We're driving to Yellowstone in two weeks for another week of fun in the National Park and surrounding area. I've been checking around online, and it seems things are going well this Summer there. I'm not seeing any recent fires, and I'm hoping things go well.
I'm looking for ideas on how to show my sister-in-law a nice time at the park; it'll be her first trip there. She recently retired from a career in education, and this is kind of a celebratory trip for her. Anybody have suggestions for specific things to do that she might enjoy? (I've been to Yellowstone many times, and I'm always looking for something new to experience.) We're staying at the Worldmark in West Yellowstone.
Any new restaurants to try, interesting tours to take, or any "not to be missed" activities? Anybody been to the Park recently?
Dave
Last September I asked a ranger at the Old Faithful visitor center for "something different to see", since it was my fifth trip to Yellowstone. Among his suggestions was Lone Star geyser. The trailhead is a few miles south on the highway out of Old Faithful (The trailhead is not well labeled, or I missed the sign and drove past it and had to turn around). Flat and level walk of about an hour through a pine forest to the geyser. It has a reputation of being as faithful as Old Faithful. If you want to lose the crowds, there were six people at the geyser when it went off. Bring folding chairs and snacks or picnic. Insider tip: There is a warm-up show, then the real show begins about 20 minutes later (usually ... you know how geysers can be. It did not disappoint me on my visit).
It is a paved trail most of the way. If you want to have double fun, rent bikes, take them to the trailhead, and bike to the geyser in about 10 minutes.
I also noticed one of those clear plastic displays on the counter like you see in restaurants that list their drink specials. This one listed a ranger-led hike in the Biscuit Basin just NW of Old Faithful in two days. It was a 90 minute hike with about 200' elevation gain (participants may turn around at any point they want). It was really informative with emphasis on the geology and biology of the area. I opted for the "up-and-over" return that provided excellent views of the upper geyser basin.
There was also a ranger-hosted "birds of prey" gathering in the Hayden valley. I encountered a bison traffic jam and was worried I would be late. I was late, but it did not matter. It was not a hike, just a gathering at a parking lot. Spotting scopes were set up. Many people, including me, had our own binoculars. It was a somewhat windy day, but at least 30 birds were counted in the two hours, including a bald eagle. Bring snacks and folding chairs if you do not want to stand the whole time.
I traveled in September hoping to avoid the crowds. Grand Prismatic parking lot had 6 tour buses in the parking lot by 10 a.m. I felt extremely fortunate to find a parking space. Then I was blocked in by a Chinese tour bus, with no driver in sight for half an hour.
So, plan to be on the road into Yellowstone by 7 a.m. to tour the famous attractions, then spend the afternoon "off the beaten path" with some customized recommendations from the helpful rangers at one of the visitor centers.