Yellowstone!

[Bojo]

Can't wait to come back!

[Wojo]

Oh, man. I can't wait to do this.

[simplyrwc]

Looks like you guys had a good time. One of my boys saw the horses along with all the wildlife and now he has the fever to go as well. We are starting to plan for a trip here in a couple of years. Drove threw there a couple of times when I was younger and it is awesome, found some good info videos on iTunes U under field trips.

[thehamguy1]

Great photos! In the second picture, it looks like the camera is being held out of the car on some kind of gold-colored tube. What is that? Something you rigged up, or a commercial camera boom? Looks like a good thing to have along.

[Arefbee]

Awesome!

[brettmargo]

Looks like fun. Planning a Glacier/Yellowstone trip next summer. Any ideas/tips?

[Pooneil]

Great photos, thanks for posting them. Nice camera boom to, what did you use?

[Archicamper]

It's an amazing place!

[GalsofEscape]

We did this trip two years ago. Would love to do it again. It was amazing scenery and wildlife.

[Campwell]

Your thread reminds me how lucky we are - we go 2-3 times a year and live less than 2 hours from the entrance. I cannot recommend going there enough. The park pets are always fun to see. The goofy human activity is nearly as much fun to see.

Recommendations: 1) try to go in mid May or late August/early September. The animals are more active and the opportunities to enjoy it without a huge crowd are worth it. 2) The best RV parks are usually booked well in advance (both in and out of the park) - but sometimes you do get lucky on last minute availability. 3) Grizzly RV in West Yellowstone - a very nice campground VERY close to the west entrance and walking distance to West Yellowstone "down town." 4) Drive slowly and count on Bison Jams - when the Bison herds are walking down the middle of the road, traffic can back up for hours - and Bear Jams - when a bear is spotted, a rock concert crowd will form in a matter of minutes. With both sides of the road filled with vehicles for a what seems like a mile in both directions, the traffic moves at about 5 mph. 5) Naps work great - Get up very early and you will see amazing things - take a nap after lunch - stay out until the sun goes down (about 10pm in the summer) and you will see amazing things. 6) Bring multiple cans of Bear Spray if you are thinking of hiking or camping in the park. Don't just have them around - keep them on your person. I have seen folks with a large can on each hip.

[Bojo]

Hello again - yes, this was a fantastic trip! Thanks for the positive comments. One we have been waiting to do for quite some time. You are SO lucky to live close and visit frequently.

The camera boom is simply a hiking pole with a GoPro camera attached at the end with the handlebar/seat post mount. We have two mounted, one mount facing in (for selfies) and the other facing out for those hard to reach shots (high and low). We take it everywhere and get some awesome shots that would be impossible with a regular camera. There are two shots posted - the one out the car and the other of the both of us at grand prismatic pool.

Tips: Summer was fine (and the only time we can go since my wife is a middle school assistant principal), but we made our camping reservation for Yellowstone in February at Bridge Bay campground. If you must go in summer, book early! This was a great campground with a central location so we were able to go all over the park. If you reserve there, ask for Loops G or H so you can have a more secluded/woodsy site. We did not have reservations in Grand Tetons, but were able to get a site with no problem at Lizard Creek campground. This was the northern most campground and pretty awesome if you ask me. They don't take reservations - but just get there early.

Take your time! We were in Tetons for 4 days, Yellowstone for 5 days, and took a detour on our way home to Cody to go to a rodeo and visit the Buffalo Bill Museum. If you can squeeze that in too it was worth the extra miles.

Other tips - binoculars are a must! Get up early and leave just before sunrise to see the most spectacular scene around the mud pots...cooler weather = more steam = a mystical scene. Then head up to Lamar valley to see critters. That was when we saw both a grizzly and black bear. But the moose and wolves were still elusive. Talk to the die hard animal watchers. They will give you amazing viewing tips.

If you fancy going to dinner - do not waste your money on eating at the yellowstone inn. It was not worth it and you will eat better at your campsite (just my opinion).

Oh - and the generator rocked! We we able to keep the a-frame battery charged, all camera equipment charged, and watch a movie when it stormed at night. :-)(Campgrounds have generator hours and tent only loops so you don't upset the non-gen crowd.)

Happy camping!