|
|
Traveling with Kids
|
| Day 1 |
Start off your vacation with an all-inclusive day of activities – Montana Whitewater Raft Company’s Paddle and Saddle Yellowstone Trip. Begin your day at the Slip and Slide Ranch. Meet your guide and explore the high country of Montana from the back of a horse. Have homemade burgers with all the fixings back at the ranch. Continue into Gardiner and check in for an afternoon raft trip. The Yellowstone River has one of the best family stretches of whitewater in the area! After a big day, sit down at Outlaws Pizza in Gardiner for dinner. Stay at one of Gardiner’s convenient hotels or cabins or drive 15 minutes to Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Cabins (reservations required). |
| Day 2 |
Pack a lunch for the day (or plan on eating at the Terrace Grill at Mammoth) and drive up to Mammoth Hot Springs, located 5 miles inside the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Make you first stop the Albright Visitor Center to find out about the Junior Ranger Program. This will give your kids a fun goal to accomplish while visiting the park! Spend some time exploring the boardwalks around the 2nd largest hot spring terrace in the world. Pick up a trail map at the visitor center if you want to get off the boardwalks. There are many hikes in the Mammoth area that can be as long or short as you like. If you’re not sure about using “backcountry” trails, ask about Ranger-led family hikes when you’re at the visitor center. Enjoy the lunch of your choice, either at the Grill or grab a picnic table and sit outside. Spend part of the afternoon driving out to Tower/Roosevelt, looking for wildlife along the way (don’t forget the binoculars!). Stop at the Tower General Store and take a short walk to the falls overlook, maybe grab an ice cream, or continue on to Lamar Valley for more wildlife viewing potential. Head back to Mammoth or Gardiner for the night. If your group isn’t too tired, you’ll want to attend the Ranger-led Evening Program at the Mammoth Campground. A slide show and campfire is a great way to finish off a day in Yellowstone! Check for times in your park newspaper. |
| Day 3 |
Drive south to Norris Geyser Basin. This a great place to stretch your legs and do some walking. After seeing all you want at Norris, drive east to Canyon Village. Eat lunch at Canyon Village Cafeteria or Deli. Stop in at the newest interactive visitor center in the park. Make stops around the area to view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River (higher up on the same river you rafted 2 days ago!). Pick up the latest trail information while you’re at the Visitor Center if your group likes to earn the views. Stay in West Yellowstone for the night.
|
| Day 4 |
Lunch options: Bear Paw Deli at Old Faithful Inn or picnic lunch. Drive from West Yellowstone to Madison Junction and turn right. Take the Firehole Canyon Drive to get off the main road and check out a hotsprings fed river. If your group likes geyser basins, stop at Midway to walk around Grand Prismatic Spring. Make your way to Old Faithful to see the eruption of a classic geyser! Continue driving south around the lower loop toward Yellowstone Lake. Walk around West Thumb Geyser Basin right on the shore of the lake. Return to West Yellowstone for dinner and an IMAX movie.
|
|
|
Hotspring Special
|
| Day 1 |
If you have a full day to explore, consider booking a fly-fishing trip, taking a walk on a trail in Paradise Valley, or spending a day in Yellowstone Park. Stay at Chico Hot Springs Resort (or at a B&B in Paradise Valley) for your first night in the area. Make reservations for an exceptional dinner and wine at the Chico Dining Room - soak before, after, or both to fully prepare for your hotspring tour! |
| Day 2 |
Drive south on Highway 89 to Gardiner. Meet at Montana Whitewater Raft Company for a Full-day or Half-day raft trip on the Yellowstone River. If you choose the Half-day rafting option, you might want to fill in the rest of your day with a walk around the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces (Located 5 miles from Gardiner). Relax your tired paddling or hiking muscles at the Boiling River, just 2.5 miles inside the North Entrance of Yellowstone Park. You'll want your water shoes/sandals and a towel for this one. It's about 1/3 of a mile walk out to the hotsprings area. Return to Gardiner for dinner at the Raven Grill, located on the patio of the Two Bit Saloon. Gardiner is a small town, you'll drive by the Raven Grill on your way into or out of Yellowstone Park. |
| Day 3 |
Head into the park today for a tour of the hotspring and geyser basins. First stop is Norris Geyser Basin. Most of the sites here require some walking to get to, but are worth the effort. There are other more easily accessible sightseeing options as you travel south to Old Faithful. Get out and walk if you like, or make some stops to simply enjoy the sights. Midway Geyser Basin is a beautiful one, as well as many of the others in the area. If you find the time, make your way to West Thumb Geyser basin right on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. Although you are not allowed to soak in any of the pools you see today, you will want to bring a camera and prepare to be amazed at all the different features hot water can create in the wild! Stay in West Yellowstone for the night. |
| Day 4 |
Drive north on Highway 191. Enjoy a second day of rafting on the Gallatin River. You'll get 10% off if you take a second trip with Montana Whitewater! Enjoy a new river, different scenery, and a step up in paddling challenge. Another option is to tour the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center to see and hear the fascinating story of a major earthquake that happened in 1959. Take a left on Highway 287 to get to the Visitor Center. Proceed north on highway 191 ater either stop and swing into Bozeman HotSprings for another great soak. Enjoy the sauna, steam room, and pools of varying temperatures. Stop for dinner at one of the many great restaurants in the area. Stay in Bozeman for the night. |
| Day 5 |
If you have another day to play, you have many options in the Bozeman area. Go fly-fishing, visit the Museum of the Rockies, do some shopping in Downtown Bozeman, or check out a local trail. To top off your tour of area hotsprings, soak at Norris Hot Springs. The wood sided pool and live bluegrass music has a unique Montana feel! End your trip with a classy dinner at John Bozeman's Bistro in Downtown Bozeman, or get some local flavor at La Parilla (locals favorite wrap shop in town). |
|
|
|
