Thirteen members of our family (ages 8 - 80) are traveling to Yellowstone in July 2008 to celebrate my father's 80th birthday. Does anyone have a suggestion about something special we could do to celebrate the occasion? Thanks! Ellen

Yellowstone is a very special place in its own right. What do you want to do?

Where are you staying?

If I were doing something for an 80 yr old, finding a room with a/c is high on the list.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked. However, I was there in the fall, stayed at the Snow Lodge in YNP. It was lovely, yet a little on the warm side with the window open and fan going all night. And I tend to get cold at night.

So, something to think of, if he does not do well in heat.

For something to do, one of the old fashioned open air red "gear jammer" rides might be neat.

Go to Xanterra.com - the official website of the NP's lodging. They have all kinds of great info - on things to do, weather, food, etc.

Have a great time.

CHOCOLATE_WATER_ICE -- I don't know why you were so hot in the fall of the year. I have seen it snow and frost in the summer months. During the fall of the year it is not uncommon to be in the 20's and lower at night. I have had water in the cooler refreeze overnight during the month of September while sitting around a roaring campfire.... A little added extra, did not have to pay the country stores high price for ice... You must have had a heated room and forgot to turn the heat down.

It is a special place, especially to my dad, who spent the summer before his freshman year of college working there. This will be a somewhat nostalgic trip for him. I am open to suggestions as to plans for his actual birthday celebration. The things I considered were the Old West Dinner Cookout, traveling by horseback or covered wagon to dinner; or a nice dinner at the Lake Lodge Dining Room (or perhaps Old Faithful Snow Lodge for the view).
Thanks for your reply! Ellen

Ellen - don't know what your budget is but the restaurant at Jenny Lake Lodge (actually in the Tetons) is excellent.

I think the Old West Cookout is a great idea but I wonder if you could get reservations at this late date.

This whole trip sounds SO neat. Maybe you could plan something around the location(s) where your father worked. One idea would be something along the lines of a picnic, maybe combined with a geyser watch.

As far as restaurants, I like the Roosevelt Lodge for ambience, and the food there is supposed to be about the best in the park.

The geyser walk near Old Faithful Inn is a great easy walk, and just sitting on the Inn's deck with a morning cup of coffee and watching Old Faithful erupt is also pretty amazing.

I'm sure you all are going to have a wonderful time!!

RedRock,

Have you stayed at the Snow Lodge?

I read lots of reviews before staying there - tripadvisor, etc. I took an extension cord with me since I had read that others had tried to get ventilation with the fan in the room and there was no where to set the fan that circulated the air since the cord was short.

It was so cool that we wore jackets and gloves in the AM and at night.

However, it was warm in the room at night - it was a higher floor room and there was no air circulating.

There was a tiny window that did not ventilate the room.

I did not have the heat on.

I believe that you got lots of cool air and ice in your cooler camping.

It was not cool in the room.

EMWP,

Sorry for the post to RedRock on your thread.

I only wanted you to know that the heat might be a factor in JULY if you stay in park lodging since it was warm at night in the newest lodge even in the fall.

You know your father and his tolerances. I have older relatives who do not do well with heat.

I think the dining room at the Old Faithful Inn might be more nostalgic than the Snow Lodge. I ate at both and the Old Faithful Inn had more atmosphere to me.

I wonder if you call ahead, if the chef will make a birthday cake for him. We had dinner late, the dining room was less crowded and it was neat and relaxing.

I am going on the theory that you know you need to make dinner reservations early. We made them months ahead when we made lodging reservations and all times were not available then.

I wonder if anyone in the park archives department, if they have one, has photos, old menus, etc from the time your father worked there.

Maybe a drive by where he stayed when he worked there, if it is still there.

In the lobby of the Old Faithful Inn there is a snack area that has great huckleberry ice cream - nice for a break on a hot or any day.

I think having his whole family there for his birthday will be the best gift.

By the way, what work did your father do in Yellowstone?

Re: what my dad did at Yellowstone, it was part of a larger trip. He and three friends hitch-hiked across country from NE Tennessee as soon as they graduated from high school in 1946. I think my grandmother allowed it because she was worried my father would marry his then girlfriend --- not my mother and his wife of 56 years, so the separation worked. Daddy and his friends worked for several weeks at Yellowstone doing odd jobs (cleaning cabins, washing dishes, etc.) After Yellowstone, they went to the Grand Canyon and then back home to begin college that fall.

I think you are right that having the whole family together in Yellowstone National Park will be the real gift. I also like the ideas about park archives. I'll check that out.

Just my parents and my family of 4 will go to the Tetons before we go to Yellowstone, so I will try to make reservations at Jenny Lake Lodge. That sounds great. Re: the ideas for his birthday dinner, my sister-in-law said we should do all the things mentioned. I like that idea best!

Ellen

Ellen,

You might also want to call the Xanterra number and talk to them about your options. They are normally very nice and helpful. One young man spent at least 30 minutes on the telephone with me helping plan and schedule our February 2009 trip.

Sounds like you'll have a great time just being together no matter what you "do" for his special day. Wish him Happy Birthday from all the Fodorites .

Hvae a wonderful trip. I just love Yellowstone.

Fran

Be sure to make dinner reservations ahead. We made our dinner reservations when we made our lodging reservations months ahead, and times were already very limited.