Yellowstone National Park is a popular spot and with good reason: this is is one of the most beautiful and unique places on the planet. To highlight just a few reasons:
Wildlife: People love to see the animals in the Park: bison and elk for sure, and perhaps also bear and moose and wolves.
Scenery: visitors find many places to hike, including The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone area, with spectacular waterfalls.
Geothermal features: the Old Faithful geyser is just the start; you'll find mudpots, hotsprings, and unique terraces of amazing beauty.
In fact, there's so much to experience at Yellowstone that every trip is an education. And what better way to learn than with your own naturalist?
Yellowstone Association: Lodging and Learning Programs
Family travelers who want to visit Yellowstone have a wonderful option: the Lodging and Learning programs offered by the Yellowstone Association Institute especially for families. The programs provide lodging, some meals, and "learning" about the Park with a naturalist. Both summer and winter itineraries are offered.
These programs provide many of the features of the upscale Family Adventure vacations offered by adventure tour companies-- but at a much lower price point. (Sample prices, $615 per adult (double occupancy), $425 for a child age 8 to 12, for 5-day programs-- check web site for updates).
Sample Yellowstone in Summer program:
Yellowstone for Families at Mammoth is a 4-day program, picked by Family Fun Magazine as "Best Summer Family Camp in America". Minimum age for a child is eight.
- With an Institute naturalist guide, families "explore canyons, waterfalls, and geyser basins, and enjoy activities together including animal tracking, wildlife watching, photography, painting, and hiking."
- Kids can complete the requirements to become Yellowstone National Park Junior Rangers. (Kids enjoy this, and the "requirements" are fun and easily do-able -- Junior Ranger programs are a great feature of the National Parks system.)
- Program includes four nights' accommodations at the historic Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel; some meals, as well.
Families with kids older than 12 can explore the Trails Through Yellowstone program: four days of hiking and wildlife viewing, led by an Institute naturalist guide; lodging and some meals included; optional evening programs, too.
Check out a sample Yellowstone in Winter Lodging and Learning program, too.
Read about Yellowstone National Park, and see photos.
*Photo © Teresa Plowright.
