Family Vacation at Yellowstone National Park

A family vacation to Yellowstone National Park is fun and attractive destination for many people, especially families. It became a national park in 1872 that consisted of over 3,400 square miles with many geysers, hot springs, wildlife, rivers, lakes and other attractions. The park is actually situated in three different states that include Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Visitors can do many things following the rules of the park like wildlife watching, fishing, sightseeing, camping, skiing and other activities.

Here are some tips to consider when planning a family vacation to Yellowstone National Park:

1. Begin by visiting the website of Yellowstone National Park. This site has a vast amount of information about park wildlife, current issues to trip planning and information on making reservations in the park's campgrounds or other lodging. Involve the family in the planning stages through the online field trips and education resources available.
2. Yellowstone is 3.2 million acres big and it is best to select a home base, otherwise without careful planning you could spend most of your trip in the car. Select one or maybe two locations and plan to spend a few days in one area. The lodging in the park fills up first, but if you are looking for the best values you will want to consider the neighboring communities. Shop around and make sure you understand your lodging choices and especially where they are located.
3. Build plenty of time into your schedule. Nothing is more discouraging than having to try to do or see to much in too littler time. It takes time to maneuver around the park since the roads are narrow and mountainous and the average speed is usually around 30 mph.
4. Don't try to see everything. Yellowstone National Park is extremely large so you will want to try to get a little of everything that you are interested in and maybe a few things you are not. It is a good idea to keep a family trip log of what you have seen.
5. Plan to attend at least one ranger program during your visit to the park. Programs vary and are designed for families. Evening programs are offered at most of the campgrounds and developed areas.
6. Don't depend on cell phones or other technology. Many cell phones don't work with limited coverage and internet access is very hard to come by.

AND, Don't forget to have fun!