smom

Please review my trip plans. Questions at the end.
Will be arriving in Billings, MT 8/11/07 saturday at 9am, (family of 4, kids 9 and 11).
Saturday-drive Beartooth Hwy (4 hour drive) and stay at Canyon Lodge. Yes I know it will be a long day.

Sunday morning-explore Canyon Area, afternoon drive to GT and spend the night-no room reservations

Monday morning-take the boat across Jenny Lake, and hike down, go swimming (Snake Lake) and enjoy the beauty: drive back YNP and spend the night at Old Faithful

tuesday-explore geysers-reservations at OF

wednesday-work our way to Mammoth via
Madison Jct and Norris Jct route, reservations at Mammoth Hotel

thursday-explore Mammoth area

friday-drive to Roosevelt, leave for Roosevelt cookout at 2:45pm-reservation in Rough Rider Cabin

Saturday-drive to Yellowstone Lake area-reservation for Western Cabin
maybe a kayak trip

Sunday-leave YNP, drive to Cody-no reservations, musuem and rodeo

Monday-depart for Billings 6pm flight

We are moving around more than I want to but my husband wants to see as much of the park as possible.

I need food and rest. suggestions. Where else should we make dinner reservations? Where do we stop in Billings for cold cuts, drinks, etc. We plan on making lunches. Also have a small back packing stove that I could bring to cook with.... The boys are not picky eaters. How accurate are the geyser erruption times?? My kids will become bored after an hour waiting for one to erupt. Suggestions of good hikes...they can do up to five miles? Don't miss sights for kids?? My boys love being outside...suggestions for reading material for them about Yellowstone? They have already read a book about the fires. Also are there board games in the lobbies?? What time is check in?? I read about rowboats to rent but what about kayaks?? Or do you have to use an outfitter??

How do we escape the crowds?? We are early risers and planned to start most mornings by 8am (another reason we are staying in the park)

Thanks for your help

RedRock

Buy a cooler and stock with food and drink of your choice. Do this when you arrive. Billings is a fairly large town for the area you will have no problem finding a grocery store. It would not be advisable to try to cook on a stove in your room in one of the lodgings in the Park.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/

July is the start of prime time, there will be crowds at the major attractions.

smom

ttt

maj

Yes, they will get bored just waiting for geysers to erupt. The best one is Old Faithful (walk on the trail up above it -- it is neat to look down on the area and much less crowded). Each of the geyser areas is unique, but our favorite was Fountain Paint Pot (you see different things along the trail and there was a geyser in the water that erupted at regular intervals -- it's been a while since we have been there so that might have changed). We also liked Norris Basin. Also, I think kids would like Mud Volcano. I think a whole day is a little long for the Mammoth area, we saw the upper and lower terraces in a half day, unless there is something else you have planned up there.

Dayle

Hi Smom,

You really, really need to get reservations for those two places you do not have so far! Lodging in Grand Teton Natl Park and the town of Jackson is always full in August. I know Cody has more lodging than it used to, but August is peak season.

The Visitor's Center at Old Faithful will have "predicted" times for many of the major geyer eruptions. But remember, it's nature, not Disneyland. Your kids will still see plenty of the erupt, but maybe they can find things to do in the area while waiting. Most of them are well worth it!

No cooking allowed in the lodge rooms!

Have fun!

bigtyke

Old Faithful is of course the most predictable - and it is quite frequent. We walked to a nearby geyser that was supposed to erupt soon. There was a ranger there and several people. We waited an hour with no result. Everyone went away, including the ranger.

There are lots of places with thermal activity - not as spectacular as a big eruption like old faithful, but still very intersting.

One nice thing about staying near OF is that you can watch it erupt several times, includingg early in the morning or late in the evening when almost no one else will be around - quite a contrast to midday.

