Exploring the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone: navigating Upper and Lower Falls

During a time when many vacations are not possible, outdoor activities in road trip-accessible locations offer the ability to safely social distance. Hotels.com asked me to share my favorite activities and tips for exploring Yellowstone, so start here as you plan a safe and responsible vacation. Located a full 50 miles away from the central hub (and congestion) of Yellowstone National Park's Old … [Read more...]

Junior Rangers: One of the Best Kept Secrets of National Parks!

In honor of this weekend's free admission to National Parks, Pit Stops for Kids would like to remind readers about one of the best programs the National Park system offers: Junior Rangers! It's easy to sign up, it's (usually) free, and it's an excellent way to learn about aspects of the park you might otherwise miss. Signing up is simple: you can find Junior Ranger booklets at nearly any park's … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 11): Yellowstone National Park

Day 11, we drove the short distance on Hwy 191 from Big Sky Resort to Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone crowds swarm the Old Faithful hub of this massive park, so after entering at the West Entrance, we drove north from the Madison hub to Artists' Paintpots, then back-tracked to Firehole River for a wonderful swimming hole. At Artists' Paintpots, you'll find a well-maintained loop trail … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day Keeps the “Are We There Yets” Away

Or at least, that's my hope as my family and I embark upon a 22-day road trip, touring four national parks, six family-friendly resorts, eight states, and a partridge in a pear tree. Well, maybe not that last one (which means it's sure to show up on auto bingo, right?). Where are we going? Glacier National Park Yellowstone National Park Grand Teton National Park Zion National Park with … [Read more...]