Yellowstone

We recently returned from a very enjoyable vacation to Yellowstone with the Welch and Broberg families. We drove Harvey up and stayed at the Mack's Inn RV park while the Welch's and Broberg's rented a cabin at the resort. Along the way we stopped for a nice lunch at Perkins in Idaho Falls for my obligatory pancake pancakes. No One does them better than Perkins!

We stopped in Rexburg to rent a car. Even though Enterprise did not have a car for us (that we had reserved months ahead of time) they did arrange for a car for us. It made life much easier to drive the car into the park than it would have been to drive in the RV (and find parking).

The older kids rode up with us, enjoying the portable DVD player, on-board fridge, and the extra space. Here they are all strapped in and ready to go.

Jack cooked that evening's meal: hot dogs and hamburgers on our new grill. That, along with the potato salad, corn on the cob and baked beans made for a delicious dinner.

Tyler, Abby and Charlie enjoy their evening meal at the RV park....

While Mark is not enjoying much of anything at the moment.

It was fun to build a fire and gather around.


Saturday was a full day at Yellowstone Park. It's full of great scenes like National Park Peak at Madison Junction.

Firehole River is a fun spot. And once the kids saw the swimming hole, we never heard the last of it!

The thermal features are always amazing. It's hard to be bored by the variety and colors of nature.

Thermal pools are heated as a result of being in the bottom of the volcanic caldera.

Great colors. But don't touch! HOT!

More wonderful colors. Too bad we couldn't describe the smell of rotten eggs (sulfur).

Vast areas formed from the thermal features.

We wonder if the trees really did grow at one time or were burned from the fires a few years ago.

Thermal features dominate this valley.

Then there is Old faithful and the great show it puts on. Parking was a pain, but we did find some (eventually).


Yellowstone Lake is a great sight.


Fishing bridge. Near here is the park's only RV park with full hookups. I was not very impressed, so I am thinking West Yellowstone or even the park campgrounds may be better choices.

We didn't see the herds of buffalo we have in the past, but it was fun to see this fellow wander down the road, stopping traffic.

The beautiful valleys between old Faithful and Canyon always inspire me.

The river up from the falls of Canyon are beautiful.

As are the large elk.

Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Canyon of the Yellowstone falls.

Mark and I at an observation point at the Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Tyler and Charlie.

Reed showing off.

Mark ready to jump into Dad's arms.

Wolves at the museum in West Yellowstone.

Bears on the prowl for the food planted by the Kids Club members. Here they overturn rocks and logs looking for the hidden food.

The kids hanging out in a bear den.

Finally, a chance to swim at Firehole River. They had a great time!

Even Jack and Jeannie got into the act.

Seagulls hanging out and waiting for food at Big Springs, just up the road from Mack's Inn.

Big Springs. Great place, very peaceful. 52 degree water throughout the year.

Harvey enjoyed Mack's Inn Resort and RV Park.

Now the kids are ready to head home. Traveling in Harvey is pretty nice!