Teatime in Boulder

Hairnets for the Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour.

The carful of kids spent approximately a month on the road exploring the wonders of the Rocky Mountains. With stops at Scotts Bluff and Devils Tower national monuments and excursions into Glacier and Banff national parks, we spent the majority of our time wandering through Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world.

The carful of kids are ready to sleep in their own beds so we are homeward bound. After a quick stop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a picture under the antler arches in town square; we are on the highway headed for Colorado.

The carful of kids love Colorado so after a day of mostly driving, we want to explore Boulder for a few hours. When I plan our trips sometimes I schedule a quick stopover to see if I want to incorporate an area into a future trip.

Boulder, Colorado, is 25 miles northwest of Denver and the home to the largest university in the state, University of Colorado. After a quick drive through the campus on a unofficial campus tour, we head over to a fun tour for Moms.

The carful of kids sample tea after the factory tour.

The Celestial Seasonings factory tour (4600 Sleepytime Drive) is a great stop for tea-loving Moms and their kids, 5 and older. The tours run every day, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the factory is closed most major holidays. The tour is FREE.

There is a cafe with lots of samples and you will be given a sample pack of tea to take home. If you are a tea addict like myself, there is a gift shop with varieties you can't find in the grocery store back home.

Due to food safety regulations, you and your children will be required to wear hairnets. Children under 5 are not allowed on the factory tour. The tour guide walks us along the production line giving us insight into what ingredients make up their herbal teas. The highlight of the tour is the Mint Room.

Mint is so strong that it is stored in its own room. If you have ever been on the fence about mint, you will know after this. Some people can't even walk into the Mint Room. While other devoted fans, like my daughter and myself, can't get enough of the sinus-clearing aroma.

After a stop in the gift shop for tea and tea accessories, the carful of kids are on the road to our next stop, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (1850 Table Mesa Drive). It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it is FREE.

Making and playing with clouds. How cool is that?

This is a great stop for school-age kids who are interested in weather. There are tons of cool interactive displays demonstrating the effects of our atmosphere on our weather.

Wind and sand experiments for the whole family.

After several hours getting a taste of Boulder, the carful of kids need to get back on the interstate headed to Texas. I have one last stop planned that's a family favorite.

Up Next: Palo Duro Canyon State Park

What I learned from my trip to Yellowstone National Park with the Carful of Kids

The carful of kids left Central Texas to explore the Rocky Mountains; we stopped by the Black Hills of South Dakota and Glacier National Park. We headed across the Canadian Border to wander through Banff and Jasper national parks with a stop to explore a glacier. The last leg of our trip, we spent about a week taking the Grand Tour of Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone was the first national park in the world when it was created in 1872; an idea that other countries would adopt to protect the special places in their country. Yellowstone, a name derived from the descriptive French and Native American name for the area, has the highest concentration of geysers in the world and half of the world's geothermal features. All thanks to the Yellowstone Caldera, an active supervolcano.

My 12-year-old daughter loved the pools of Yellowstone.

Yellowstone is my favorite national park in North America for so many reasons. You should make every attempt to visit and experience the wonder and majestic beauty for yourself. It is a must outdoor enthusiasts.

For your First Trip to Yellowstone

I delayed the trek up to Yellowstone so my eight-year-old would be old enough to remember the trip. This trip is best for school-age kids. Yellowstone requires a fair amount of walking and the sights are more interesting to older kids.

My eight-year-old son enjoyed looking for animals, like this bison.

For your first trip to Yellowstone with your family, I suggest the Grand Tour, the circular tour that the first visitors took over 100 years ago. You can map your own Grand Tour starting from any of the five different entrances--though the West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole Entrances are the most crowded.

I suggest that you spend at least four days in Yellowstone National Park. There is so much ground to cover and each area is unique. If you are visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone in the same trip, I found you can see the majority of Grand Teton in one day.

The carful of kids played games on the mezzanine of the Old Faithful Inn.

On your first trip, stay in several different locations. My first trip to YNP, we camped in the Canyon Campground and drove from there. I have to say, that was too much driving. Stay inside the boundaries of YNP; the park is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. You will spend a lot of your time getting into and out of the park if you stay outside of YNP.

