Yellowstone Family Travel Article
“Here is
Your Country!”
Yellowstone
Park: A Fantastic
Family Travel
Destination
President Theodore Roosevelt was actually standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon when he spoke these words in 1903 but his intent was equally about Yellowstone National Park. Visiting Yellowstone the same year, Roosevelt proclaimed “It is the property of Uncle Sam and therefore of all of us.”
President Roosevelt’s speeches highlighted what he considered the central legacy of Yellowstone. Roosevelt believed the park’s lasting impact would be not the geysers, the forests, or the wild animals themselves but the idea, new in the world, that these treasures belonged to the people. And he believed we the people should make use of this treasure.
According to the National Park Service, 13,727 people visited Yellowstone National Park in 1904, the year after President Roosevelt’s visit. In 2007, a record 3,151,343 people visited the park. Teddy Roosevelt would be proud.
And yet, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom received 16.6 million visits in 2006, according to an estimate by research group Economic Research Associates. More amazingly, those visitors crammed into 25,000 square miles as compared to Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres.
Is there any reason Walt Disney World should be over five times more popular than Yellowstone, especially for families choosing a vacation? As a longtime guide in Yellowstone, I can unequivocally answer: no.
Yellowstone National Park has it all, everything a family would want on vacation. Here are just a few highlights for families, most of them free once you are in the park.
- Hot Springs, Mudpots, and Geysers: With
half the world’s geothermal features, Yellowstone is a natural history
museum in itself. Boardwalk
trails allow visitors to see these geothermal features up close and
personal. Your kids will be impressed by Old Faithful!
- Wildlife: While the grizzly bear and
bison top the list of the park’s wildlife, there is much more to it
than these huge creatures. Buy
a guidebook, print off a list of the park’s mammals from the official
park website, and see how many of the park’s animals your family can
identify during your trip. And that doesn’t even include the
amphibians, birds, and reptiles.
- Visitor Centers: The park has nine
visitor centers and museums, always a good break during the day. Each
center has exhibits and video screenings that will entertain at least
some members of your family!
- Ranger-Led Programs: One of the best bets
in Yellowstone – and in most national parks – are the ranger-led
programs. Yellowstone
offers ranger talks, hikes, and kid-specific activities in seven
separate areas of the park, seven days a week and almost every hour of
the day during the summer. Check
with the visitor centers for the schedule.
- Amphitheater Programs: Families love the
evening-time programs held at outdoor amphitheaters near campgrounds
and visitor centers throughout the park.
Programs range from history talks to campfire songs,
so check with the local visitor center.
- Junior Ranger Program: Kids aged 5-12 can
participate in the Junior Ranger program. For a $3 fee, kids receive a
12-page activity packet. After completing the requirements, kids review
their work with a ranger and receive a Junior Ranger patch. Beware,
kids – if you don’t complete your work, the ranger won’t pass you!
- Hiking, Biking, Fishing, and More: For
active families, the park abounds with outdoor adventures. Take a hike along the rim
of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, ride your bikes through
campground loops at one of the many campgrounds, or bring your fishing
poles and try your luck in the park’s streams and lakes.
The best part, for
both parents and kids, is the fun is intertwined with education. Your
kids will
be learning without knowing it!
I was in
Yellowstone one summer guiding a group of families through the park. As we were walking down a
path after having
viewed a waterfall, a bushy-tailed red fox decided to join us on the
trail. He
walked casually along behind our group, showing no fear, although some
of the
younger kids were nervous being so close to him. We kept hiking as if
the fox
was one of us.
When we approached
a fork in the trail, the fox went one way and we went the other. The
fox looked
back at us briefly as we fiddled with our cameras. One of the boys who
was
originally a little scared of the animal quickly pointed out we were
sharing
the trail with the fox and that this was his home. Normally, this would
be
something I would point out to enhance the learning. In this
case, Yellowstone was doing my job
for me.
Copyright Zephyr Adventures