the end of July this summer and staying in the park. Having been once before, we learned then just how BIG Yellowstone is and how much time it can take to get from place to place within the park. This is going to be a shorter trip and we're going to try the concept of stay a nite in one place and do things just in that area, then next nite stay in a different place and do that area, etc. So we won't be spending so much time traversing the park, but checking in for just a nite may be a drag for DS 11. Will let you know how this concept works out! We're staying at Old Faithful, Canyon Lodge, and Lake Yellowstone Hotel, plus 2 nites in Grand Teton, and the last nite in Jackson since we have an 8 am flight out (flying in and out of Jackson). BTW we made reservations for within the park at the end of December and pickings were already slim for Old Faithful..... Wish we had more time to spend as doubt if we get to spend much if any time in the northern part of the park. But that gives us a good reason to go back and do that plus the Beartooth Highway, maybe Mt. Rushmore, Glacier.... geez, so much to see and so liffle time
Have fun planning!!!

 

[laurie31]

We went last summer and (hope this isn't blasphemy here) it was the bast trip of our lives!

We bought several guidebooks. The best was Yellowstone Treasures by Janet Chapple. A new edition just came out last year and there were so many things we would have missed had we not had that book. A wonderful little hot spring on the roadside between Norris and Mammoth. A giant map of the USA made of inlaid wood, on display in the hotel at Mammoth. Exact directions to things.

We flew into Jackson and rented a car. We stayed two nights in the Tetons at Signal Mountain Lodge, which was spectacular. Then we spent 3 nights based in the Canyon area. From there we spent time hiking in the canyon, and a day exploring the upper loop. In the evenings we drove into Hayden valley to view the wildlife. Then we moved to Old Faithful Inn for 3 nights. The Inn (not to be confused with Old Faithful Lodge, or Old Faithful Snow Lodge) was a must for us. It's over 100 years old and it what the Animal Kingdom lodge is based on.

Most important advice - book 12 months in advance to stay in the park. We considered staying in one of the "gateway" towns, as they're cheaper, but nothing matched being in the park all the time. Plus the time we would have lost driving back and forth.

Ooh, I have to go. I'll be back later and post a link to our pics I'm sure I'll think of some more advice, too.

Laurie

 

[rajak73]

Yes that's the book, Yellowstone Treasures, not inside Yellowstone, book is loaded with info. Thanks laurie31, I was just reading the book this afternoon.

 

[Lyn5]

Yes that's the book, Yellowstone Treasures, not inside Yellowstone, book is loaded with info. Thanks laurie31, I was just reading the book this afternoon.

I am going to pick up the book

Turns out we most likely won't be going with my Dad...so DH and I decided to wait a few years until my kids are around 10 and 9 or so. I am going to start planning now (I love to plan vacations) and to try to be prepared. When I was checking on the lodging in the park for 2007 it looked already booked...so I think I need more than a year to plan anyway. Thanks again for the advice on the books, websites, hotels and all the other information.

 

[Andrea]

we just moved from bozeman mt, we went to the park at least once ever month in the summer time. Its great you will have a blast. my favorite hotel, is the hotel that is where old faithful is. We never got to stay at any hotel there it was only a 35 min drive for us

 

[laurie31]

Hey just saw your update. Sorry you aren't going in '07 but waiting might be good. We waited until we knew DD2 was old enough not to try to pull away and run off. It's very dangerous if you leave the boardwalks.

Here's a link to my favorite pictures of our trip. I think you have to register but it's fast and free.
http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=481221140660641195/l=83174330/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

Best things we did:

Raft trip in the Tetons, a scenic float. The kids loved it, we saw tons of wildlife, and there was a bit of whitewater, enough to make them feel like they'd been "rafting"

Ranger-led hike in Yellowstone - An exsperienced ranger took us out into the backcountry, away from the crowds, where there are no boardwalks or barriers. We told the girls to step where she stepped and not to stray off the trail (she told everyone in our group this before we started, btw, but we told them in advance) Seeing the thermal features up close without barriers was amazing!