On my first trip to Yellowstone NP we didn't plan ahead and make reservations. MAKE RESERVATIONS as soon as you decide to visit YNP. To get a room in the Old Faithful Inn during the high season (July and August) will require reservations more than six months in advance.

The two nights at the Old Faithful Inn were a highlight for everyone. 

When the carful of kids decided to visit Yellowstone, it was January. I started researching and reserving rooms and found the majority of rooms were booked already. Remember, you can reserve lodging in YNP 13 months in advance. I checked for cancellations religiously through the website and was able to reserve the places I wanted.

I will tell you the brutal truth, the older I get, the less I like to tent camp. In Yellowstone, I found the camping crowded and cramped. Showers were not included. Depending on the fire danger, you might not be able cook outside with a flame. The RV sites are also very limited.

The Best Areas in Yellowstone for Kids

No trip to Yellowstone is complete without visiting Old Faithful Inn and Old Faithful Geyser that erupts every 35 to 120 minutes with a certain amount of predictability. The geyser basin is great for kids and should be explored; spend at least a day in this area, more time if you have it.

Some rooms don't have attached bathrooms but this is one of the Tub Rooms.

I reserved two nights in the original section of Old Faithful Inn, it might be one of my favorite hotels ever. There are cabins in the Old Faithful area as well.

I really liked the Roosevelt Lodge, up at the Tower-Roosevelt Junction in the Northeast corner of YNP. The cabins are great for families and the Old West Cookout should not be missed. Reservations area must for this excursion.

The kids loved the stove in the cabin at Roosevelt Lodge.

Mammoth Hot Springs is a great area for families since the kids enjoyed climbing the terraces to see the travertine towers. The elk in this area will grab your kids attention too. The Mammoth Hot Springs Cabins are a great choice for families, like all the cabins in Yellowstone NP.

Animals of Yellowstone

The animal viewing in Yellowstone is better than any of the other national parks that I have visited. It is really hard not to see animals, they are everywhere. For the best opportunity to see bears or wolves spend some time in Hayden Valley or Lamar Valley at dusk or dawn.

Bison and Elk are fairly easy to see in Yellowstone National Park.

Getting to Yellowstone

Most visitors drive up through the southern entrance at Jackson Hole, I did the first time. This time we drove south into the park from Bozeman after picking up Dad at the airport.

If you are flying in and renting a car, I recommend Bozeman. It is less expensive to fly and stay overnight in Bozeman instead of Jackson, Wyoming. The shopping is plentiful with all the grocery stores and outdoor outfitters located within a few miles of each other. You will not find touristy attractions in Bozeman however.

The Antler Arches of Jackson Hole, Wyoming are a great photo op.

For that reason, you might prefer Jackson, Wyoming, it has plenty of souvenir shopping and the antler arches at the Jackson Hole Town Square is a photo op that should not be missed.

Basic Information 

Yellowstone National Park is open every day and the 7-day admission is $30 for a private vehicle or you can purchase an annual America the Beautiful Pass for $80 to gain entry into the majority of the national parks and monuments. There are seasonal road closures in the majority of the park except for the North and Northeast Entrance that are open year-round to vehicle traffic. There can be a wait to get into the park at the entrances.

Up Next: Headed Home.

The Old West Cookout at Roosevelt Lodge

Standing in front of the Roosevelt Arch.

The carful of kids left Central Texas a while back with their eyes looking north to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, and now we are headed back. Before putting the SUV into cruise and long-hauling it back to Texas, we are trekking through Yellowstone National Park, hitting the highlights of my favorite national park.

Yellowstone National Park has so many unique features--from the geothermal wonders, to the historic lodges and the abundant wildlife. It's a great destination for everyone, especially families, and should be on your bucket list.

The carful of kids have toured the majority of the park with stays at the Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel and most recently Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. When I plan my trips, I look at it like I would a story--a good strong lead and an even-bigger finish.

As we finish up our Grand Tour of Yellowstone, like the visitors took over 100 years ago, I have one last historic property and an exciting excursion planned. But first, we need to have breakfast and pack up.

Exploring at the Yellowstone Association Headquarters Building.

