artjoanne

I really hope you'll read my response. I was in your shoes EXACTLY one year ago. I dreaded 10 days in Yellowstone(my good friend said,"Oh,my god, 10 days???')Anyway, I'm no Polyanna but I made a decision to relax and just BE there.It was like a dream. We did drive around looking for things to see. CORNY: when you see crowds of people stopped on the side of the road, join the crowd. There will be a bear or a moose or...The key is to get out of the judgemental role and appreciate that there are many really nice people who drive rv's and are fat and enjoy the not special food. They are also thrilled by seeing a beautiful sunset or a mountain vista that takes your breath away.Finally, we bought a cd at a gift shop of instrumental music with birds twittering in the background. We would play it some time during the day and finally realized that every time we listened we eventually pulled the car to the side of the road and closed our eyes and let the breeze coming through the window lull us into a relaxed state. It was a wonderful time.(P.S. we didn't see one scrap of paper on the ground in 10 days!)

artjoanne

Oh ,no,me again. I forgot one of the best things. We stayed at the park hotels and every night there are live classical music performances in the hotel lobbies that ANYONE can attend. Often we saw young children dancing to the music or pretending to play an instrument. We played cribbage and others drank!!
One morning we couldn't leave our cabin for a while because a buffalo was blocking the door.Boring but really interesting to see his big hairy head two safe feet away. His bulgy eyes whirling around, jaws going nonstop.

It's all so different (slowing down) that it becomes entertainment.

Little_Man

I would love to hear how your trip went once you get back!!!

iluvmyrott

To CPPHOTO,I was asking for people to make me excited about Yellowstone, if I didn't care and wanted to have a miserable time, I wouldn't have asked this question!!!

Anyway, to the others that answered my questions, thank you SO much! I do feel better now about the trip! I'm a real animal lover so I know I'll love the animals, but I'll admit I'm just a bit afraid of the grizzlies!!!! I've been trying to read up quite a bit on Yellowstone and I've never heard of the live classical music performances in the hotel lobbies! Do they do this every year? I wonder when there start? That would be wonderful!

Utahtea, I took a good look at your picture and I hope to see you there! Gorgeous picture by the way where were you?

I promise to post a trip report when I get back!

RedRock

While in the Yellowstone area take a day trip across the Bear Tooth Highway, US-212 from the NE gate, Cooke City to Red Lodge. You will see an area that most visitors to the park fail to see.

http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/image...oth_182_lg.jpg

bob_brown

Hmm. Not interested in Yellowstone?

Are soap operas a better option?
If so, let those go who want to; the others will have more fun at home.

Afterall, the cabin rooms have no TV.
No night club acts ala Vegas.
No commercial movie houses except at West Yellowstone.
No swimming pools in the park.

No outstanding restaurants.

Those geysers are just funny fountains that have no artificial controls which forces viewers to wait. So they bubble a lot and let off steam. Big deal.

There are some waterfalls, but they are just falling water like a big shower bath.

Might be a few bison around, but they are smelly and leave ugly stuff behind.

Bears? Got those in WVA.

Wolves? Rarely seen by the average visitor. They look like a big dog anyhow.

Elk? Look like a deer only larger. Plenty of deer in WVA.
Bubbling mud? Who needs it?

Lakes? Got those all over.

So 2.9 million people a year are making a bad investment and causing a big crowd. They should know better.

lthompson

iluvmyrott:

I live in the VA mountains 20 minutes from the WV line. My husband, 11 year-old and I spent 4 nights in yellowstone and 3 in the Grand Tetons last summer as part of a 3 week trip out west. It was absolutely, without reservation, the trip of a lifetime. I love where I live--Covington, VA--but tell everyone here, that where we live is SO beautiful--just as beautiful as Yellowstone, etc.--but SO, SO, different. I just can't imagine that you won't fall in love with it.

Take your son on the Old West Cook out from the Hot Springs area. All of you will love it, but be prepared for cold weather. We were there on July 10 and in the middle of storm, almost froze.

It is like nothing you have ever seen back home. While driving to the starting point for the cookout, we saw five bears, elk, bison. It is so neat to see everyone stopped along the road, excitedly taking pictures of wildlife that you can't possbily see in VA or WV.

Everything is just SO different. My son had a ball and my husband--actually all of us--still talk about the trip and want to go back. We would go back next summer, but there are so many places in the US we still haven't seen that next summer we will go either to Alaska or Utah.

We went to the beach 15 years in a row and have been to Disney World 6 times. Although I love both of these, there is no comparison. Believe me, this will be the best trip you have ever taken.

Take enough time to go whitewater rafting in Jackson HOle. I have been on the New River and my husband kayaks on the river near our house, and this is not that much different, but is away from home and so much fun for your son. The guides really go out of their way to help you have a good time.

I'm excited for you just knowing you are getting to go. Be sure to hike Uncle Tom's Trail in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Not to be missed! You won't say this is just walking around and boring.

Good luck!!!

Lynda T.

lthompson

One more thing: If you can carve out enough time, ride the boat across Jenny Lake and do the hike to Cascade Falls. Be sure to go beyond Inspiration Point as the scenery is not to be missed. As we came around the bend, a big bull moose was standing in the water just looking at us as unconcerned as anything. These are things your son will never forget.

If I had to choose between the rafting and the hike to Cascade Falls, I'd take the hike. I promise there is nothing like this in WV and you definitely aren't going to see a moose standing in the river!

utahtea

<rant>

Boy...you can really tell those who have NOT read the WHOLE thread...but JUST give their 2¢!

READ THE THREAD...she's not whining...she just wanted us to get her excited about this trip....and I think we've done a good job!

<end rant>

Utahtea

mortalwombat

Visited Yellowstone for a 3-day span a few years ago, but could have easily spent the whole 10 days of my trip there. It has things you will not see anywhere else in the world. Anyone with a passive interest in the outdoors must visit this park. There is so much variety in such a (relatively) small area, and at the same time you will only scratch the surface of it all. "National Park food" is what it is, but that should not deter you from a visit! Go! You will love it!

mcales

If I were you I wouldn't go. Last trip to YNP we were almost stampeded by a herd of buffalo while fly fishing the Yellowstone River. While hiking 3 miles in to a lake we saw bear, elk and also 3 wolves. There is nothing better. DH while going for a bucket of ice was held captive by a buffalo on the porch of a cabin at Lake cabins. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime.

RedRock

mcales

You did have a trip of a lifetime.

A good friend of mine has been going to the Yellowstone for years and has never been lucky enough to see a bear let alone the new resident, the wolf. Some are just unlucky I guess.

starrsville

I agree. I spent hours on the Yellowstone forum before my last visit and got all the tips and hints from the "regulars". Some of those guys who go often and plan trips just to see wolves haven't been so lucky.

I did see a bison start at a guy who was provoking him at Old Faithful. Poor guy couldn't get traction on that new rubber pseudo-wood decking they are using now. It was hilarious - almost like watching a cartoon with pinwheel legs just flying as he tried to back up fast. Ended up sprawled out on the ground - with many, many eyes on him as he landed