2 days at Yellowstone National Park
 

Y'all
1) We are visiting the park in mid August with 5 kids (4, 8 ->15) . I know there are a lot of amazing places to go that would take 2 weeks; though we only have is 2 full days at the park. Which park is "not-to-miss"? Is the Old Faithful one of them?

2) We plan to stay at Grant Village for 2 nights (the only vacancy they have). Other lodges show "air conditioner", but not Grant Village. I'll try to call tomorrow; but am a little anxious to know sooner. Does anyone know if there is air conditioner there? if not, would we need a/c in mid August?

Thanks

In and around Old Faithful Geyser Basin. I liked many of the geysers better than Old Faithful. Especially Castle Geyser and Riverside Geyser. Old Faithful is easiest to catch and you have to share it with a thousand people. If you get to see it at 6:00AM, then it will be just you and maybe a few others. The other geysers, you are likely to have to wait(maybe as long aas 4 hours). However, there is only a handful of people there and they can go on for 30 minutes, where OF only goes for a couple. Definately see Old Faithful Inn too. Paint Pots are interesting as well as some of the pools.

Canyon area 1/2 day. 1/2 day at Hayden and Lamar Valleys for wildlife.

I would skip Mammoth area.

Look for wildlife early or late in the day. Sunrise and sunset. Do Canyon in the middle of the day. Have a picnice somewhere.

I can't help you with air conditioning, but if you're interested in how we spent about 2 1/2 days in Yellowstone, you can read my trip report: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...d-gorgeous.cfm

Lee Ann

Thanks for all good advices

Lower Falls.

With 2 days, I would drive one day down to Mammoth Junction and back, stopping at everything along the way. Then the next day, I would drive to Canyon and stop at everything along the way. That really covers my favorite areas of the park. Be sure to see Grand Canyon of yellowstone--really awesome!

And don't worry about the AC--you will be good and chilly at night.

You're in some elevation so the evenings should be cool. I was there in early Aug and it was fine.

I thought the stars of the show were OF and the Lower Falls.

For OF area.
Time Old faithful several times. Mostly 7-9AM before it gets windy. Walk Geyser Hill.
I thought Morning Glory was a great view with it's colors but it's a bit of a walk. Around there is Drive over to Grand Prismatic Spring only a few miles away. Great colors.

In Canyon. The Lower Falls has several viewpoints on either side.

As spiro wrote, most wildlife is out early and late. Lamar & Hayden are prime areas.