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Posted by MO Pat E (76.233.71.136) on 19:38:34 03/07/17
In Reply to: Yellowstone Trip posted by Melissa
If this is your 1st trip, leisurely follow the loop road paying attention to the marked items on the map given out when you enter the park. Stop at the first visitor center to sign the kids up for the Junior Ranger program so they can look for things and do things to earn their badge while in the park. The newsletter given out at the entrance gate also shows ranger programs. Bring jacket or warm clothes for evening. There's a stagecoach ride at Roosevelt which doesn't cost too much and they might enjoy that. I think they'd also enjoy the Roosevelt Cookout, riding through Pleasant Valley to cookout site on wagons. It is a little expensive, and definitely you'd need advance reservations for it. Rangers/volunteers are at all visitor centers and can give you lots of info, too. There's educational videos shown and museum at these VCs also. Take a cooler (even a cheap styrofoam works) with picnic food to eat lunch where you're at when lunchtime comes so you don't have to waste time hunting for food places. Who doesn't like a picnic? Warn them about the dangers (thermal areas, distance to animals and canyon ledges, etc.). There's whitewater rafting at Gardiner and in Tetons there's rafting on the Snake River. There's a Scenicruise on Lake Yellowstone from Lake Marina, no far-ahead reservatons needed. Don't skip Tetons. Take boat across lake and hike to Hidden Falls. Of course, in both parks there will be wildlife to watch...watch for other cars pulled over. Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley will have bison rut going on and is fun to watch from inside car. Hopefully the crowds aren't an irritant. Another hike not too long but uphill is Trout Lake in Lamar Valley. Look for otters there. Maybe each kid would have fun taking photos on their own inexpensive camera. I think they'll remember this trip all their lives.
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