Before heading to the Tower-Roosevelt Junction, I wanted to check out the Northern Entrance of Yellowstone at Gardiner, Montana. Primarily to visit the Roosevelt Arch, that has been welcoming visitors to YNP since President Theodore Roosevelt set the cornerstone in 1903.

Constructed by the U.S. Army when they were stationed in the nearby Mammoth Hot Springs, the majority of the visitors arriving via train entered Yellowstone through this arch. It's still a popular gateway though a tad small for modern trailers. Next to the Roosevelt Arch is the Yellowstone Association Headquarters Building.

The carful of kids load up and head east through the quieter section of the park where the animals get a little closer to the road. We are always scanning the horizon looking for movement or a line of cars pulled over. At Petrified Tree, we see a mamma bear and her cubs--bears sitings always excite the carful of kids.

The Roosevelt Lodge is one of my favorite places to stay in YNP.

Before long, I see the peeled pine arch signaling the entrance of the Roosevelt Lodge--I turn off the paved road onto a gravel driveway to a place that is out of the way for most visitors to Yellowstone. Actually, this is my first visit to Roosevelt Lodge, too; we didn't make it to this corner of YNP fifteen years ago.

This area was named after Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the U.S., that spend time exploring in this area. This lodge evokes the spirit of the West--wild and free.

We check in for our Rough Rider Cabin at the Roosevelt Lodge, a rustic log building built in 1920. There are two types of cabins in Roosevelt, the Rough Rider and the Frontier Cabin; you can't camp in the area but there are 31 first-come, first serve sites at Tower Fall.

The inside of our Rough Rider Cabin--the carful of kids love the rustic feel.

Our Rough Rider Cabin has three double beds, a dresser with a mirror and a pot belly stove that the kids love. It's a rustic cabin, meaning simple, with a couple of overhead lights and not much else. All the rooms and cabins in YNP, do not have TVs, radios or air conditioning.

The Mountain Brook that runs along the Rough Rider Cabins.

While I'm unloading the SUV, the boys find a small mule deer next to the last row of cabins--they start to stalk it. My daughter finds a babbling brook with tumbled river rocks with wild raspberries dotting the bushes--I can't believe this place, it's made for kids.

Wild Raspberries!

Outside our cabin I find a couple of picnic tables, where I set out the lunch for the carful of kids. They sit down and gobble up some sandwiches before heading back to the stream. I chase butterflies from one wildflower to the next trying to get the perfect photo.

I run around chasing butterflies and bees while the kids stalk a mule deer.

We whittle away a couple of hours playing and chasing before we need to check in for our next excursion. Luckily, it's located right around the corner in the Roosevelt Coral.

For dinner, the carful of kids will be riding a wagon out to the Old West Cookout in Pleasant Valley. When we pull through the wooden arch of the Roosevelt Corral, I know this is going to be an evening to remember.

The Carful of Kids check out their wagon.

After we check in, we watch the horse wranglers outfit the horseback riders and get them on their way. The horses in the Roosevelt Corral are chosen because of their docile nature and range in age from 20 to 37.

The wagon riders are next, as we climb aboard our brightly painted yellow wagons with five padded benches. I immediately start to hum surrey with the fringe on top when I see the wagon's canvas cover to protect us from a passing mountain shower.

All Abroad for our adventure to Pleasant Valley.

Each wagon has a pair of draft horses with a driver and another wrangler who keep us entaintained with stories of the land and lore. As the wagon creeks and ebbs out of the corral, I can't help but smile. This is a great moment--reminding me of something the Brady Bunch would have done on vacation.

The wagon train of eight wagons continue up through the valley unnoticed by the pronghorn and the mule deer. The wagons are as much a part of the rhythm of the valley as the swaying grass.

Sitting next to the campfire, hearing tall tales and drinking hot cocoa.

After a 45-minute ride through the majestic scenery, the wagon train pulls into the camp at the edge of the valley. As we climb down from the wagon, I look up and see the horseback riders switchback and forth down a ridge to join our group.

The carful of kids walk into camp and are drawn to the smoking coals with a blue granite ware coffeepot percolating some Campfire Joe. I have two cups before I blink my eyes.

Caffeine camp-style.

This Mom is fueled by caffeine, I will not lie. The carful of kids grab a lodge pole pine stump to sit on and listen to a cowboy rattle off tall tales.

