Big Vaca with a Big Family

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

I think I finally got it fixed!  More to come. 

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

Any our drive to our campsite.  As I said before, we entered through the East Entrance.  And we camped at Fishing Bridge.  It is the only campsite in Yellowstone with full hookup and boy was that the right decision.  

 

Beautiful Yellowstone Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

Wow... okay, all caught up! :)

Love all the pictures.  How were the roads into the campground at Yellowstone?  I've read that some of the roads can be very tough to navigate when towing a camper.  

I'm appreciating this TR as I'm looking to drive out West (GA to WA) with my kiddos in June.  In order to save vacation time, my husband will fly out and drive back with us, at which point we may do Yellowstone as I really want to visit Glacier National on my way out.  

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

On ‎10‎/‎28‎/‎2016 at 9:13 AM, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

Neither can I, what am I doing wrong?

The written part is very informative, thanks.

Thanks for the fix.  I went back and now can see all your photos.  So pretty.  What a great big open sky out there.

Again, thank you!

[caveat lector 181]

Pics are working for me.....and they are GREAT.  Wyo chamber of Commerce should hire you.

Bison are cool. 'nuff  said

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I'm glad you got the photos fixed!

Keep them coming!

TCD

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

8 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

Wow... okay, all caught up! :)

Love all the pictures.  How were the roads into the campground at Yellowstone?  I've read that some of the roads can be very tough to navigate when towing a camper.  

I'm appreciating this TR as I'm looking to drive out West (GA to WA) with my kiddos in June.  In order to save vacation time, my husband will fly out and drive back with us, at which point we may do Yellowstone as I really want to visit Glacier National on my way out.  

The roads into Yellowstone are fine.  But there is a road called Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone and there is no way I'd take a camper on it.  But there is another route.  There's campers everywhere.  And TONS of them driven by people who have never driven one in their lives (they rent them after flying there).  So if they can do it, you can do it. 

7 hours ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

Thanks for the fix.  I went back and now can see all your photos.  So pretty.  What a great big open sky out there.

Again, thank you!

It is amazing! 

7 hours ago, caveat lector said:

Pics are working for me.....and they are GREAT.  Wyo chamber of Commerce should hire you.

Bison are cool. 'nuff  said

Thanks!!  

6 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I'm glad you got the photos fixed!

Keep them coming!

TCD

Hopefully I will! 

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

When we left off we had gotten parked and settled at Fishing Bridge Campground.  A lot of people move from camp sight to camp sight as they go to different parts of the park.  With such young kids staying at one the whole time worked better.  But the move around method might work too.  We really enjoyed Fishing Bridge.  We thought it was beautiful.  So cozy and tucked right in the trees.  We have no complaints at all.  We left a day earlier than we thought (I'll explain later) and the refunded us that day, which we did not expect.  Everyone was super nice!  Can't wait to camp their again one day.

So on to Monday.  We had a busy day planned and were very excited!  First off was a fishing charter on Yellowstone Lake.  We left from Bridge Bay Marina, which is very close to Fishing Bridge.  We did a two hour trip and it was $200.  That was boat, guide, fishing stuff, for all 5 of us.  We thought it was a good price.  No we did not catch a thing, but we learned so much on this trip.  The guide was wonderful.  Never got frazzled with the kids and explained everything.  Would I do it again? No   Am I glad we did it?  YES 

Here we go!  First lets talk Yellowstone Lake.  It is 22 x 16 miles.  (please don't quote me on this stuff.) And like maybe 200 foot deep.  It is gigantic.  Like being in the ocean.  There are 2 kids of fish only.  Lake trout and cutthroat trout.  You can not use real bait of any kind.  Only lures.  You can put your own boat in the water but it has to be thoroughly inspected.  Skiing and such are not allowed.  Yellowstone Lake completely freezes in the winter.  In fact I have a friend that worked there one summer and arrived in May.  He was shocked in June when it started melting because he had no clue there was a lake there.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow on the mountain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

I love the photos of your boys, especially how loving they are with each other.  No doubt they have their moments....

Good price for the boat trip, was it just your family on it that day?

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

8 minutes ago, fladogfan aka Gretchen said:

I love the photos of your boys, especially how loving they are with each other.  No doubt they have their moments....

Good price for the boat trip, was it just your family on it that day?

Thanks.  They do love each other very much.  

