spirobulldog

One more. Lake Hotel has very nice dining too and stunning location/views.

spirobulldog

We almost always picnic at least one meal each day. Yellowstone has some serious nice picnic spots.

spirobulldog

Sorry for so many multi posts. You can expect paper thin walls, critters, windows that aren't tight, etc. So, it isn't for everyone. BTW, staying at Paradise Inn at Mt. Rainier this next weekend(for the second time). Truly an amazing place!

StantonHyde

The original poster asked about a vacation with children--not just poster and spouse. I don't go to parks to swim or watch TV. But the bottom line is that for my kids, a pool and cable TV is awesome. Heck, if it were up to me, we would be backpacking through Yellowstone, eating jerky, and not staying in any lodges whatsoever. But I have to plan a vacation my whole family enjoys--as does the person who orginally posted this query.

I realize that we can all learn from others experiences. But the bottom line is that a family vacation is different. I am lucky to get everybody up and out by 8 or 9. As the saying goes "I'm a mom. This isn't a vacation. It's a business trip." And it takes a lot to juggle everyone and keep everybody happy. So the more options, more space, and more opportunity for down time that does not involve back country hiking or driving in a car--the happier they all are.

HowardR

To me, one of the missions of parents when taking children to national parks to immerse them in the great joys of hature by be active participants there. And, yes, I say that from experiences with our daughter when she was younger. And, happily we apparently did a good job of because she now has joy of introducing her children to the joys of the national park experience.

And, I'm guessing that we have never gone swimming (with or without our daughter) when at a national park because we always found more interesting and exciting things to do. Hey, I'm not condemning anyone for wanting go swimming anytime. But, to say that a child can't get the full real joy out of a national park visit without swimming or watching TV is ludicrous...and our experience proves that it can be done.

Myer

Since this post is about Yellowstone I won't talk national park generalities.

I wouldn't go to Yellowstone if I couldn't stay in the park and in specific locations.

Old Faithful area for thermal features. The times I would wander are early morning for general geyser-type scenery and specific times based on predicted geyser eruptions.

Canyon. Early morning between Canyon and Hayden Valley for deer, elk, bison, bears.

A very good time to view the Lower Falls during the summer is between 9 and 11 AM. Depending upon your interests this could take several hours.

If you are a bit adventurous, Mt Washburn is only a short drive above Canyon.

I came back from a Yellowstone trip with my daughter and granddaughter late last night. I planned the trip to attempt to be of interest to all but very much for the granddaughter as she suggested "a grandpa" trip.

I tried to include a little of everything. As it turned out she enjoyed the challenge and success of hiking to the top of Mt Washburn (in spite of our only bad weather for the last half of the hike), seeing and mostly photographing wildlife, painting a picture at Artist Point.

For some reason the geysers didn't interest her as much as I thought they would. However, she really enjoyed the hike and climb to an unofficial viewing sight above Grand Prismatic Spring.

I'm not sure how you're going to ride horses and see wildlife at the same time. Maybe.