Off on the edge of camp, a cowboy crooner sings the songs of a bygone era as men gather to recount tales of recent animal sightings. The dinner bell signals all to turn as the promise of a hearty meal awaits.

We line up and wait for our turn. As the first few walk pass, I see plates piled high with steak, potato salad and coleslaw, baked beans, corn bread and apple crisp with watermelon slices on the side.

Dinner for a kinda cowboy or girl.

As I finally get my rustic camp-ware plate, I turn and find a seat at one of the long family styles tables. Sitting in an unseen valley all to ourselves with a plate heaping full of steak, enjoying the way  the pines light up in the late afternoon sun, it doesn't get any better than this.

Like all great moments, it has to end. But before I leave, I'm getting another cup of coffee so strong it will put hair on the chest of an eight-year old.

The carful of kids love the Old West Cookout, look at the empty plates.

The carful of kids load back up in the wagon for the ride back to the corral. When we arrive back, the sun is low in the sky but the memory of a perfect meal in a perfect valley will live in my heart forever.

The carful of kids love animals so after getting back from the Old West Cookout we decide to drive through Lamar Valley to see what is out at dusk, the best time to see animals. Lamar Valley is east of the Tower-Roosevelt Junction towards the Northeast Entrance.

It is rumored that Lamar Valley is one of the places you can see wolves and grizzlies. It will take a bit of luck and a little patience. One thing you will see in Lamar Valley are bison, who know they own the road.

After our animal-trekking adventure, we head back to our Rough Rider Cabin and the carful of kids settle in for the night. Mom and Dad take the opportunity to walk over to the lodge for a glass of wine next to the fire.

The Roosevelt Lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a small bar--you can sit next to the fireplace or walk outside to the rockers lining the front porch to enjoy a little piece of heaven named Yellowstone.

Up Next: We have to say Good-bye to Yellowstone and head for Grand Teton National Park.

Know before you go: Yellowstone National Park is open every day and the 7-day admission is $ 30 for a private vehicle or you can purchase an annual America the Beautiful Pass for $ 80 to gain entry to the majority of the national parks and monuments. There are seasonal road closures in the majority of the park except for the North and Northeast Entrance that are open year-round to vehicle traffic.

The Rough Rider Cabin doesn't have an attached bathroom but a bathroom is within walking distance.

Reservations are recommended for all lodging and camping in Yellowstone National Park during the high season.

This is Grizzly Country and it is recommended to carry and know how to use Bear Spray at all times.

Acid Caldrons, Mud Volcanos and Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park

At the top of Yellowstone National Park at the North Entrance is Fort Yellowstone, that once housed soldiers in Yellowstone National Park. It's also home to Mammoth Hot Springs, which is our next destination after spending the night in a Frontier Cabin at Lake Yellowstone Hotel.

After road tripping from Central Texas to Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, the carful of kids are trekking through Yellowstone National Park on their first visit to the First National Park. We have stayed in the Old Faithful Inn and most recently at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel.

The carful of kids will be on the move again as we drive north towards the Tower-Roosevelt Junction before heading west to the Mammoth Hot Springs Area. We are taking our time to explore the different regions of this park that's larger than Delaware and Rhode Island put together.

The exterior of the Frontier Cabin in the Lake Village, there are free-standing hotel rooms complete with bathrooms inside.

But first the kids want to eat. The Frontier Cabin in the Lake Village is much nicer on the inside and features a stocked coffee maker so I grab a cup before walking to the Lake Yellowstone General Store with the carful of kids.

It's an easy walk to breakfast from our Frontier Cabin in Lake Village.

The Lake Yellowstone General Store serves up a simple breakfast with cereal and my carful of kids love cereal. You can also pick up some souvenirs or a loaf of bread here in an original YNP building that was built in the 1890s.

Breakfast at the Lake Yellowstone General Store

Loaded in the SUV, the carful of kids pull out headed for our next stop the Mud Volcano, which to a kid sounds cool. This area is the most acidic in the park and sometimes there's toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide--the boys can wait to see the boiling pots of mud and deadly gases.

Not appreciating the geological wonders of the Mud Volcano Area--too many rotten eggs.