The Junior Ranger Program - both girls loved it, and learned a lot without realizing it We did it in both parks.

Also, the restaurants in the park hotels are pretty good. We made reservations for dinner at the one in Old Faithful Inn 12 months ahead. (and boy were we glad. Walk ups were waiting 3+ hours!). We ate lunch at the one in Mammoth and found the kids got a little booklet where you could collect a stamp at each area (Mammoth, Canyon, Old Faithful, Roosevelt, Yellowstone Lake, and Grant) and if you got 5 of the 6 stamps, you got a prize. We were lucky to get the book early enough in the trip that we did this easily and the prize was a very nice stuffed animal, a black bear. Also two free ice cream sundaes in any of the restaurants. Cool!

Mainly we ate sandwiches and such. We took a cooler and bought sandwich stuff. It was nice to have food and water in the car. Some of the geyser basins are pretty far from anything and kids are hungry when they're hungry. Also, ALWAYS have water with you. You can easliy get dehydrated in the hot windy geyser basins even on a cool day.

We had planned to go in June, but changed to July because some things were not open yet in June due to the weather. We were warned of crowds, but did not think they were bad at all (unless you wanted to eat dinner in the hotel restaurant and didn't have reservations . Btw, all the areas also had cafeterias and sandwich shops which were quite satisfactory. No gastronomical wonders, but decent food. Oooh, do not miss the huckleberry ice cream. It's purple and wonderful. There are also many huckleberry foodstuffs available to purchase and take home, but the ice cream is a must-do while you're there

Laurie

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our best trip was in Jan 1993. We drove to Mammoth, parked our car for a week and stayed there for one night. Then we took the snow coach to Old Faithful for three or four nights. It was 25 below zero during the day and about 40 below at night. The snow was soooo deep, but there were cleared paths that you could walk on. The bison and elk were right outside our windows during the day or just off the trails when we walked around. After a few nights at Old Faithful, we took the snow coach back to Mammoth, spent a few nights there, then headed back home. I was pregnant with our son at the time, so he wants to be able to do this, too, sometime.

 

[CindyKansas]

I worked at Yellowstone for 2 summers when I was in college. I was based at Canyon (where Yellowstone Falls is located). Those 2 summers were the best summers of my life. I was an Activity Sales Agent and I got to tell the tourists what fun things there were to do in and around the park. Fishing, horseback riding, cookouts, bus tours, and many many hiking possibilites. White Water rafting outside of Jackson, WY was my favorite thing to do though.

There is lodging at Mammoth Springs, Canyon, Lake, Grant's Village (my favorite), and of course Old Faithful. I have also stayed at motels in Cody, WY, Jackson Hole, WY, West Yellowstone, MT, Red Lodge, MT (Beautiful drive along Beartooth Pass), and Gardiner, MT. The nice thing about the traditional motels is that they have TV. The Lodges in the Park do not, OR at least they didn't when I worked there.

On our last family trip that was non-disney it was to Yellowstone. We spent one night in Cody, Wy. DH wanted to see the Buffalo Bill Historical Center which is a wonderful museum. We then headed north to Montana so we could go to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument this way we were able to take the Beartooth Pass route through Red Lodge, MT to the NE entrance to Yellowstone. We spent a night at Mammoth, then a night at Canyon, then a night at Grant's Village, then we drove to West Yellowstone to spend the night. I wanted to go back and see "Quake Lake" which was outside of West. Then we headed to Driggs, ID to see "the other side of the Tetons". Then it's just a short drive over to Jackson, Wy, which is a very touristy town, but I think it's wonderful.

This summer we are headed for our first non-disney related trip in a long time and we are headed to Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming so it will probably include Yellowstone. I LOVE THIS PLACE, if you can't tell.