Yellowstone Shortcuts, Tips, and Hidden Treasures
Time It Right
If you can swing a trip in early May or September, it's well worth it. The air is cooler, and because there are few crowds, you'll have a better shot of spotting wildlife than you would in the peak summer months.
See Old Faithful in a New WayHead to the top of Geyser Hill or to one of the Old Faithful Inn's patios in the early morning for an unobstructed view of the famous geyser, which blows every 74 minutes on average. Equally fascinating to kids are the nearby "paint pots," puddles of mud that gurgle from the volcanic heat.
Become a RangerKids earn their very own badges when they participate in the National Park Service's Junior Ranger Program, which teaches children ages 5 to 12 about conservation as well as the geology of the park.
Follow the LeaderFor outdoor-adventure newbies, the Flying Pig Adventure Company offers low-key rafting expeditions down the Yellowstone River, and Matson Rogers' Angler's West Flyfishing Outfitters teaches kids 10 and up how to cast.
Cool OffSweeten a day of hiking with a trip to Moosebury's Ice Cream & Eatery, in West Yellowstone (406-646-9776). The homemade huckleberry-cheesecake ice cream has a devoted following.
Bask in the SunTake an afternoon break in the sunroom at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and enjoy a sparkling view of the park's largest lake as a string quartet plays in the background.
Pony UpSpend a day at the Chico Hot Springs Resort & Day Spa, about 30 miles north of Yellowstone, where cowboys and -girls 7 and up can go for a trail ride, then splash in the springs.
Ride a DinosaurOn your way out of town, stop by the roadside brontosaurus in Emigrant, Montana (population: 372), 30 miles north of Yellowstone.
—Reporting by Maggie McGuane