The carful of kids are ready to go until we get out of the SUV and get our first whiff of rotten eggs. I have to coax them onto the boardwalk ( .6 mile walking trail ) to explore features with names like Dragon's Mouth Spring and Grizzly Fumarole.

Along the boardwalk in the Mud Volcano Area.

With trees that have been steamed to sticks and bubbling pools of mud, the features are completely different from the crystal blue geyser pools around Old Faithful. Along the boardwalk, you will probably encounter a herd of bison that roam this area year-round due to the steam vents; the Park Rangers on patrol will remind you to keep the 25-yard distance recommended for safety.

What kid doesn't want to see a bison but keep a safe distance.

Across from the Mud Volcano is another feature straight out of a comic book--the Sulphur Caldron, with a pH of 1 to 2, it's like battery acid. This is a popular stop and should not be missed, though parking is limited.

We drove through Hayden Valley once, the wildlife-rich valley in the center of Yellowstone named after the geologist instrumental in creating the park. This time, we stop and get out to see the action--this area bottlenecks with everyone trying to get a glimpse of bears or wolves.

Checking in with the wildlife photographers, who know the latest in Hayden Valley.

The carful of kids had overheard that something was up in this area on the Park Ranger's radio at the Mud Volcano and the carful of kids are all eyes. I have three wanna-be animal trackers in the SUV so we pull over and park.

You will find wildlife photographers camped out here with their 400mm zoom lens, that cost as much as a used car, trying to get the perfect shot. They know what has been seen and are friendly enough to share the latest animal sitings.

In the distance across the Yellowstone River near a grove of trees, we see the action--a wolf and a grizzly bear are duking it out over the carcass of an elk. Wow, the boys are crawling up my legs trying to snag the binoculars to see it.

As a Mom, I'm more interested in the patch of wildflowers but the boys are giddy with excitement so I hand over my binoculars and let them soak it up. This is a congested area with limited parking so keep an eye on the kiddos.

I have to bribe the carful of kids back into the SUV with snacks so we can continue trekking north. Since we toured the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, we continue on to our next destination, past Canyon Junction.

Once you leave Canyon Junction, the traffic thins out as this area of the park is less visited. Along this route, you will pass Mt. Washburn, for a closer look you can take Chittenden Road.

Just north of Dunraven Pass ( 8,859 feet ), is the turn-off for the 1.5 mile road up Mt. Washburn ( 10,243 feet ). This is a great viewpoint to see the vastness of the northeastern part of Yellowstone, in my opinion the most picturesque.

We love waterfalls and Tower Fall is 132 feet tall and a quick walk.

I'm a huge fan of waterfalls so I'm excited for our next stop, Tower Fall, along Tower Creek just a few miles south of Tower-Roosevelt Junction. It's a quick walk up a paved path to view Tower Fall, a picture-perfect spot.

There are also restrooms and a store here, which is nice because this area of the park is sparse. The carful of kids turn and head west at the Tower-Roosevelt Junction to Mammoth Hot Springs.

Grazing on green grass, the elk are everywhere in Mammoth.

Mammoth Hot Springs is another popular area and it's the Northern Gateway into the YNP. It's also the Park Headquarters and this area is plowed and accessible year-round to cars.

The first thing you notice when driving into Mammoth are the elk, they are everywhere and roaming free, grazing on grass. The second thing you notice are the Park Rangers honking and reminding visitors to stay away from the elk over their loud speakers.

The Park Rangers stationed in Mammoth patrol constantly to prevent elk and visitor encounters.

The carful of kids find a picnic table outside the newly renovated Albright Visitors Center for lunch and watch the elk nibble on flowers as we nibble on sandwiches. After packing up our picnic, we head into the Albright Center--it's dedicated to the wildlife of the park with stuffed species so the kids can get an up-close look.

In the visitors center, I find a walking tour map of Fort Yellowstone. In the early days of the park, poachers and renegade hostelers ran amuck so in 1886 the army was called in to patrol the park.

During the next 32 years, the cavalry patrolled the park and eventually built residences in Mammoth, where officers brought their families to live. This area is also the Park Headquarters and the original fort buildings are private residences now.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, built in 1913 with an addition in 1937.

