The end of the alphabet really throws out some weird and difficult letters but fortunately one of our Dream Destinations that we are really looking forward to visiting is Yellowstone National Park. Located primarily in the state of Wyoming, and stretching into the nearby states of Idaho and Montana, Yellowstone has been a cherished national park through USA since the late 19th Century.
Acclaimed as the most popular national park throughout USA and possibly throughout the world, Yellowstone captures visitors imagination with gorgeous scenery, amazing natural landmarks and a variety of attractions to experience and explore.
Here are some of the key reasons why we are excited about knocking the state of Wyoming off our list and experiencing Yellowstone National Park.
Old Faithful
Image courtesy of Marco Soave (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsThe most famous of all landmarks in Yellowstone National Park is Old Faithful geyser and for that very reason it is the most popular attraction for visitors to the park. If like us, you have never set foot inside this national park, Old Faithful is a must-see attraction just to see the geyser erupting. Despite not being the biggest or most frequent of the Yellowstone geyser family, it is still an extremely spectacular sight when you see this and for your reference it erupts on average every 91 minutes though this can vary either way.
Whilst experiencing Old Faithful, it is highly recommended to take some time to wander around some of the other boardwalks and trails within the Upper Basin to see other spectacular geysers and the beautiful natural landscape that surrounds these attractions.
Grand Canyon
Image courtesy of Brocken Inaglory (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia CommonsIf someone tells you that the Grand Canyon is located in Yellowstone National Park, don’t be confused with the spectacular Canyon located in Arizona but be aware that the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is equally as impressive on a much smaller scale. The Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon are one of the most photographed attractions throughout this national park and the views throughout the canyon are truly breathtaking and worthy of a visit.
Although there are numerous vantage points on either sides of the Canyon, it is highly recommended to take the time to experience both sides as you are given very different, unique perspectives on the geology of the area, plus you will get some awesome pictures for your efforts!
Yellowstone Lake
Image courtesy of Corrie2723 at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia CommonsIf you love relaxing by a lake and seeing snow capped mountains in the background, then Yellowstone Lake is the place just for you! Located at the highest altitude of any natural lake in the lower 48 states, Yellowstone Lake is a gorgeous hub for folks to take some time to recharge their batteries before exploring more of this expansive national park.
Not only can you spend time relaxing by the lake, but you can also explore some historic buildings in the close vicinity such as the Lake Yellowstone Hotel which is now on the National Register of Historic Places or the Lake Ranger Station which is now famous for having folks gather around a campfire in the evening.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Image courtesy of Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsThe headquarters of Yellowstone National Park is Mammoth Hot Springs for many reasons including the fact it radiates such a gorgeous, spectacular display to visitors. It is stereotypical of Yellowstone in general and also features some of the oldest buildings in the park. The main attraction here are the thermal springs that are actually very different to any of the other springs or geysers throughout Yellowstone. There is a rapidly changing activity here that takes place, leaving many visitors confused over what they are actually seeing. Catch these springs on an off day and you may be left disappointed, but catch them at the right time and you will be left astounded at the impressive display.
Tower Fall
Image courtesy of Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsAside from the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, the most impressive waterfall throughout the park is Tower Fall. Towering at over 130 feet in height, it is a must see for anyone who loves waterfalls. It is also interesting to explore this fall in winter as it frequently freezes over leaving a unique resemblance of the ice age.
As with many of the other natural landmarks in Yellowstone, you can capture various views of Tower Fall including an overlook that is particularly impressive.
Chris Boothman is the co-founder of A Brit and A Southerner. Born near Manchester, England, Chris moved to USA in 2006 where he soon after met his wife and travel partner in crime, Heather.
They have since embarked on an amazing journey of travel as they challenge others to follow in their paths of working full-time but also being able to travel frequently!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Chris at [email protected]
![Image courtesy of Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://abritandasoutherner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Tower-Fall.jpg)
