Yellowstone Family Travel Article

The following article is copyright Zephyr Adventures. Feel free to copy or distribute this article but please attribute the article appropriately.

“Here is Your Country!”

Yellowstone Park:  A Fantastic Family Travel Destination

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish these natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children.”
 
President Theodore Roosevelt was actually standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon when he spoke these words in 1903 but his intent was equally about Yellowstone National Park.  Visiting Yellowstone the same year, Roosevelt proclaimed “It is the property of Uncle Sam and therefore of all of us.”
 
President Roosevelt’s speeches highlighted what he considered the central legacy of Yellowstone.  Roosevelt believed the park’s lasting impact would be not the geysers, the forests, or the wild animals themselves but the idea, new in the world, that these treasures belonged to the people.  And he believed we the people should make use of this treasure.
 
According to the National Park Service, 13,727 people visited Yellowstone National Park in 1904, the year after President Roosevelt’s visit.  In 2007, a record 3,151,343 people visited the park.  Teddy Roosevelt would be proud.
 
And yet, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom received 16.6 million visits in 2006, according to an estimate by research group Economic Research Associates.  More amazingly, those visitors crammed into 25,000 square miles as compared to Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres.
 
Is there any reason Walt Disney World should be over five times more popular than Yellowstone, especially for families choosing a vacation? As a longtime guide in Yellowstone, I can unequivocally answer: no.
 
Yellowstone National Park has it all, everything a family would want on vacation.  Here are just a few highlights for families, most of them free once you are in the park.
 

• Hot Springs, Mudpots, and Geysers: With half the world’s geothermal features, Yellowstone is a natural history museum in itself.  Boardwalk trails allow visitors to see these geothermal features up close and personal. Your kids will be impressed by Old Faithful!
• Wildlife: While the grizzly bear and bison top the list of the park’s wildlife, there is much more to it than these huge creatures.  Buy a guidebook, print off a list of the park’s mammals from the official park website, and see how many of the park’s animals your family can identify during your trip. And that doesn’t even include the amphibians, birds, and reptiles.
• Visitor Centers: The park has nine visitor centers and museums, always a good break during the day. Each center has exhibits and video screenings that will entertain at least some members of your family!
• Ranger-Led Programs: One of the best bets in Yellowstone – and in most national parks – are the ranger-led programs.  Yellowstone offers ranger talks, hikes, and kid-specific activities in seven separate areas of the park, seven days a week and almost every hour of the day during the summer.  Check with the visitor centers for the schedule.
• Amphitheater Programs: Families love the evening-time programs held at outdoor amphitheaters near campgrounds and visitor centers throughout the park.  Programs range from history talks to campfire songs, so check with the local visitor center.
• Junior Ranger Program: Kids aged 5-12 can participate in the Junior Ranger program. For a $3 fee, kids receive a 12-page activity packet. After completing the requirements, kids review their work with a ranger and receive a Junior Ranger patch. Beware, kids – if you don’t complete your work, the ranger won’t pass you!
• Hiking, Biking, Fishing, and More: For active families, the park abounds with outdoor adventures.  Take a hike along the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, ride your bikes through campground loops at one of the many campgrounds, or bring your fishing poles and try your luck in the park’s streams and lakes.

The best part, for both parents and kids, is the fun is intertwined with education. Your kids will be learning without knowing it!

I was in Yellowstone one summer guiding a group of families through the park.  As we were walking down a path after having viewed a waterfall, a bushy-tailed red fox decided to join us on the trail. He walked casually along behind our group, showing no fear, although some of the younger kids were nervous being so close to him. We kept hiking as if the fox was one of us.

When we approached a fork in the trail, the fox went one way and we went the other. The fox looked back at us briefly as we fiddled with our cameras. One of the boys who was originally a little scared of the animal quickly pointed out we were sharing the trail with the fox and that this was his home. Normally, this would be something I would point out to enhance the learning.  In this case, Yellowstone was doing my job for me.

In making your decision where to go for a family vacation this summer, consider Yellowstone National Park.  Your family will not only love it, they will remember it.
 
About the Author
Reno Walsh is a Bozeman, Montana-based outdoor travel expert.  He has been hooked on Yellowstone since 1988 when visiting as a child with his family.  Now working as a travel expert and guide for outdoor travel company Zephyr Adventures (www.ZephyrAdventures.com), Walsh has taken close to 100 families and other interested travelers into Yellowstone to explore his favorite part of the world.

Side Bar: Yellowstone Travel Specifics     Yellowstone National Park Website: There are many websites providing information about Yellowstone. The official park website at www.nps.gov/yell is very complete and well worth perusing in advance.     Getting to the Park: The park has five entrances: north from Gardiner, Montana; northeast from Red Lodge, Montana, east from Cody, Wyoming; south from Grand Teton National Park; and west from West Yellowstone, Montana.  If you are driving, consider planning a route that takes you in one entrance and out another.  If you are flying, nearby Bozeman, Montana has an easily-navigated airport and plenty of car rental agencies.      Entrance Fee: The entrance fee per private vehicle is $25, good for seven days at both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.      Lodging: Lodging in the park is operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts (www.travelyellowstone.com) and includes both lodges and campgrounds.  The nine lodges are generally grand monuments to Yellowstone’s history. While not inexpensive, they make life easier by allowing you to relax in a hotel without driving out of the park. There are five established campgrounds in the park and they often fill up, so arrive early or make an advance reservation. An alternative is to stay in one of the many hotels in the entrance cities of West Yellowstone or Gardiner.      Guided Family Tours: While more expensive, taking your family on a guided tour of the park has distinct advantages. Kids love exploring the park with other kids under the tutelage of professional guides while parents can relax on vacation, not having to make all the decisions.  Zephyr Adventures (www.ZephyrAdventures.com) based in nearby Red Lodge, Montana is operating a Family Adventure in Yellowstone from August 10-14, 2008.

Copyright Zephyr Adventures