Anyone been to Yellowstone or Grand Teton?

Monday, my car had inspection to find out that it needed new brake pads, rotors and tires. Funny, my husband's jeep needed the same thing last month. So thanks to my dad he replace my brakes and rotors, so we didn't have to fork out another huge bill at the shop.

Tuesday, the jeep wouldn't start. Long story short, we all thought it was the starter (the towing guy even said so). So we bought a starter, my dad put it in yesterday. This morning, jeep didn't turn over. So now the jeep is towed to the shop.

We've been wanting to go to Yellowstone every since we came back from West Yellowstone in 2005. Just never had the $ to go. But now I am at the point, we will never have the $, so why not just go while we are still young.

So on top of everything else I am stressing about...I am now doing research on Yellowstone.

So anyone been there care to share advice, tips etc.. Would love to stay at a hotel in Yellowstone, but I am not too keen about sharing a bathroom.

Yes,I have been to Yellowstone about 3 times. Stayed downtown area, the motel was reasonable. A friend from the company I use to work is writing a book with his photos from there, he practically lives there. I have gone in the spring, the bison are mangy at that time. Losing their coats. I took photos of a mama bear and her cubs, at a distance of course.
I went to the Tetons a couple years ago. Stayed in Jackson Hole. I would love to go again. Love the Morman Row barns and the reflections of the mts in the water.
Also that year I went to Glacier Nat. Park. Another must see.
Sorry about your car troubles.

Thanks Jan. Yea we plan to make a trip up to Glacier.

Are there other hotels in Yellowstone besides what is on this site?..
www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/

I've been to Yellowstone a few times, honestly will never go again in the summer. Seems every idiot in the hemisphere shares my vacation time. "Lets pet the buffalo", or "That baby bear is so cute, want a cracker, boo boo?". The last time I went there was in winter, and that rocked. Glacier is a great idea, and give some thought to southern Utah.........

It's a lot cheaper to stay in West Yellowstone. I would love to go back someday. Enjoy your trip. One tip. If you are there during a full moon, a night shot of some of the steam vents is pretty cool and a little errie.

I was in Jackson Hole for a business trip several years ago; in fact, it was way back during film days. Ah, memories of Velvia and Provia. Anyway, I spent a couple of added days in the Grand Tetons and then drove to Yellowstone for a day. In so far as the Tetons, it's an amazing place. I plan to go back as soon as I can. I got some nice shots on the flight in out the plane window. Also, a place called Oxbow Bend (I think) offers great early morning photo opportunities. Sometimes moose are out at that time. There are several peaks you can drive up to and have quite a nice viewing perspective. If you go in the Fall, the aspens are beautiful with their white bark Fall colors. There's also a caribou herd near Jackson Hole (just outside the Park). By the way, be sure to checkout Thomas Mangelson's photo gallery while in Jackson Hole. Mangelson's work provided an early source of inspiration for me when I first saw his photos in his gallery in La Jolla, California in 1979. He's one of the best nature, wildlife and landscape photographers that I have ever seen. I still remember many of his images including one where there were several giraffes on a beach in Africa.

Yellowstone was great also. I wish I had been able to spend several days there to see it all. I only got a chance to checkout a few spots.The Upper and Lower Yellowstone River Falls is a must as is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. There's a viewing stand where you can see the Lower Falls coming through the canyon in the distance; although you may have to jockey with the crowds to secure the best spots or simply out wait them. When I was there, I had shot five or six rolls and had run out of film. On my way out, traffic slowed to a standstill. The road was blocked by a herd of of bison. Slowly, they surrounded the car as they changed direction and meandered by. If I had had the guts, I could have reached out the window and touched them. Obviously the fact they they were bigger than my compact rental car provided sufficient rationale for me to reframe from touching them. But, I was really ticked that I had no film left at that point. Those would have been great, up close shots. I thik you will definitely enjoy both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

effron wrote: I've been to Yellowstone a few times, honestly will never go again in the summer. Seems every idiot in the hemisphere shares my vacation time. "Lets pet the buffalo", or "That baby bear is so cute, want a cracker, boo boo?". The last time I went there was in winter, and that rocked. Glacier is a great idea, and give some thought to southern Utah.........

When we traveled across the US, we made it to West Yellowstone. Plan to stay there to visit Yellowstone, but that entrance side was closed. This was in March. We were told, the road to old faithful was also closed due to the bears woke up early and it's their migration path. We could have drove to the other entrance, by the time we woke up the next morning, 6 inches of snow fell. We were driving a Mazda with low profiles. So unfortually we missed seeing Yellowstone.

Shadowfixer1 wrote: It's a lot cheaper to stay in West Yellowstone. I would love to go back someday. Enjoy your trip. One tip. If you are there during a full moon, a night shot of some of the steam vents is pretty cool and a little errie.

Yea did stay in West Yellowstone. Enjoy the one night we did stay. We thought about staying in West Yellowstone again, but that would mean we have to travel all the way through Yellowstone to get to the hotel. It's a 2 day drive straight through to begin with...adding the destination of West Yellowstone will add a couple more hours.

ilh2009ky wrote: I was in Jackson Hole for a business trip several years ago; in fact, it was way back during film days. Ah, memories of Velvia and Provia. Anyway, I spent a couple of added days in the Grand Tetons and then drove to Yellowstone for a day. In so far as the Tetons, it's an amazing place. I plan to go back as soon as I can. I got some nice shots on the flight in out the plane window. Also, a place called Oxbow Bend (I think) offers great early morning photo opportunities. Sometimes moose are out at that time. There are several peaks you can drive up to and have quite a nice viewing perspective. If you go in the Fall, the aspens are beautiful with their white bark Fall colors. There's also a caribou herd near Jackson Hole (just outside the Park). By the way, be sure to checkout Thomas Mangelson's photo gallery while in Jackson Hole. Mangelson's work provided an early source of inspiration for me when I first saw his photos in his gallery in La Jolla, California in 1979. He's one of the best nature, wildlife and landscape photographers that I have ever seen. I still remember many of his images including one where there were several giraffes on a beach in Africa.

