8 Things on Our Yellowstone Bucket List

1. Lamar Valley: Also known as the Serengeti of North America

I remember going to Yellowstone when I was 9 or 10, getting caught in a bison traffic jam and wondering if we'd ever get out. Fast forward 20+ years with Aaron and I driving almost 8 hours before our first bison sighting. As a side note, I finally looked up the difference between a buffalo and a bison (if you're wondering bison have larger heads as well as humps on their shoulders) and I'm sorry to say I'd been misnomering them for the duration of our trip. Apologies. We saw our first bison this trip on the side of the road in Hayden Valley. On our second day Aaron and I ventured further out and found that Lamar Valley was the perfect place for spotting bison. Lamar Valley is a bit of a drive from the West entrance but there are fields of bison. A dream. Lamar is also my namesake, so we had to. We did learn that someone was recently charged by a bison while they were hiking, so definitely stay in your car and proceed with caution.

2. Old Faithful

We came to Yellowstone for a family reunion and nothing made my heart happier than our group of 30 cheering like we were at the Super Bowl for nature being nature. Cheerleading for geysers and any other naturally occurring phenomena is a practice I'd like to continue. Sunny even expressed her admiration by waking up from her nap mid eruption.

3. The Mud Volcano

Mud shooting out the side of a rock? Yes please! There was also a bison happily sitting at the base of the mud volcano. According to a guide nearby (yes, we are the types of people who stop and ask the guides whatever questions they're willing to answer) he likes the heat. The guide also shared with Aaron that the bison in this area typically live shorter lives due to them eating the grass which contains silica and wears away their teeth faster. They also don't have dentists. Happy but short lives for these guys.

A Bison at the Mud Volcano

Per Aaron: Mud Volcano an Yellowstone and Mud Volcano in Sunny's diaper

4. The Grand Prismatic Spring

The colors of this spring are unbelievable. Parking was a little tricky because it's such a popular site. The spring is so mesmerizing you have to be mindful of continuing to walk so you're not holding up traffic just staring at it. We were the stragglers of our group along with one of my sisters and her three little girls. Walking along the path with a toddler will also keep you on your toes. Explaining to a toddler that, "No, you can't jump into the beautiful, boiling, swimming pool of color" was not well received.

5. Search for a bear

After our trip to South Africa last year, Aaron and I especially love finding wildlife. In Kruger, you're bound to see an animal multiple times an hour. In Yellowstone, we kept our eyes peeled for bears for hours and eventually, very fortunately, saw one cross the road about 4 cars in front of us. This was such a treat for us! We left the house around 6am, as soon as Sunny woke up in hopes that our chances of seeing one would increase earlier in the day. Part of the fun for us is just the process of looking, but getting to see one up close was incredible! I have a subpar, blurry photo of him, but enough for proof! He was near Tower junction on the way to Tower Falls. Someone got out of their car to take a picture when the bear was about 20 feet away. Just a friendly reminder that although they be fluffy, they will kill you.

6. West Thumb

Yellowstone Lake is beautiful. We picked West Thumb as the perfect spot for a picnic. We pre packed sandwiches and utilized the picnic area near the parking lot. Walking down the pathway, looking at the geysers, mud pots and hot springs made for some serious nature eye candy. Sunny also enjoyed bouncing along the path in her stroller.

7. Lower Falls Hike

I don't even have words for how breathtaking it was to stand at the top of such a majestic waterfall. The mist was making an actual rainbow. Had I morphed into Dorothy? It felt straight out of a movie. Aaron and Sunny skipped this hike due to it being a little on the gravelly/steep side. It's fairly short but not the best fit for us with carrying her. The views at the top near the parking area are also worth seeing and those that stayed behind had a great experience.

8. Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs was high on our bucket list but I think it comes to life with water. On our visit the springs were dry as a bone. Sunny was asleep in the car for Mammoth so we planned to take turns checking it out. The highlight for us was actually right next to Mammoth, called Palette Spring. It looks a little bit like what I imagine when I picture landing on the moon. Sunny went straight from her bed to the car this morning so she was happily rocking her jammies for the day.

You really can't go wrong with a day or 5 in Yellowstone. Whatever activity you do, the park is beautiful! There were so many places we would have loved to add to the list but we enjoyed savoring the ones we chose. Is there a 'Bucket List' item you have for Yellowstone? We'd love to know in the comments below!