iluvmrott,

We should be there during the same time! So...do I look for a man, 11 year old and a woman with a big or ?

Utahtea

iluvmyrott, my hubby worked at Yellowstone when he was a teen, too, and hasn't gotten over it, either! LOL! That was about 25 years ago, and he worked at a gas station! Best summer of his life!
Once you get to Yellowstone, you will love it, too, I predict. There is truly no place like it.
There's a good reason our hubby's haven't gotten over it! Enjoy! Disneyworld pales in comparison, believe me...

Don't suppose I could borrow your husband for the duration of this holiday, please? (purely platonic of course). I'll pay for my own ticket and will even wine and dine him in some of the best, non-pretentious, easy-on-on-the-budget, family-friendly, wine-serving, welcoming restaurants in America. And heartstopping, breathtaking scenery to boot?

I'm drooling.

MaryJo

I too live on a "mountain". I live in a place similar to places my father used take us camping for the weekend. I am a Disney freak. We took the kids 7 times in 5 years. The kids and I are lobbying for a return trip - it's been 2 whole years. But hubby says there is a whole world out there & the kids need to see it. I don't disagree.

Last summer we went to Yellowstone and among other places. Yellowstone is like no place on earth. It is amazing. Don't worry that you aren't overly excited about going. You will be pleasantly surprised.

One point that hasn't been mentioned yet. Your son is 11, on the cusp of the teen years. All too soon, vacation time with family is the absolute last place he will want to be (trust me -- been there, done that.) So enjoy this chance to build some wonderful memories of your trip west. Maybe one day, he'll be nostalgic enough to drag his wife there, too... ;-)

We went to Yellowstone ten years ago, (live in CT) and it blew us away. Big sky, Lamarr Valley, "grand canyon of the west", the wildlife, and then a wonderful drive through the mountains to Red Lodge. You are right that maybe the food is average, not great -- but it's not bad, either.

Keep an open mind and expect to be surprised. Your trip report will be very interesting!

Yes, keep an open mind and just enjoy what you see. It's very different than WV. I'm from CA (near SF and the Monterey Bay area), and I also too wasn't sure that I would enjoy it. I did, and second that Red Lodge/ Beartooth mountain Hwy. recommendation. Also, Chico Hot Springs in MT near the Mammoth Hot Springs entrance is a great spot.

obxgirl,
That is so interesting you fostering the two rotts, you are a good person! Rotts are great dogs if they are raised well and trained! My first boy Rotti died in 2000, I now have another one and neither one of them was/is a watch dog--they love strangers!!! hehe Silly dogs!

Utahtea,
That is so neat that we will be there at the same time!!! Do you camp or stay in a lodge or cabin? Look for a smiling lady, if my hubby is having a good time and my son, I will be too!

Seriously, thanks so much for everyone's help. I haven't heard one person say 'I didn't enjoy it'. That says a lot! And I'm printing out a lot of suggestions you gave me too!

Will you have time to add Grand Teton NP to your trip? Not very far from YNP.

iluvmyrott,

Here's a picture of me and DH taken last week so if you see me, come up and say HI!
http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/Pictu...IMG_0516rr.jpg

Utahtea

Oh, forgot to add, we will be camping...here's our rig.

http://www.utahtea.lithium.com/Pictu...nebago/rv5.jpg

Well, luv, you've got lots of "success" stories now of people who didn't want to go but loved it when they did.

Interesting that three people had husbands who worked there as teens (you, me, Frankie). Sounds like there was some sort of wholesale importation of kids during the summers! My DH worked in the kitchen all summer. He went out and back alone by train the summer before he started college. It's also interesting that none of our teens would ever consider going that far for a summer job (not because of me, I have NEVER denigrated his precious memories of the trip, EVER). I guess back then it was as much adventure as a teen could get.

Hope you have fun! We just saw RV and although I know it isn't really like that, the movie was very funny and pokes some good-hearted fun at the Rv world.

My guess is same as others - you will be pleasantly surprised. Just one look at baby bison and you may want to take one home.

However, I do understand the family vacation dilemma. Three years ago I wanted to go to London or Montreal/Quebec. We ended up at Grand Canyon (had a great time). Compromise was that we then drove to San Diego, a city I also wanted to see.

Two years ago husband wanted to go to Chicago and someplace in Midwest - we went on cruise to Bermuda. (had a great time)

Last summer oldest son wanted to go to Yellowstone. When we started making plans, he was the only one in our family who even knew what state it was in!

