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.

Grand Teton National Park with the Carful of Kids

Sitting by the fire in Roosevelt Lodge in YNP, the kids love the rustic feel.

The carful of kids explored the Upper Rocky Mountains for nearly a month on a road trip that started in Central Texas and meandered to Jasper National Park and back. After spending five glorious days exploring Yellowstone National Park, we have to move on.

The carful of kids wake up in our Rough Rider Cabin in Roosevelt Lodge after a quintessential Old West Cookout in Pleasant Valley. If you have kids, I highly recommend this activity and staying in the cabins at Roosevelt. It's an authentic experience that  you and your kids will remember fondly.

We are headed to the Old West Cookout in covered wagons through Pleasant Valley. My favorite excursion in YNP.

The whole reason to make the trek to Yellowstone NP is to reconnect with the natural world and this will get you close. Did I tell you the carful of kids found a small, mule deer that they followed around the cabins? The boys loved it. My daughter found a wild raspberry bush along the banks of the mountain brook next to our cabin. It’s idyllic for the whole family and a great way to discover and explore.

We are headed to Grand Teton National Park, just 40 miles down the road from Grant Village Junction at the South Entrance of Yellowstone NP. Before loading up the SUV, we walk over to the Roosevelt Lodge for a hearty breakfast, this is a great option for families.

This is the view from our table inside the Roosevelt Lodge, you can see why this area is a favorite to visitors.

The Roosevelt Lodge is a log cabin, built in 1920, that evokes the spirit of the Old West. Along with the Old Faithful Inn, I found it to be another great option for families. It has that authentic feeling that I crave in a property. You just can’t replicate the way a 90-year old building feels.

The first thing you see as you walk up to the Roosvelt Lodge is the row of rocking chairs lining the front porch. I take a minute to sit a spell and write in my travel journal--I'm in Heaven.

Breakfast at Roosevelt Lodge, wanna share?

Inside, you will find the Roosevelt Lodge's restaurant with a western theme and a kids menu that satisfies my carful of kids. I order a western skillet that is more than enough for most people.

The carful of kids have sampled our way across the dining rooms of Yellowstone and found the service and food above my expectations for concessionaires. I usually cookout in parks but in Yellowstone, it's not that easy. Most of the lodging properties in Yellowstone forbid cooking near cabins, except Roosevelt Lodge so if you want to cookout at the cabin you can.

I really hate to say goodbye to Yellowstone, I wish it was closer so I could visit it more often. Once a decade is just not enough.

It's a short drive in-between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks but first we have to get out of Yellowstone since we are at the northeast corner of the park. With seasonal road construction and slow-moving traffic, this can take some time--like hours to drive the nearly 80 miles to exit Yellowstone. Pack your patience, like you would pack your snacks.

Hayden Valley is a must-stop for wildlife in YNP, the Yellowstone River runs through it.

Though at times slow-moving, we do get another opportunity to drive through the wildlife-rich Hayden Valley, one of the places you might find grizzlies or wolves. Then onto the Fishing Bridge Junction, where we hit seasonal road construction.

Once outside the boundaries of Yellowstone, we drive through John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. There is a visitors center and you can stamp your National Parks Passport Book here. The Park Rangers here are a wealth of knowlegdge for this area, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks combined, so stop if you have the time.

Grand Teton National Park has a different feel than Yellowstone so if this is your first trip to the area don’t assume the parks look the same. Grand Teton NP features the mountains as a backdrop and is more majestic than Yellowstone, which is rich in geothermal features and wildlife.

The view of Grand Teton is the reason to visit this park.

At the base of the Grand Tetons are--Jackson Lake, Leigh Lake and Jenny Lake, all of which reflect the mountains giving you that wow moment when you see them. There are several lodges that dot the park along the main route, Teton Park Road.

The carful of kids want to do a little exploring before heading to the cabin for the night so we drive over to Jackson Lake Lodge, built in the 1950s. This lodge is the hub for Jackson Lake and features some incredible views from the lobby so be sure to check it out.

Inside the main lobby of the Jackson Lake Lodge, the view is amazing so be sure to walk through.

The carful of kids walk around and find the giant, standing grizzly bear next to a sign announcing a Ranger Talk about grizzlies later. They beg to go, they love the idea of grizzly bears, just not encountering a grizzly bear.

He is running from the Grizzly, he will outrun it because he's 7. You will not. 

The Jackson Lake Lodge and Cottages are a popular choice for families since it has a pool and a playground, which you don't find in most of the national park lodgings. There are several restaurants in the lodge as well; the carful of kids are hungry so we duck into the most family-friendly one.

The Pioneer Grill's claim to fame is the longest continuously running counter in the world. They feature a kids menu full of kid-pleasers and a not-to-be-missed dessert.

The Teton Treat, a crowd pleaser for the carful of kids.

After a satisfying dinner, the carful of kids head to the Ranger Talk about Grizzlies and I sneak a little alone time in the lobby with my travel journal and a drink. The fire is going and the view is to die for.

The Grizzly Ranger Talk is a hit with the carful of kids and I recommend the Ranger Talks throughout the NPS. My carful of kids really seem to engage in the presentations and the activity counts for the requirement for the Junior Ranger Badge Booklet.

I made reservations at a camping cabin in the Colter Bay Village at the northern end of Jackson Lake so the carful of kids head back.  There is a campground, a separate RV park, one and two bedroom cabins and camping cabins ( think tents ). You will also find a grocery store, gas station, two restaurants, pay showers and a launderette, along with a marina and corral. This area can get congested at times.

The outside of our camping cabin at Colter Bay Village.

The term camping cabin is a little misleading, I would call this a tent. It has two log walls and two canvas walls, inside you will find a pot-belly stove and four single bunks. There are NO electrical outlets to use.

The outside includes a picnic table, a fire pit and a bear box. You will be required to keep a bare campsite to keep the foragers away.

While the carful of kids love this property, I have my reservations.

First, the bedding looks ancient, guessing by the harvest gold colored cover--I might have slept on it when I was a kid. So out comes the Clorox wipes to wipe them down and I'm not a germaphobe.

Second, the bunks don't have built-in railings. Yes, they have some at check-in but they have seen better days and for little kids. I make the boys sleep on the bottom bunks so they don't roll out in the night.

Outside the camping cabin, sometimes the carful of kids climb on things.

Third, the daily rate doesn't include a bathroom. Yes, there is a restroom without showers within walking distance and it's adequate. But for a hot shower, I have to go to the Colter Bay Village for a pay shower ( $ 4.25 a person, that adds up with a family of five ) and that facility has not been updated since I visited in 1999. I remember it.

The takeaway for Moms, I don't recommend Colter Bay Camping Cabins and I won't stay here again. Sorry Grand Teton NP, I love you and your scenery but I am unimpressed by this property. Again, the kids loved it, other parks just do this better like Parks Canada.

Overall, I am usually impressed with the quality of the lodgings within the NPS, this has been the exception.

Up Next: Another day in Grand Teton, with an excursion at Jenny Lake.

Know before you go:

Grand Teton National Park is open 7-days a week, 24-hours a day, seasonal road closures during the winter. The admission is $ 30 for a 7-day pass or you can use an America the Beautiful annual pass ( $ 80 ). The lodging in Grand Teton National Park is reservable up to 16-months in advance. I advise making reservations as far in advance as possible.

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

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.