Pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to explore one of the most breathtaking and unique places on Earth – Yellowstone National Park. With over 3,400 square miles of awe-inspiring landscapes, diverse wildlife, and geothermal wonders, it’s no surprise that this iconic park draws in over 4 million visitors each year. But what many may not know is that beyond its picturesque beauty, Yellowstone also holds a vital role in the protection and preservation of our planet’s natural resources. In this article, we will embark on a journey to uncover the fascinating history, ecological significance, and must-see attractions of this beloved national treasure. So let’s dive in and discover why Yellowstone National Park is a must-visit destination for every nature lover and adventurer.
Our Family Trip
We went to Yellowstone in the summer of 2023. Along our 2 week road trip, Yellowstone was our second major stop. We visited 4 other national parks on our trip: Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Arches, and Canyonlands. We spent the most time in Yellowstone and still didn’t get to see it all. I did all the research and plans, but this park was still bigger and had more to offer than we expected!
Getting to Yellowstone
There are 5 entrances to Yellowstone National Park: North (open all year round), East, Northeast, South, and West (all open seasonally). Each of these entrances have varying distances from the park. We stayed near the west entrance in West Yellowstone, MT. We stayed at the Yellowstone Lodge. It was an older, quaint hotel. I would say it’s overpriced for what the hotel offers, but everything in West Yellowstone is overpriced in the summer.
If we were to go to Yellowstone National Park again, I would definitely stay in the park. If possible, I would even recommend staying in different locations throughout the park during your stay. Yes! The park is that big! As I said, we stayed at the West Entrance and we never saw anything on the Eastern side of the park. While we were just minutes from the entrance, it took 45-60 mins to get to the nearest sightseeing stops.
Exploring the Park
There is a lot to do and see in Yellowstone National Park! We spent two and a half days there, stayed 5 minutes from the entrance and saw just half! While there is a lot to do, there is a lot of driving. There are two main loops around the park. The Upper Loop and the Lower Loop. Or the Grand Loop, which is the upper and lower combined. This loop can take about 7 hours to drive. We did the Lower Loop one day and part of the the Upper Loop the second day.
The first thing we did was go see Old Faithful the afternoon we arrived. I think this helped us be able to see more on our first full day, Old Faithful is the busiest stop in the park. So doing it first thing the afternoon we arrived really helped for a more relaxed first full day. Of course, it had just erupted when we arrived (you can check online to see the predicted schedule), but there is a lot to do at this stop while you wait. There’s an interactive museum, shops, and restaurant’s to explore while waiting for this magnificent geyser to erupt!
There are so many stops and attractions in Yellowstone National Park, I don’t know if it’s possible to see them all in just a 2 day trip. But we sure did see a lot of amazing wonders in our short trip. My top must see attractions are:
- Old Faithful
- Grand Prismatic Spring
- Artist’s Paint Pots
- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
- Mammoth Hot Springs
Most of the sights are right off of the main road. We did not do any major hiking and were able to see plenty! The hardest hike we did was to see the Artist’s Paint Pots, which was just about 1 mile. I think this was my favorite stop in the entire trip. Definitely worth the short hike!
Planning a family trip to Yellowstone is not just about the destination, it’s about the memories you create along the way. From the unique landscape and diverse wildlife to the endless opportunities for adventure and learning, Yellowstone offers something for everyone in the family. Remember to pack your sense of wonder and curiosity, and leave behind any distractions to fully immerse yourself in this magical place.
What do es this have to do with crochet?
Congratulations for taking your family to Yellowstone, the first national park. It’s where our family went on our first visit to a national park. Such an amazing place with all the different features and animals. Your pictures are quite wonderful. Your kids will always remember this experience and the awesome magnificence of Yellowstone.