You are moving arund more than perhaps i would do, but don't worry - YNP is a very large park and i am sure that in August, traffic doesn't move too fast, so seeing it a a leisurely pace is a good idea.

wildblueyonder

We stayed in Cody, over 4th July, last year (a great couple days for Brits to experience the parade and the rodeo!) - we stayed at Cody Cowboy Village, which was brand new last year. I would highly recommend it - but I expect you will need to book ahead. http://codycowboyvillage.net/
We were in Yellowstone, the week before that - and we were actually quite surprised as it was nowhere near as crowded as we'd expected. The roads were never blocked and the geysers boardwalks were generally quiet. We did Norris in the early evening, and it was practically deserted. So, make use of the long daylight hours. (We didn't see any bears - hope you do!)

smom

At Mammoth we thoght about soaking in the Boiling river and maybe going into Gardiner for dinner. Any suggestions for lodging in Cody.

smom

I have a choice of Jackson Lake lodge room...no view or cabin for the same price. I was leaning towards the lodge...any comments

LHS

We were in GT & Yellowstone last August. We rented canoes at Coulter Bay to go out on Jackson Lake, not sure about kayaks.

Early mornings can be very cool in August, the temperature dropped below freezing at night while we were there. We tent camped at Coulter Bay & Madison Jct.

Another good place to watch old faithful is from the second floor viewing platform in the inn. We bought sandwiches on first floor and ate while waiting for Old Faithful.

Also, the road construction to Cody really slowed down that drive out of the park. You might want to check on the progress of that project.

maj

Good idea to go into Gardiner. By that time you might want to stock up again on supplies. Also, I think each entrance to the park itself is unique and worth seeing.
My advice is to loosely plan your activities (nice to have a plan, but if you don't get to everything -- a reason to go back). You'll get an overview of each area, but most of the fun for me are the stops for animal sightings and unexpected places that you come across as you are driving . I'm not sure that you will have too much time for longer hikes. There was a really good posting here a couple of years ago that had activities for kids (with ages in the title), but I can't find it now.

If possible, write a trip report when you return. We will be going there a couple of weeks after you, and are especially interested in the Beartooth Highway since we have never been up that way.

oregonmom

My girls were 10 and 2 1/2 when we went and they both loved the cookout. We rode on the wagon and they got to be right behind the horses. It was a little drizzly that evening, but with the campfire, horses, cowboy music and surprisingly decent food, it was a great time. That Beartooth highway is the scariest road I have ever been on in my life. Fabulous scenery, but I'm not sure we would have gone that way if we'd known what it was like.

smom

Thanks for all of the info. I am planning a "loose plan". Is there someplace for me to do laundry in Gardiner? and dining sugestions? I booked Holiday Inn in Cody and the Lodge at Jackson Lake. Next I want to make dinner reservations. I can always cancel them if we decide to do something else.

maj

smom

I found that thread is case you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34608027

smom

Thanks for the thread. Everyone says get out early before the crowds. My day always start out early. I leave my house at 5:15 am on most mornings! What time do you need to be out and about to beat the crowds??

AngelaSue

Hi, Smom,

Our family will be exploring YSNP the same week as you--can't wait

I have this on another post, but thought you might like the information since you'll be going to and from Cody. We booked at the Absaroka Mtn. Lodge, which is 12 miles east of the east entrance to the park, and 39 miles from Cody (I think.) The owner told me construction through the east entrance is allowed only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. I'm assuming she knows the scoop, and we'll have to work around this "constriction." You may need to keep this in mind as well. Also, might suggest you try this lodge if you have no accommodations on Sunday night yet---looks great, owner was very personable, AND you can ride a horse to breakfast from their lodge! My kids (ages 9, 13, and 15 will love this.) Have a fantastic trip!

virginiatraveler

We did a family trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons 2 years ago-awesome trip, and one always to treasure! Smom, you asked about reading material. There is a well known book out about the Herdman kids and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (not sure of the author). Well, there is one about the same troublemaker kids and their trip in a RV to Yellowstone! It is hilarious, and your kids are the perfect age to appreciate the humor. Sorry I am not sure of the name of it, but it shouldn't be too hard to find. Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

In the Tetons we stayed right on the lake at Signal Mountain Lodge. It was perfect! I made the reservations for there far in advance, but it is worth looking into to see if they have anything. Very convenient for what you have planned for there.

virginiatraveler

I just now see that you have made plans to stay at Jackson Lake Lodge. I stayed there years ago and it was a great choice. I just needed a little more room to spread out having three kids, which is why we chose Signal Mountain Lodge on our second trip.

We had done our trip around the same time in August too. The weather was fantastic! Such a relief from the heat in Virginia at that time! You'll have a great time I am sure!