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Yellowstone National Park
We are in the planning stages of our next non Disney/FL vacation and I need some help. We are thinking about Yellowstone and I have been reading up on it alot but of course I have some "issues". I refuse to get on a small plane so I am thinking that the airport in Jackson Hole is out and we will have to fly into Salt Lake City and drive about 5 hours to get to Yellowstone. We had no problem when we flew into Las Vegas and drove the 5 hours to the Grand Canyon. In fact the drive was very easy and didn't really seem like that long.But here are my questions. How is the drive from SLC to Yellowstone? Can you get lost easily or is it pretty much a straight drive? Is SLC the best airport to fly into or am I missing something?
Other non flight questions. Which hotel within the park should we stay at. I know we have to book a year in advance so that's why I'm looking into it now. How many day do we need? We are not big hikers, we don't mind walking but would only take easy trails.
I would love to hear from people who have been to both parks also for your thoughts on how they compare to each other.
Rita (aka NJGIRL)
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My first choice would be Old Faithful Inn, second choice would be Canyon. Check out the "travelyellowstone" site for availability.
It takes at least four days to cover the main sites in Yellowstone, it is a very big park and lots more driving than Grand Canyon.
Take a few short hikes, well worth the effort.
The drive from SLC is easy. You can take I-15 to the town of West Yellowstone, or US189 and 187 through Grand Teton NP. The later choice would be best for the trip up.
If you want to see bears, the best places are around Tower and Larmar Valley towards the NE entrance. Don't forget your binoculars.
Be sure to check out the Yellowstone park official page for things like road closing due to construction.
Wildflowers peak in mid-July.
I consider Yellowstone to be the real world Disney World.
Dave aka: Altair
"Even though they're graceful when swimmin', it's hard to believe sailors thought they were women" - Manatee area, the Living Seas
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We drove from Vegas to the north rim of the Grand Canyon and did not find that to be a terrible drive. There is considerable driving if you're going to see much of either rim of the Grand Canyon, so in that respect Grand Canyon and Yellowstone are similar. The GC is mostly a canyon, while Yellowstone has more diversity.
As for hotels at Yellowstone, we were camping and stayed in a campground at Grand Teton Nat'l Park and drove up to Yellowstone to tour. I think we visited 4 days at Yellowstone.
I agree with Altair as far as Yellowstone being the real Disney World. Yellowstone seems to be more like 4 or 5 national parks in one big package. Because of this, on our last trip to Yellowstone, we chose to visit only 3 of the areas, rather than try to "see" everything in too little time.
The roads in Yellowstone, which kinda sorta form a figure 8, are slow going. Some folks do try to make time, but the point is the scenery and animal sightings. If you hurry along, you'll miss most of what you're there for.
It can easily take over an hour to go from the south entrance to the north entrance.
We visited the Canyon area, and walked down that trail, resting at practically every switchback but the walk is worth it.
We visited the Old Faithful area. Since our grandson was participating in the Junior Ranger program, we spent considerable time here. He had a booklet with activities to complete, one of which was predicting the next eruption of Old Faithful, so that involved some waiting around. We also did a couple of short walks in this area.
We also visited the Mammoth Terrace area, with a walk around the Terraces.
We did not do much in the Norris Geyser Basin, I think it's called, or in the Lake area. Seems there was one other area we didn't spend much time in.
I understand that the folks at Yellowstone would rather you do the windshield touring and keep the back country mostly empty.
As Altair www.nps.gov/yell is a good place to get info.
We visited during the 3rd week of June and experienced overnight temps in the upper 30s. Daytime temps were pleasant - warm enough for a short sleeve shirt, altho you might not want shorts and sandals.
Enjoy!
Jan
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Thanks for all of the info. This is foreign territory for me so any additional help (besides reading for myself) I can get is appreciated.
Keep it coming
Rita (aka NJGIRL)
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I visited in the winter a few years ago. The roads are closed; all transportation was by snow cats -- either big monsters that were like troop transports on treads, or modified vans on treads.
OFI was closed, so I stayed at the OF Snow Lodge. It was a very comfortable modern motel with indoor corridors and good food. It doesn't have the views of OFI, but Old Faithful and the surrounding geyser basin are within easy walking distance.
The first night I stayed in a Snow Lodge cabin, which was roomy but not quite as comfy as the main lodge. I switched after trudging thru knee-deep snow to dinner the first night. Silly me -- I thought they shoveled the paths!
I also spent a couple of nights in a room with bath at the Mammoth Hotel. It was not nearly as up-to-date as the Snow Lodge, but you could really feel the history in this place. I would stay there again without hestitation.
Many years ago (30?) I did stay in the OFI. I think it was called a "rustic" room. It was a small room off the main lobby, made entirely of exposed logs, with something like an army cot and a small sink. Just a sliver of a view of the geyser. Very cool!
joelk,
Disney Transport Driver
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Hi, we went a couple of years ago. Here are the links to my trip report. It was one of our best vacations ever.
http://www.intercot.com/discussion/s...ht=yellowstone
http://www.intercot.com/discussion/s...ht=yellowstone
74 Off Site
98 Contemporary & DCL inaugural cruise
99 Dixie Landings
00 Dixie Landings
01 POR & DCL
02 AKL & DCL
03 VB
04 DL GC
05 ASSp, VWL, GF
06 POFQ, CSR, OKW
07 ASMo & VWL
08 Pop VWL
09 BW, POR, VWL, CSR
10 WL
12 VWL, AKL Club
13 VWL, WL Club
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