The carful of kids have a reservation for the night at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, another Robert Reamer renovation dating back to 1913 with a large addition in 1937. Reamer, a 29 year-old architect, designed and built the Old Faithful Inn as well as renovating the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, both of which we have stayed at on this trip.

Our room in the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

The property is spartan but comfortable compared to the laid-back glamour of the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and modern for the times compared to the log-cabin hotel, the Old Faithful Inn. This area also contains lots of cabins in several different configurations that are quite popular. Mammoth Hot Springs Campground has 85 sites and is open year-round, the only campground to do so in Yellowstone.

With the lower elevation, Mammoth is a little warm compared with the rest of Yellowstone.

The next destination on our list is of course, Mammoth Hot Springs, a series of travertine terraces that you have to explore. This area is divided into three areas, the main terrace, the lower terraces and the upper terraces.

He loves everything Orange, including water.

You can walk from terrace to terrace via a series of stairs and boardwalks or there's parking lots at the upper and lower terraces. This is a popular destination and parking can be scarce during the middle of the day.

After thoroughly exploring the Hot Springs, we stop in the Mammoth General Store for some ice cream, Huckleberry is our favorite flavor and a specialty of Yellowstone. You can also find some groceries, gas and souvenirs here as well.

The Dining Room at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is elegant and family-friendly.

The afternoon has faded and now the carful of kids are hungry after exploring Mammoth. The Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room is in a separate building but offers family-pleasing meals in an elegant art-deco inspired facility. Reservations are accepted but we didn't have a problem getting a table without one.

The Map Room, designed by Robert Reamer and features 2,544 different species of wood.

After dinner, the carful of kids check out a Ranger Program in the famous Map Room of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, designed by Robert Reamer the map features 2,544 different species of wood. Definitely worth a peak if you are near the Hotel.

Up Next: An adventure at the Roosevelt Lodge

Know before you go:  Yellowstone National Park is open every day and the 7-day admission is $ 30 for a private vehicle or you can purchase an annual America the Beautiful Pass for $ 80 to gain entry to the majority of the national parks and monuments. There are seasonal road closures in the majority of the park except for the North and Northeast Entrance that are open year-round to vehicle traffic.

Reservations are recommended for all lodging and camping in Yellowstone National Park during the high season.

This is Grizzly Country and it is recommended to carry and know how to use Bear Spray at all times.

There's a Secret Room down a Small Hall of the Old Faithful Inn

It's 3 a.m. and I'm on vacation with the carful of kids in Yellowstone National Park after road tripping from Central Texas to Jasper National Park and back--why am I up? I went hiking, didn't hit the caffeine too hard, yet I'm wide awake.

Like a lot of Moms out there, I'm up in the middle of the night even on vacation--I think it's a holdover from the early morning feedings. Maybe legions of Moms wake up in the middle of the night to be in solidarity with the Moms still working the baby night shift.

So I'm up with nothing to do when my mind begins to wander, I think of all the cool stuff I saw during the day, then I remember the sign for a Tub Room. I turn over and hatch a plan to sneak out of the room and investigate without waking anyone up.

With the help of my phone, I gather my toiletry bag and tiptoe out of the room into the slumbering quiet of the Old Faithful Inn. As I quietly make my way across the mezzanine and down the hall opposite of my room, the floor boards squeak in the 100 year-old log building.

I walk down the tiny, dark hall to the door and turn it, hoping for a release. Too my disappointment, it's locked. As I lumber back to my room to sneak back into my bed and wait for sleep to find me again and can't help but wonder, why would it be locked?

Then it dawns on me. I sigh, smile and fall back asleep for another hour.

I am the first one up the second time around, I gather my bag and head to the door with more determination. I am going to get into the tub room--sure, it might be a room for housekeeping but I'm hopeful for a little hot-water nirvana.

I walk down the tiny, dark hall that seems to be still sleeping and turn the doorknob of the tub room. This time the door moves inward but the room is still as dark as a starless night. I fumble around, feeling for the light switch and with a flick, I illuminate a hidden treasure of the Old Faithful Inn--a clawfoot tub!

Tucked away, down a hall in the Old Faithful Inn is a tub room.

As a lover of anything vintage, I adore this moment made just for me. I find the Do Not Disturb sign, hang it from the knob and lock the door.