Yellowstone was great also. I wish I had been able to spend several days there to see it all. I only got a chance to checkout a few spots.The Upper and Lower Yellowstone River Falls is a must as is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. There's a viewing stand where you can see the Lower Falls coming through the canyon in the distance; although you may have to jockey with the crowds to secure the best spots or simply out wait them. When I was there, I had shot five or six rolls and had run out of film. On my way out, traffic slowed to a standstill. The road was blocked by a herd of of bison. Slowly, they surrounded the car as they changed direction and meandered by. If I had had the guts, I could have reached out the window and touched them. Obviously the fact they they were bigger than my compact rental car provided sufficient rationale for me to reframe from touching them. But, I was really ticked that I had no film left at that point. Those would have been great, up close shots. I thik you will definitely enjoy both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

Thanks for all that! Yea, when we were entering West Yellowstone 6yrs ago, we saw 1 bison who was grazing along the road. At first we thought it was a statue. lol Until we saw it move, so we quickly turned around and took a picture it. It was the only wildlife we saw in Yellowstone.

We would like to go summer time. Would love to get pictures of baby animals. But now that you mention Autumn, that doesn't sound like a bad idea either.

Both trips we've made there we were able to get a hotel in the park without the typical year in advance reservations usually needed. Really just luck, but the trick was to check at the desk at check-out time in the morning for someone who was checking out before the end of their reservations. One was right on Yellowstone Lake in a pretty modern facility, and the other was a two room suite at Old Faithful Lodge out in one of the old wings looking directly at Old Faithful. Staying in the Park saves lots of time each day.

Be careful with the roads, as they're deceptively steep, and your stopping distance will be a bit longer than usual.

The altitude is deceptive. The Lake is at 7,732 ft, and it's all uphill from there. If you get headaches it's probably just from the altitude. Drink plenty of water, take a pain pill, sleep on it, and it should get better with time.

MajorMagee wrote: Both trips we've made there we were able to get a hotel in the park without the typical year in advance reservations usually needed. Really just luck, but the trick was to check at the desk at check-out time in the morning for someone who was checking out before the end of their reservations. One was right on Yellowstone Lake in a pretty modern facility, and the other was a two room suite at Old Faithful Lodge out in one of the old wings looking directly at Old Faithful. Staying in the Park saves lots of time each day.

Be careful with the roads, as they're deceptively steep, and your stopping distance will be a bit longer than usual.

The altitude is deceptive. The Lake is at 7,732 ft, and it's all uphill from there. If you get headaches it's probably just from the altitude. Drink plenty of water, take a pain pill, sleep on it, and it should get better with time.

I'm surprised you were able to get rooms at the last min. I've been checking online for the past 3yrs and the hotels are book for a good 1-2yrs.

Sorry to hear about your car problems. I hope that gets resolved soon. I hope you find a way to afford the trip as it is a place very worth while to visit.

My family went there last summer and it was one of the best trips we have been on. We spent the night in Jackson, WY. The hotel was pretty reasonable considering the time of the year that we were there (peak vacation season). I think we booked the room about three months in advance. The next morning we drove thru the Grand Tetons National Park and then thru Yellowstone. We only spent a day in the park and wish we had more time, but this was part of a 6,000 mile journey across the western United States.

The Grand Tetons were beautiful that time of the year (July) and still were snow capped. We got plenty of great shots. We lots of wildlife in Yellowstone, but not until the second half of the day. We saw bison, moose, caribou (or elk, not sure which), deer and black bears.

There were a couple of times where traffic was a little crazy, but that was because of animals sighted nearby (and stupid tourists stopping to take pictures outside of the car) or animals crossing the road. But these were minor incidents and I wouldn't let that deter you from going.

Good luck!

A couple of images from Yellowstone. I am going to put up a thread in travel showing some from the Tetons.

Grand Prismatic Springs

Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone

Don't know if you are into ghost towns but there is a great old mining ghost town not too far from Yellowstone in Virginia City, Montana. You can look it up on the web.

LesFenton wrote: Sorry to hear about your car problems. I hope that gets resolved soon. I hope you find a way to afford the trip as it is a place very worth while to visit.

My family went there last summer and it was one of the best trips we have been on. We spent the night in Jackson, WY. The hotel was pretty reasonable considering the time of the year that we were there (peak vacation season). I think we booked the room about three months in advance. The next morning we drove thru the Grand Tetons National Park and then thru Yellowstone. We only spent a day in the park and wish we had more time, but this was part of a 6,000 mile journey across the western United States.

The Grand Tetons were beautiful that time of the year (July) and still were snow capped. We got plenty of great shots. We lots of wildlife in Yellowstone, but not until the second half of the day. We saw bison, moose, caribou (or elk, not sure which), deer and black bears.

There were a couple of times where traffic was a little crazy, but that was because of animals sighted nearby (and stupid tourists stopping to take pictures outside of the car) or animals crossing the road. But these were minor incidents and I wouldn't let that deter you from going.

Good luck!

Thanks.
Don't worry animals blocking the road or people stopping to take pictures don't bother me....as I will be one of those people shooting too.