Top Kid-friendly Yellowstone Adventures!

My cute and totally on-the-ball SIL is planning a trip to Yellowstone this year, and asked for some ideas of fun things to do/see.  Trying to narrow it down to just a few was like asking me which of my children I love the most....so...here are only a few of the fantastic features Yellowstone has to offer, that we have loved.  I will be happy to go into detailed descriptions in person, of where, how long...etc...

1.  Mesa Falls, on the way TO Yellowstone. It’s a nice break to get out and stretch your legs.  View both the Upper and Lower Falls…different trails/parking lots.  SO COOL! 

2.   Firehole Lake:  if you get there in time to watch the sun set, you can get crazy awesome pictures like this…and play around with the fun silhouette possibilities. MUST DO. Also, White Dome Geyser is next to Firehole Lake and is fairly “regular “ in its activity.  Very fun to watch, because you can stand almost right next to it. Also on this Firehole Lake loop, is the amazing Great Fountain Geyser.  Its eruptions are rare, though we were lucky enough to see it once.  BREATHTAKING.

Firehole Lake, at sunset...

 Firehole Lake Fun...

Great Fountain Geyser.  Spectacular...water shot about 50 feet in the air...

White Dome Geyser...really fun...

3.   All of the Geyser Basins, Lower, Midway, Upper, Norris, Biscuit, etc…they all have their own cool characteristics….I love them all…

Dragon's Mouth, sounds like a dragon in a cave. might be my very favorite "character feature"...found near the Mud Volcano.

Lower Geyser Basin, from a distance...

Grand Prismatic Spring...part of it...

4.   Mystic Falls Hike. About 3 miles round trip. Easy and beautiful hike and falls!

Mystic Falls...

 the kids at the bottom of the falls...

5.  Yellowstone Lake/West Thumb Geyser Basin. Some of the coolest deep pools/vents, right on the beach.  Picnic tables available.  We never managed it, but I think the sunrise on the Lake would be amazing...

little island in Yellowstone Lake...

6.  Tower Falls Hike/Trail. Yes.

Tower Falls

7.  Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. All trails to the Falls. And viewpoints.

8.  Sulphur Cauldron/ Mud Volcano: definitely do!

Sulphur Cauldron

9.   Of course, Old Faithful and surrounding basin.

10.  Scenic Drive, towards Mammoth, then over to the Tower Falls Hike. Long drive, great for napping kids…though Mammoth Springs is dry and desolate now…the drive there is full of vistas and wildlife…Sheepeater’s Cliff is a great picnic place…

Sheepeater's Cliff

Scenic view on drive from Mammoth to Tower Falls/Grand Canyon of the YS

11.   Tetons on the way home…Jenny Lake a must. And a view from the Main Lodge.