I look around my secret escape--it's still kinda early and no one is in the other tub room. I will have to soak away the road tripping funk fast--the world is starting to wake up.

As you know, I have been driving my carful of kids hard and fast to the top of North America and I miss my morning bath ritual in my clawfoot tub at home. It relaxes me and then it recharges me.

I turn on the hot water knob of the chrome British Telephone faucet and gather the Old Faithful Inn Signature Bath Products that are in all the OFI bathrooms. I lay my fluffy, white towel on the table next to the tub.

I slip into the hot water and close my eyes and breath. The next few minutes float away in a hot water and bubble-induced haze.

With a clang of the door across the hall, I awaken refreshed and ready to explore. Time to move on and let others enjoy a soak.

Now I will let you in on a little secret, there is no special key to get into the tub room. If it is open, it is yours. And if I was camping in the campground nearby, I would have a hard time not sneaking in for a wee, little soak.

Just bring your own towel, they are not provided in the tub rooms.

Up Next: Moving on to the Lake District of Yellowstone with another stay in a historic property.

Know before you go: Yellowstone National Park is open every day and the 7-day admission is $ 30 for a private vehicle or you can purchase an annual America the Beautiful Pass for $ 80 to gain entry to the majority of the national parks and monuments. There are seasonal road closures in the majority of the park except for the North and Northeast Entrance that are open year-round to vehicle traffic.

I reserved an Old House Room with a shared bath for a reasonable $ 115 a night--yes there isn't a bathroom in this room but the facilities are amazing and right down the hall. A sink with a mirror and vanity is located in the room so you can brush your teeth and wash your face.

There are no televisions or radios in the OFI rooms but there are outlets to plug in your phone, though service is spotty throughout Yellowstone NP.

The lodging reservations within the National Park System is available 13 months in advance so you have to be persistent to get rooms in the more popular locations within Yellowstone NP. I was and got all the properties I wanted--MAKE RESERVATIONS months in advance, even for camping, if you are visiting Yellowstone NP during the high season.

Geyser Gawking in Yellowstone National Park

A Rainbow that Ends at the Old Faithful Geyser!

The carful of kids are in Yellowstone National Park for a week, after road tripping our way from Central Texas to Jasper National Park and back. As luck or persistant planning would have it, I got two consecutive nights in the Old House section of the Old Faithful Inn.

You need to do this. As a collector of genuine experiences, this is a great one. Staying at the Old Faithful Inn will be one of the memories your family will recall for a lifetime.

The carful of kids enjoy game night at the Old Faithful Inn

Watching the Old Faithful Geyser from the balcony, listening to the fiddler play from the mezzanine, eating in the OFI Dining Room are all part of the experience. The most important of all is spending time as a family, unplugged from our screens but dialed into each other.

The carful of kids explored the area around Old Faithful Geyser yesterday by hiking to Morning Glory Pool and taking a vintage bus tour of Firehole Lake Drive. We're venturing farther by exploring more geysers and trails up to Madison Junction.

Dress in Layers, bonus points if you coordinate your outfits to match Morning Glory Pool!

The carful of kids lace up our hiking boots and head downstairs for breakfast in the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room ( Breakfast hours 6:00 to 10:30 a. m. ) for the breakfast buffet that features all the standard breakfast fare ( $ 13.25 /adults and $ 6.75/ kids ). We are able to get in and out quickly and there isn't a wait to be seated.

The Tour starts with the Doors of the Old Faithful Inn

Up first is the Old Faithful Inn Tour that starts at 9:30 a.m., it's free and you don't have to reserve a spot in advance though the crowd gets larger at the later tours. Tours start in the lobby next to the fireplace at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The Old Faithful Inn was an innovation when it was built over the winter of 1903-1904 with electric lights, steam heat and indoor plumbing under the direction of 29 year-old architect, Robert Reamer. The majority of the materials were sourced within miles of the building site, dragged by a horse team.

Robert Reamer, the OFI architect, hiked throughout the forest looking for trees like this.

As we walk around taking in the details on our tour, I am particularily drawn to the staircases and railings. They are works of art. On the tour, I see a small sign hanging from the ceiling, Tub Room--interesting, need to check that out later.

