We just arrived home from another memorable vacation to Yellowstone National Park. We've been going for three years now and, every time, we experience something NEW and AMAZING. It has become one of our most favorite destinations. It is so beautiful and serene and the hydrothermal features never fail to surprise and delight. We've also decided that staying inside the park is definitely the best way to go. Our favorite lodging so far is the one-of-a-kind Old Faithful Inn. You can't beat the rustic architecture and cozy atmosphere. It's also refreshing to leave the distractions of technology behind and just enjoy what nature has to offer. Upon arrival to the Old Faithful area we noticed several parked cars and a few dozen people standing on the side of the road looking at something. If you've been to the park before you'll know that's a definite sign that wildlife is nearby. Our curiousity was understandably peaked so we pulled off to the side of the road for a gander. Turns out it was a grizzly bear cub!
Our first full day in the park was spent in the Canyon area. We visited both the Upper and Lower Falls and even took the Red Rock trail to get a closer look. All I can say is "breathtaking!" We passed through Hayden Valley (a great place for viewing wildlife) and on into the Mud Volcano geothermal area. This is definitely one of those places that should not be missed. Jonah's favorite attraction was, by far, "Dragon's Mouth," a turbulent hot spring that sloshes water forcefully in and out of a cavernous opening. It really is quite spectacular and the noise it makes certainly made me think of a fire-breathing dragon! We spied a couple of bison along the trail near a bubbling pot of goo. It's a pretty popular place with these majestic animals and I can't say I blame them. Who wouldn't want to indulge in a down and dirty thermal mud bath from time to time? Upon arrival back at the Old Faithful area we made the decision to catch an evening performance of Grand Geyser. This geyser, located in the Upper Geyser Basin, is the world's largest predictable geyser. So you can imagine witnessing the eruption of this geyser would be high up on my son, Noah's, list of things to see and do. It is an awe-inspiring thing to behold but it definitely comes with the price of patience. There's a 4-hour window that one might have to endure before eruption is imminent. We waited over two hours for this event to occur but it was so worthwhile. The audience was even treated to a second performance which shot plumes of water even further into the atmosphere than the first. My simple point and shoot camera could not capture the power and beauty of the thing nor can words adequately describe it. There are geyser enthusiasts that sit and wait and watch for these predictable geysers to erupt. And they never tire of Grand. It's just simply that incredible. It was a satisfying end to a long but rewarding day.
The next day marked our first real hike in the park. It wasn't anything strenuous but it took us into the back country on a pleasantly-shaded trail alongside the Firehole River leading to the impressive-looking Lone Star geyser. Appropriately named, Lone Star is a magnificent geyser cone sitting in the middle of a clearing in the forest. The stark contrast between the forest and the barren landscape of the geyser basin is, to say the least, dramatic. The eruption lasted more than 20 minutes and shot water 20-30 feet into the air. We were fortunate enough to arrive with just 20 minutes to spare since it erupts approximately every three hours.
Over the duration of our stay, we managed to witness the remaining 3 predictable geysers in the park: Daisy, Riverside and Great Fountain. Each one was remarkable in its own right, and we felt a sense of accomplishment in completing the circuit, but our hats definitely went off to GRAND for providing the most awesome experience. Jonah became an instant geyser lover after witnessing the force of its eruption. He couldn't quite figure out why everyone was waiting around, for what seemed like forever, but once the water show began all he could say was "wow" over and over again. On our way out of the park, we decided to take a couple of short detours: one that took us past Hebgen and Earthquake Lake and another to Big Springs near Island Park. It was a wonderful trip and we all hated for it to end. Marty and I talked about giving Yellowstone a rest next year and trying someplace new but I wouldn't be surprised if we end up there again. It's become kind of a tradition for us now and one that we all really look forward to.
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