Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming-Grizzly RV Park

August 28-September 4, 2016

I am not sure where to even begin with this one. I LOVED this park! I really had no idea such a place existed! Having already visited an active volcano (Newberry in Bend, OR) and learned a bit more about them, added to the mesmerizing experience of this place. It was just so cool to see firsthand geyser eruptions, fumaroles forcefully expelling steam, hot springs and pools all the while knowing that you are doing so WHILE IN THE CALDERA OF AN ACTIVE VOLCANO!!  The information says that the caldera is about 44 miles across at its' widest but driving through and around really helps you to understand how massively big this volcano is! And in case you are wondering, the last eruption was 640,000 years ago.

As you know, the kids complete the Junior Ranger Program at nearly all of the National Parks that we visit. It is really a great way for the kids to relate to what the park is all about. The Jr. Ranger Program booklet at this park was probably the best we have ever seen. The kids completed it quickly and even did more than they were required to. And I have to admit that I love the kids to complete the program not only for what they get out of it but also for what I get out of it. It is a fantastic and quick way to launch your learning about the park. I have never earned a badge but it is available for adults as well.

Enough talking, now I will just show you some pictures of SOME of my favorites:

The Elk herd (the bull even bugled for us)

Sapphire Pool (also Jordan's favorite)

Emerald Pool

Sunset Lake

Morning Glory Pool

Old Faithful

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Dragon's Mouth

Mammoth Hot Springs (I had to enlarge this one because this place was just really cool)

Lone Star Geyser

Mystic Falls

Our last day was spent doing something the kids really wanted to do. Our campground was right next to a ropes course and they had been eyeing it all week. The kids did amazingly well! Jordan shed a few tears of fear her first time to the top but she made it and went back for another round. As scary as it is for me, the kids have it even tougher. Once you are tall enough, you can reach the overhead wire that your harnesses clip too but for little ones, they only have their harness straps to grasp and those are not stationary. They were so brave!

We are already planning how we can come back to this awesome place. There is so much more to explore here by getting off the beaten path but we ran out of time even with 5 ½ days in the park. And we have yet to see a grizzly bear!! In fact, we didn't see any bears here! Can you believe it?! I bet the wintertime is just as magical and so we need to do that as well.

The good news is that as we head towards Colorado, we have to drive through Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons one last time!