emalloy,

I prefer the generally smaller water falls in Yellowstone to those massive ones in Yosemite.

They have more shape.

Vernal Falls was very nice (though drenching). But the majors all looked like string.

Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil, Vernal, or Nevada in May or June is no comparison at all like those in Yellowstone, IMOP. I certainly do enjoy Upper and Lower Falls at Yellowstone though.
My favorite waterfalls and in order:
Vernal Falls/Nevada/Mist Trail
Yosemite Falls
Tunnel Falls in Oregon-Eagle Creek(up close in your face)
Niagra Falls-I prefer the Canadian Horseshoe side
(Niagra is all about the power and volume)
Burney Mcarthur Falls(almost as good as any of the above)
Bridal Veil Falls
Gloryhole Falls in Arkansas(only 20 foot, but very unique)
Triple Falls in Arkansas (super pretty)(only good in spring)
McWay Falls (prettiest location ever)(runs into the ocean)
Multnomah Falls-Oregon Columbia Gorge
Upper and Lower Falls Yosemite
Tower Fall-Yellowstone(I wish you could get closer to it)
Horsetail Falls-Oregon Columbia Gorge
Hemmed in Hollow Falls in Arkansas(tallest falls in Midwest)
Calf Creek Falls (rarity in desert)
Punch Bowl Falls-Oregon-Eagle Creek Trail-Columbia Gorge
Wapama Falls-Yosemite (very pretty lake setting)

Waterfalls that I want to see:
Havasu Falls (several at this site)
Silver Creek State Park in Oregon(several on this trail)
White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah (several on this trail)
Mist Falls in Sequoia NP(want to hike Rae Lake Loop)

Interesting website links
http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/t...aterfalls.html
http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/t...aterfalls.html

He ranks Lower Falls in Yellowstone above the Mist Trail/Nevada. I didn't get a good enough look at Illouette Falls in Yosemite to consider it. He considers Yosemite Falls and Niagra as Top Tens in the World.

spiro, we plan to visit the Plitvice Waterfalls in Croatia next year - it is n° 4 on the top-ten waterfalls-in-the-world link you posted!

Those lists give some travelling ideas, thanks.

I just looked at it on youtube. It looks like it is on a lake and there is an upper and lower area. It looks like the boardwalks take you right out to them.

Enjoyed your report. I'm using it in my planning. Thanks!

Been to Yellowstone and go frequently to Yosemite and it's sad that you missed Yosemite...the waterfalls in Yosemite beat Yellowstone by miles.

There are so many in Yosemite and they HAVE TONS OF SHAPE...and majesty. You can find small ones, cascades, medium ones (Glen Aulen is gorgeous), fat ones (Nevada and Vernal) and tall skinny ones...

I like Yellowstone for the wildlife, but for beauty and geography I love Yosemite.

Gorblimey, I am disappointed we didn’t stick to our original plan to go to Yosemite, even though the alternative turned out to be a couple of relaxing days with the family, recharging physical and mental batteries.

One issue that played into the decision was the lodging – for Yosemite I had managed to book a cabin in Curry village.

Only when we stayed in cabins in Yellowstone (in Mammoth and Canyon village) we were really uncomfortable:
5 in a room for 4, no roll-away but an inflatable mattress on the floor,
poor heating/air condition,
a toilet that backed up in Mammoth and a moldy shower in Canyon village,
no breakfast included and no facilities to store or heat food.

I was just so happy to have found in-park lodging in Yellowstone I never really explained to my husband that it would be camping conditions. For the kind of trip we did, 30 days on the road, a lot of driving with multiple stops and a wide variety of parks, we would probably have been better off staying in a more classic motel in West Yellowstone.

The day I needed a pharmacy and we drove out to West Yellowstone we realized that it would have been possible to stay there and still see the areas we wanted to see.

We also felt the cabins were unreasonably expensive given the standard and comfort. And of course there is no internet connection, which I didn’t think would be a problem for a couple of days, but my husband was stressed out because of that. One of the reasons he could take off for five weeks was that he always kept track on work, checking his mails in the evenings.

So after our cabin experience in Yellowstone, and after 20 days on the road, we decided we didn’t want another cabin experience in Yosemite. Only by then all alternative lodging in all nearby towns were fully booked.

So that is the background to the decision to skip Yosemite. This time. Next time we will plan a slower pace and hopefully book lodging more in advance.

I agree with you there; accommodations within National Parks are often pretty sketchy for the price you are made to pay. There are alternatives for Yosemite; let us know when you're ready to plan that trip.

For me, part of the National Park experience is roughing it a little. I love love love the historic lodges, cabins, etc. The only thing my wife firmly puts her foot down on is that it must have a private bath. And the cabins @ Curry Village are pretty decent, btw.

I do think 30 days of that might get old though.

Grendel; congratulations on a very full (almost) month out west. Loved reading the report.
You saw a lot of good stuff. So Yosemite missed the cut. Oh, well. Your family experienced a great time and saw a lot. You also weren't a slave to a preconceived schedule, which I think is very important on a long trip, especially with kids. Good for you. You'll have to return for Yosemite someday.