After the Old Faithful Inn Tour, the carful of kids pack into the SUV for more geyser gawking starting at the Black Sand Basin with Opalescent Pool and Emerald Pool, with names like that I have to investigate; they are across the way from Old Faithful. I am a sucker for blue-green water so I am in love with the pools of Yellowstone.

We can't get enough of the geysers.

After the Black Sand Basin, the carful of kids continue north and stop off at Biscuit Basin to view the Sapphire Pool and Jewel Geyser; both of these are within a short hike of Old Faithful Inn if you would prefer to walk. Continuing north, we pull into Midway Geyser Basin for the largest hot spring in the U.S., Grand Prismatic Spring.

Some of the trash that Park Rangers pick up around the pools and geysers.

Grand Prismatic Spring is a marvel and a must-see with its rainbow colors formed by the microbes in the mineral water. This area is very popular and parking can be a problem, visit early or late in the day.

Grand Prismatic with the carful of kids.

We continue on to the Lower Geyer Basin where we pass the Fountain Paint Pot and meet our first bison. He makes his home next to a steam vent and this area is a favorite with bison, who overwinter here because of the heat.

Now is a good time to remind the kids that bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than an adult. It is best to leave 25 yards in-between you and the bison but when they sit next to the boardwalk that's nearly impossible. Yellowstone Park Rangers are on duty in this area patrolling and monitoring the human-animal interface.

Bison watching visitors.

After bison-watching and geyser-gawking, the carful of kids are ready for lunch. We park at the Madison Junction area where I find the nicest public restrooms in the park and have a picnic. Remember to keep your picnic site manned at all times, chipmunks can ransack your table in a flash.

After lunch, the carful of kids check in at the Junior Ranger Station, the only one in the park and located at Madison Junction, to speak with the Park Rangers about activities that kids will enjoy. The Ranger Station has animal hides for the kids to touch and a bookstore dedicated to Junior Rangers.

My Girl Scout getting her NPS-Girl Scout Patch

This area also hosts Evening Ranger Programs just for Junior Rangers; check the park newspaper for current offerings. This is also where my Girl Scout received her patch for National Park Stewardship after she completed 10 hours of service--there is a similar award for Boy Scouts.

I promised the carful of kids I'd take it easy and enjoy our stay in Yellowstone so we are heading back to the Old Faithful Inn to spend time on the balcony watching the Old Faithful Geyser and playing games. We have a dinner reservation in the dining room a little later but I have an idea.

My husband and I want to have a dinner by ourselves and since the oldest carful of kid is babysitter certified, we give her a room key and some cash and send them to the cafe next to the dining room. It's a nice break when traveling with a carful of kids.

Dinner at Old Faithful Inn

We visited Yellowstone National Park years ago before we were parents and had dinner in the Old Faithful Inn's Dining Room. Well as luck would have it, we were seated at the same table that we ate at 15 years ago. Funny when your past and present intersect unexpectedly.

Up Next: Lake Hotel and Yellowstone Lake


Know before you go: If you have a limited time in the Old Faithful area, walk through Old Faithful Inn, witness Old Faithful Geyser and stop by Grand Prismatic Spring. Talk with the Park Rangers about seasonal traffic and road construction to prevent driving delays.

Yellowstone National Park is open every day and the 7-day admission is $ 30 for a private vehicle or you can purchase an annual America the Beautiful Pass for $ 80 to gain entry to the majority of the national parks and monuments. There are seasonal road closures in the majority of the park except for the North and Northeast Entrance that are open year-round to vehicle traffic.

I reserved an Old House Room with a shared bath for a reasonable $ 115 a night--yes there isn't a bathroom in this room but the facilities are amazing and right down the hall. A sink with a mirror and vanity is located in the room so you can brush your teeth and wash your face.

There are no televisions or radios in the OFI rooms but there are outlets to plug in your phone, though service is spotty throughout Yellowstone NP.

The lodging reservations within the National Park System is available 13 months in advance so you have to be persistent to get rooms in the more popular locations within Yellowstone NP. I was and got all the properties I wanted--MAKE RESERVATIONS months in advance, even for camping, if you are visiting Yellowstone NP during the high season.

Old Faithful Inn dinner reservations are recommended for the best times. Breakfast and Lunch are open-seating.