taitai

We are visiting Yellowstone in August with my parents. They will be in their RV and staying at one of the camp grounds in the Park (whichever one is good for RVs...can't remember the name...Fishing Bridge?) Anyway, we have lodging in the park as well. I am guessing, as we are traveling with young boys, we will do most meals on the fly or eat in my parents RV. However, I would like to try to reserve one "nice" meal. I recognize it won't be Allinea but something table service. Thoughts? My first thought is Old Faithful Inn one of the nights we are staying there. Is there somewhere else I should be looking?

Other good food options in the park?

Thanks
taitai

cd

I can recommend the Old Faithful Inn. We enjoyed our evening meal there as well as breakfast. We also enjoyed our evening meal at Lake Yellowstone hotel. Have a great time!

nanecam

Old Faithful Inn is gorgeous...hands down the loveliest place to have a meal, and there is a terrace above the main entrance where you can view the geysers and have cocktails. There is a sit-down dining room with wait-service at Mammoth that looked fairly nice, but we did not eat there, so can't attest to the food. There's also a counter service place at Mammoth where we did eat...just OK. Also to note: a few of the lodging areas have general stores with soda fountain counters where you can get cheeseburgers and shakes and such and stock up on supplies. We ate at the counter at Old Faithful general store, and it was a favorite with the kids. (It was also the same place where the First Family was photographed ordering their ice cream cones last year. We missed them by a week.) A lot of days we packed a cooler with sandwiches and drinks because we were on the go so much, and the restaurants are spread far apart. There are tons of lovely picnic areas. Enjoy!

maj

If you are staying at Old Faithful I would pick that one of the nights you are there. You can (and should) make reservations now for it. The only places you can make reservations in the park is OFI and Lake Yellowstone. There are other sit down restaurants (Snow Lodge, Canyon (also has a cafeteria -- as does the Lake Lodges and Old Faithful), Mammoth (as above) and Roosevelt (haven't been there so not sure what their dinners are like). We also really like the soda fountains (Canyon, Old Faithful and Lake). There is a fast food type place also at OF and Tower. It can be very crowded at these places in the busy season and even though there are quite a few places spread out around the park, I would definitely always take some snack and drinks with you, especially with children. BTW -- everything is extremely casual as far as what you wear.

taitai

This is very helpful. I just made a reservation at Old Faithful Inn for dinner one of the nights we are there. So, that is set. We are going fishing one day on Lake Yellowstone and my 6 year olds have told me that we will be eating freshly caught grilled trout for dinner that night. We shall see.....

What about breakfasts? If we are getting the boys up pre-dawn for wildlife viewing, we might need to bribe them with a huge hot breakfast afterwards. Any thoughts?

Also, MUST one get up before dawn to see animals?

spirobulldog

Old Faithful General Store and Roosevelt Lodge are good bets for breakfast. Roosevelt is closest to the wildlife. Get some ice cream at Mammoth. We got sandwiches at the Deli in Canyon area and had a picnic. The warmer the temps, the earlier the wildlife is out. You might consider the Roosevelt Cookout/horse or wagon ride. If you are in the Tetons we enjoyed dining at Jackson Lake Lodge in the main dining room, but enjoyed The Cafe area of the lodge even more.

sharondi

We spent 6 days in YNP in Sept a few yrs ago and we saw all kinds of wildlife throughout the day but dawn and dusk are prime times. Had some incredible grizzly bear sightings including one at dusk (thru binoculars) feeding on an elk carcass. And this one along the shore of Lake Yellowstone:

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/67839325

Incredible! We saw several cinnamon brown and black bear including the famous Rosie and 2 of her cubs climbing pine trees to harvest pine nuts. Saw many coyotes and fox, herds of bison, pronghorn antelope, elk and bighorn sheep, bald eagles and osprey. But the wolf sightings were the best; actually brought me to tears. Too far for photos but we had binoculars and a small spotting scope. We enjoyed a beautiful chorus of wolves howling one night in a cabin at Canyon and nightly "shows" featuring male elk charging tourists and bugling and showing off for the females during mating season at Mammoth. (Food at Mammoth Lodge was really good.)
Be sure to stop when you see groups of people at pullovers with binoculars/scopes- they are likely spotting animals and will gladly point them out to you.

The thermal features were just amazing. The boardwalks through Norris Geyser Basin and Old Faithful are fascinating - you almost can't believe what you're seeing and hearing. And the colors... You will love it all as we did. What a great trip!

taitai

Thanks for the advice regarding Norris and Old Faithful. I thought this would be more of a wildlife trip but ever since the volcano in Iceland erupted, my boys are obsessed. We have been spending lots of time reading about volcanoes and talking about them and checking volcano books out of the library. So, now I think all the thermal stuff is going to be more interesting to them than seeing bears or wolves. However, they are only 6, 6 and 7 so, no doubt, there will be a different passion in August ruling our lives.

maj

No you don't need to get up before dawn to see animals (might want to try it once to see how it goes). It is usually prime time to see them especially in the hot months, but you will see buffalo and elk all the time and even for the other ones it is mostly a right place, right time sort of thing. We saw a mother moose and baby one morning right by Canyon (where we were staying) and went back there first thing for the next 6 days and never saw them again. Our best time has usually been at dusk on the way back to our lodging. It really depends on your kids -- there isn't any reason to hang around your rooms in the AM so you might want to get up and go out -- then stop for breakfast along the way (or take it with you). You'll be able to decide for yourself once you are there.

You can check at the visitor centers for where the animals (bears and wolves especially) have been seen (but even then nothing is for sure -- they are on their own schedule). Also a real good source for where the animals are being seen (especially right before you go) are the trip reports on the following web site:

http://forums.yellowstone.net/index.php

spirobulldog

Since you mentioned the thermal features- We really liked Caastle Geyser and Riverside Geyser much more than Old Faithful. However, these you sometimes need to wait an hour or more as they don't have as predictable window time as OF.