Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is the crown jewel of the American park system. It is home to steaming hydrothermal features, crystalline lakes, thundering waterfalls, panoramic vistas and a remarkable diversity of animals and birds. What's more, Yellowstone boasts a history of colorful characters. Native Americans, mountain men, fortune seekers and Western Artists have all impacted present-day Yellowstone in one way or another. Visit Old Faithful, the world's best-known geyser. Tour the travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. Hear mud pots plop at Artists Paintpots. Listen to fumaroles hiss at ... Read MoreRoaring Mountain. Learn about thermophiles at Norris Geyser Basin. Find out what substance makes Mud Volcano so distinctive. Get a glimpse of the earth's interior at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Watch wildlife in Lamar and Hayden valleys. Soak in the Boiling River. Float the chute on Firehole River. Ride horseback in Gardners Hole. Go for a boat ride on Yellowstone Lake. Take a self-guided ramble on wooden boardwalk. Hike a rarely traveled backcountry trail. Uncover history at Fort Yellowstone. View paintings by Thomas Moran at the Albright Visitor Center. Partake in a ranger-led program. Earn a junior ranger badge. And if you are visiting in winter, snowshoe and x-country ski in a group or individually. Few places in the world are as wondrous as Yellowstone.
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History & Culture
The history of Yellowstone National Park is first and foremost about geology. Yellowstone Volcano, the centerpiece of the park, is responsible for the area's geothermal activity. Wind, water and ice carved the canyons and valleys via two natural processes called weathering and erosion. And while Yellowstone Caldera continues to lift the land, tectonic uplift caused by the movement of underground plates formed the tall mountain peaks found in Yellowstone National Park.
Maps
Online maps are a great family travel planning resource and great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Have them use online maps of Yellowstone National Park to pinpoint your family travel destination, identify points of interest and plan your itinerary. Ask them to map the mountain ranges, national parks and Native American Reservations in the U.S. state of Wyoming.
Books
Books are a great way to introduce younger children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. Get recommended reading lists for adults and kids and in addition to learning about animals and nature discover the history and culture of Wyoming.
Music & Sound
Wyoming's music scene may not bubble like the mudpots in Yellowstone but it is worth seeking out all the same. Cowboy Ballads, stories in a song, celebrate life on the open range. Native American music, the music of the state's first people, is about vocals and percussion. And while Old-Time Music is most often associated with the Southeast, many a flute, fiddle and guitar found their way westward on the backs of pioneers.
Native American Music
Native Radio Cowboy Song Cowboy Cultural Music Old-Time Music Old Time Music Radio News
Local newspapers provide insight to local culture in a way books can't. Read Wyoming newspapers online and brush up on Wyoming current events from around the state. Get Wyoming news and discover what Wyomingites are reading. Find out what's happening in Yellowstone. Read wildlife news online.
Kids' Stuff
Online resources make learning lots of fun. Get fun facts about Yellowstone National Park. Learn about animals and birds. Discover the geothermal features at Yellowstone - hot springs, mudpots, fumaroles and geysers - and find out how they work. Print out the information you find fascinating and take it with you on your family trip. Explain your findings to your family members and use the things you learn to make your travel scrapbook really cool.
Yellowstone Facts
National Park Service Wildlife Facts and Games Kid's Planet Geothermal Features at Yellowstone National Park Service Organizations
Associations and non-profit organizations can be a valuable resource as well as means to get involved. Find out more about a few of the organizations involved in the conservation and preservation of Yellowstone National Park.
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Recommended Reads for Family Travel to Wyoming