Try to spend some time getting a taste of the American west - I spent a day souvenier shopping in Gardiner (about 5 stores total) and talking to year-round locals. Fascinating picture of what it is like to live there in winter, non-tourist season. Also went to local rodeo in West Yellowstone. Went to local, non-tourist bar and just people-watched.

My DH thinks vacation=OUT WEST!! We have been to many of the parks. Yellowstone is my favorite; it has so many oddities and a pleasant tourist vibe. I predict you will like it there!! For more cultural travels, I go with my Mom or a girlfriend...museums and shopping just aren't on the list for my DH. This way, I CAN have it ALL!!

kswl, my hubby tried to get our son to take a job there this summer, just like he did, but our 19 year old wasn't interested! Disappointed my husband, lol!

iluvmyrott, it is interesting that you said you are used to places like Disneyworld. On our first trip to Yellowstone (after many prior trips to Disneyworld) I stated that I thought Yellowstone was like nature's version of Disneyworld. The geysers, paintpots, hotspring pools that are a deep turquoise color, the wildlife. No Disney ride could be any more exciting than seeing the river as it barrels its way towards the brink of the falls cascading down into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and seeing a rainbow down at the bottom where the water hits.
I also would encourage you to spend a few days in Jackson Hole and the Grand Teton National Park. It is gorgeous and has some wonderful trails, look for the one where you take the boat across Jenny Lake.
You could also book a raft trip down the Snake River while in Jackson Hole. We went with Barker Ewing on the scenic and whitewater trip.

Our son was probably about your son's age at the time and our daughter was 15. They had a blast and it definitely stands out in their memory as one of the best.

Hi iluvmyrott,
I'm grew up in Virginia and appreciate the beauty of your mountains in WV. I now live in the west and promise you, Yellowstone will be a treat. I bet your son will have a great time!

I agree with the other posters here -- try to include Jackson, the Tetons, and a rodeo to get a taste of a different way of life.

Enjoy!

Hmmmmm. Sounds like you are actually planning on having a miserable time. Stop whining and either stay home or change your attitude. Travel is a luxury most people on this planet never have the chance to experience. Vacation is 90% attitude and 10% destination. Are you destined to be miserable or to enjoy one of the most spectacular places on earth? Saying that you can see mountains at home and don't need to go to Yellowstone to see the same thing is like me saying I dont need to go to Europe, Ive been to all the Europeon Pavillions at Epcot.

I have traveled in Europe S America and all over the western United States. Yellowstone remains one of my favorite places having been there many many times. Some of my favorite family vacations were there. Even my mother loved it.

If you dont enjoy Yellowstone, my guess is that it will be because you decided not to.

We took a family vacation to Yellowstone and Grand Teton two years ago. The kids weren't excited to go at all, but loved it once we got there.

I wholeheartedly second you spending at least a day in Grand Teton. Do the boat ride/hike around Jenny Lake, the scenery is spectacular. We did a guided rafting trip down the Snake River, it was one of the highlights of our trip.

If you're in good shape do Uncle Tom's Trail while in Yellowstone, it's nothing like the nature hikes you've done in WV.

I'm sure you'll have a great time!

You should be honored by the large quantity of responses. I took my "I love shopping" wife last September for our 30th Anniversary and had a great time. The first neon sing that we saw in Bozeman was a Ross's (discount clothing)so we began the trip sandwiched between bargain hunting which seemed to mello her. The Parks were like a beautiful, Western movie where we had the opportunity to see every type of wildlife possible along with meeting amazingly interesting people from around the world.The bad food and lodging stories are hugely exagerated but you need to remember that you are in real wilderness and not Orlando, Paris or Colonial Williamsburg. We have had great visits to Blackwater Falls and Cacapon/Berkley Springs but they are not closely comparable to GTNP or YNP. You are taking a can't miss; once in a lifetime trip that you will honestly enjoy.

We took our first (of nine) out west trips when our kids were around the age of your son. (currently planning our 10th trip) We are totally "city folks" in every way, but fell totally in love with the wild west, and especially yellowstone.

Altho DH and i had been to yellowstone prior to having kids, there is NOTHING in the world like seeing it again for the first time, thru your kids' eyes. Watching their delight as they saw their first herd of buffalo crossing in front of our minivan in hayden valley is one of my favorite memories.

Since then we've included at least a couple days in yellowstone on several of our west trips, just to feast our eyes on its many wonders.

I agree with gail; you'll wanna bring one of those babies home!