We thought it was a good price.  From what I understand they only do 1 party per boat and from one person to 5 is all the same.  $100 per hour

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

2 minutes ago, fowlandfishmommy said:

Thanks.  They do love each other very much.  

We thought it was a good price.  From what I understand they only do 1 party per boat and from one person to 5 is all the same.  $100 per hour

That's nice, each group gets special attention that way.

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

After our fishing trip we had our lunch packed in the car (FYI I do not premake sandwiches we pack all the stuff and make them there its easier).  We headed towards our next destination.  I had read that doing a guided tour early in your trip is the best thing to do.  They explain so many things to you and its just a fun way to learn more about the park.  So we had a sunset tour of the Lamar Valley planned.  The tour left from Mammoth Hotel on the other side of the park.  About 2 hours away from Fishing Bridge.  We planned on stoping on the way to see a few things.  

This will help you get your bearings.  We were heading from Bridge Bay up to the Canyon area and then to Tower Fall eventually to the Mammoth area.  Remember all the little areas are like their own little town.  Most have hotels and restaurants and gas stations.  

 

There are even mechanic shops should you need one.  

First up after leaving Bridge Bay Marina - LUNCH!

Then some playing time by the river.

Then we were on our way.  This bison would not stay out of the rode.  The rangers tried and tried to get him to get off the road.  I think he had traffic blocked for a while. 

Next up we drove through the Hayden Valley.  Yellowstone has a very popular valley for viewing wildlife called the Lamar Valley but we saw way more in the Hayden Valley.  I think it was because of a wildfire near Lamar.

See that steam!

On up through the Dunraven Pass.  I don't have many pictures because I was completely freaking out.  I had my eyes covered 80% of the time.  It was so scary.  

And then we arrived at Tower Fall.  It was beautiful.  When you are leaving it, you drive past the TOP of it with the bottom right there beside you!  

Next time we'll arrive to the Mammoth area. 

 

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Your pictures are awesome.  That drive to Mammoth brings back good memories.  When INC and I went there 22 years ago (yikes), we tent camped at Canyon.  Looks like you drove past there.  I'd love to get back someday.  Hopefully before it blows its top.  LOL.  

[Beckers 1,136]

Wow!!! The pics are awesome!!! 

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

Beautiful pictures!   The lake completely freezes over... wow!!   That's insane!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

15 hours ago, fowlandfishmommy said:

The tour left from Mammoth Hotel on the other side of the park.  About 2 hours away from Fishing Bridge. 

 

 

Is that two hours a typo?  Or does it take that long to drive because of the winding roads and bison?

I don't know much about Yellowstone beyond Old Faithful, so I'm already learning a lot from your report. Like about the size of Lake Yellowstone.  I had no idea!

TCD

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

14 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

Your pictures are awesome.  That drive to Mammoth brings back good memories.  When INC and I went there 22 years ago (yikes), we tent camped at Canyon.  Looks like you drove past there.  I'd love to get back someday.  Hopefully before it blows its top.  LOL.  

Thanks.  We want to go back with F2 is 10 or so.  We loved it!

14 hours ago, Beckers said:

Wow!!! The pics are awesome!!! 

Thanks!

2 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

Beautiful pictures!   The lake completely freezes over... wow!!   That's insane!

I know we couldn't believe it.  

8 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

Is that two hours a typo?  Or does it take that long to drive because of the winding roads and bison?

I don't know much about Yellowstone beyond Old Faithful, so I'm already learning a lot from your report. Like about the size of Lake Yellowstone.  I had no idea!

TCD

If you google map it, it is about 1 hr and 30min.  But 2 hours is a good guess.  Sometimes there is a lot of traffic and animals do block the road.  It took us way longer because we stopped at tower fall.  Yellowstone is HUGE. We were there from Monday to Friday and we still didn't see parts of it.  The roads are windy but its just huge.  Also there is construction usually.  The time when the park is open (May - September) is really the only times they can do work because of snow.  

[DaveInTN 3,247]

4 of the 5 Great Lakes freeze completely over in a typical winter, and those lakes are massive. I grew up on the shore of Lake Erie and we prayed for the lake to freeze over as that would finally shut off the lake effect snow machine.

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[Seals 111]

I'm really loving your report of a place I've never been but hope to go some day. I remember how much I enjoyed your report on your trip to China also. It's sweet to see your boys having so much fun together. 

