Yellowstone National Park

​Out of all the places we’ve traveled, none have been as magical as Yellowstone National Park.
 
We timed our visit perfectly! We visited mid-October and got really lucky. It had snowed just a few weeks before our trip. We were a little worried it would be too cold for us. It wasn’t. The sun was out. We wore jeans and t-shirts and enjoyed every minute of our time in Cody, Wyoming and Yellowstone.  
 
Traveling late in the year meant plenty of access to a typically sold out campground. Hook-ups to power and potable water were turned off for the season. But boondocking at Buffalo Bill State Park was an unforgettable experience. The kids built teepees on the beach with driftwood, and I sipped Sangria by the campfire. I can’t imagine how life could have been better.  We will absolutely be back to this campground again. SOON!!
 
Anyway… Back to Yellowstone.
 
I really wanted to see a bear. It was the number one on my list of things to see since our trip to Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Our last day in the park had just ended, and I still hadn’t found a bear. I was a bit pouty as we drove to the exit, constantly peeking out the window. Hoping. Praying…
 
About a half mile from the park exit, Scott noticed a ton of people gathered on the side of the road. Call it instinct. Luck, maybe. He thought it would be a good idea to stop, just in case there was a bear. Sure enough, a little black dot came barreling down the hill. You had to squint to see him (or her) along the tree line, but I didn’t care how far away he was. I zoomed in as far as my camera could go and took as many pictures as I could.
 
When I got back into the truck, I zoomed in on my photos.  This is what I found…

Woohoo! I finally got to see a bear— cross that off the RV bucket list.  We also saw plenty of buffalo, elk, a variety of bird and a fox. Next on the list? Wolves. I hope to visit the North end of the park where teams are working to protect the viability of the Grey Wolf species. You can learn about their efforts here.

I was so intrigued by exhibits and researching about the wolves. It seemed so magical and exciting. You never know… it might be the inspiration for my next book.
 
Let’s talk about Old Faithful for a moment. Is it cool? Yeah. Am I dying to see it again? No. Honestly, the Steamboat Geyser is way more exciting. We were able to watch it erupt from our spot at Old Faithful. The Mud Volcanos and Sulphur Caldron were super cool, but my favorite geothermal feature was the Dragon’s Mouth Spring.  (Click here to check it out. Turn the sound up!)
 
The sunset over Lake Yellowstone is breathtaking. The pictures above don’t even do the scene justice. It was the type of landscape that stops you in your tracks to reflect on the world.
 
There is beauty all around us, we just have to find it.