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

2 hours ago, fowlandfishmommy said:

If you google map it, it is about 1 hr and 30min.  But 2 hours is a good guess.  Sometimes there is a lot of traffic and animals do block the road.  It took us way longer because we stopped at tower fall.  Yellowstone is HUGE. We were there from Monday to Friday and we still didn't see parts of it.  The roads are windy but its just huge.  Also there is construction usually.  The time when the park is open (May - September) is really the only times they can do work because of snow.  

Wow... good to know.  If we hit Yellowstone on the way back, we'll have to budget that into our time.  We will probably no more than two days there.. so we will obviously not get to see much at all.

47 minutes ago, DaveInTN said:

4 of the 5 Great Lakes freeze completely over in a typical winter, and those lakes are massive. I grew up on the shore of Lake Erie and we prayed for the lake to freeze over as that would finally shut off the lake effect snow machine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

I find that amazing... and cold!!

[dblr....Rennie 224]

Great report, we toured Yellowstone years ago on snowmobiles, we covered 90 miles and was a great trip, have to get back in the summer some time to see it.

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

22 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

4 of the 5 Great Lakes freeze completely over in a typical winter, and those lakes are massive. I grew up on the shore of Lake Erie and we prayed for the lake to freeze over as that would finally shut off the lake effect snow machine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

That blows the mind of an Alabama girl.  

22 hours ago, Seals said:

I'm really loving your report of a place I've never been but hope to go some day. I remember how much I enjoyed your report on your trip to China also. It's sweet to see your boys having so much fun together. 

Thank you! If you'd have told us we'd be doing this trip after F3 was home 18 months, I'd have said you were crazy!  

21 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

Wow... good to know.  If we hit Yellowstone on the way back, we'll have to budget that into our time.  We will probably no more than two days there.. so we will obviously not get to see much at all.

I find that amazing... and cold!!

I'd try to do Old Faithful area and Mammoth area if you only have 2 days.  

4 hours ago, dblr....Rennie said:

Great report, we toured Yellowstone years ago on snowmobiles, we covered 90 miles and was a great trip, have to get back in the summer some time to see it.

We would love to see it with snow, but I only have a small windbreaker so we'd have to buy lots of gear.  

[fowlandfishmommy 10]

And we arrive in the Mammoth area of Yellowstone.  If you look on the map it is the northern most "area" or "town" in Yellowstone.  Mammoth is a very cool area.  First of all it is the only part of the park that stays open all year.  If you want to go in the winter you can fly into Montana, take a shuttle to some location, and then Yellowstone comes to get you in their Snowcoach.  Google Yellowstone snowcoach.  They are awesome.  Anyway, Mammoth also has Hot Springs.  They look like you are walking around on Mars.  Almost all of Yellowstones trails (the most popular ones) are pretty easy.  These are a tiny bit more strenuous.  But just because it is quite hilly.  Mammoth has a little town where workers can live with their families.  The whole area is grassy and beautiful.  So different from other parts of Yellowstone.  They even have a family of elks that live right there.  They love the beautiful green sod and they lay out by the hot springs to stay warm.  They were just out in the yard by the hotel.  Not phased at all by all the people.  Here are pictures from the Mammoth area.  

We saw an elk as soon as we arrived.  

Hiking to the top.  

I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but Yellowstone is not safe for a kid younger than probably 4 to just walk around.  There are some handrails but they are not built in a way to keep a child from jumping in the hot springs.  If you are taking a young child I highly suggest a backpack carrier, an Ergo, or something like we had.  We bought the Saddle Baby.  Its basically a set that goes on your shoulders and it straps their feet in so they can't fall off.  F3 LOVED it and it worked great for us.  We got tons of complements on it.  We saw a few people with strollers.  I do not suggest that.  FYI I love this about Yellowstone.  This is the attitude.  "Hey this is nature, you're own your own" (safety wise) Ha!!

An elk enjoying the springs.  

 

Next up, our Twilight Tour!  

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Great pics of Mammoth!  I loved that area.  Did you get to the Boiling River?  Probably not an easy place to visit with kids...but I enjoyed soaking in the river.  

Here I am in the Boiling River....in 1994.  Wow, I feel old.  

 

[djsamuel 322]

Wow. These pictures are great.  We've been planning on returning to the area.  the last time we stayed at the Old Faithful Inn.  We are intending on taking the camper into the Grand Tetons and concentrating more on hiking there; but your pictures have me wanting to get back into Yellowstone more.  Thanks for posting these.