Our 2014 Yellowstone trip was incredibly brief. This is because our journey to Montana was actually for a family wedding in Bozeman. I had been to Yellowstone before on a family trip when I was in high school, and I remembered how beautiful it was, so I insisted that my husband had to see it, even if only for a few hours. So, Brad, my sister, and I planned a quick day trip to check it out.

The drive in was beautiful in and of itself! ...I might feel that way because I live in a desert, so when you get to spend the beginning of July in lush forest-rich Yellowstone, it's a real treat, compared to the 120 degree Fahrenheit weather we have at home.

It was a nice break from the quiet college town we were staying it. The air smelled like fragrant wildflowers, and the mountain ranges were breathtaking as they towered over us. We drove past dozens of cabins, and had a great time playing "I pick that one". We had plenty of time to day dream of escaping the Arizona summers to visit our imaginary homes & spending Christmas in these charming mountain retreats. There were visions of hot chocolate & s'mores, and sledding all day long. ...When reality set in we knew that we would probably be miserable there in the winter with the potential for below Zero temps, and we would just be brutally cold.

I couldn't wait to get into the park. We were heading in from the North entrance (see map below) & our first stop was Mammoth Springs. What a sight! Layers & layers of limestone pools, some filled with aqua colored water and some with a brown milky tinge. It was so inviting, but sadly you have to stay on the path.

Once we did our loop around this fun attraction, we headed back to the car, careful not to waste too much time since we had to be back in time for the wedding. The drive continued not to disappoint. We had the pleasure of driving past Obsidian Cliff, which wasn't as black as I thought it would be.

There were pine trees everywhere... You could take a deep breath of fresh mountain air and get a big whiff of refreshing pine, while you hear the babble of nearby streams. The rivers and streams were filled with crystal blue waters that looked as refreshing as I'm sure they were cold. We found our way heading south keeping our eyes pealed for large wildlife. We were excited to catch buffalo grazing in the far distance, and would have loved to have seen those massive animals closer.

There were so many places that I wanted to stop, but we just didn't have the time. So, we stuck to the core pieces, so next up was Grand Prismatic Spring. When we reviewed the options & places we could go, it wasn't my husbands first pick. I think his was the Petrified Tree... He just didn't know any better. I basically had to twist his arm & say "NO, you have to see the Grand Prismatic Spring". So, that is just what we did, and it was worth it. I could look at it every day of my life, and be happy. It is one of nature’s finest sights. Sadly, once again, my pictures don't do it justice, but it is a beautiful rainbow of steaming color, and sanctuary where you can take in the beauty & watch for wildlife. We had the pleasure of watching a large Stag in the background. His silhouette was clouded by the steam, and it was a truly majestic sight. It reminded me of a Disney movie.

Along the path to Grand Prismatic Spring you pass by a couple other springs that are full of beautiful bubbling, steaming blue water! However, you don't dare touch any of them... The flesh will probably melt off your body... Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but you will get burned as the water is close to 200 degrees & the "ground" around it is unstable.

After this, we headed back to our hotel because it was an extensive drive, probably close to an hour and a half. Since time was tight, we decided to skip going to Old Faithful. I was okay with this, since I had seen it before and feel that it is kind of overrated. However, the next time we visit, it will be one of our stopping points, along with that Petrified tree.

The drive home was fun, although I think my sister tried to sleep for most of it. We were excited to pass by a mountain goat on our way of the park. He was looked quite content eating on the side of the mountain by himself. During our drive back, the weather changed drastically. We got caught in some very blustery weather that at certain points included some torrential downpours. It was a magnificent addition to our adventure for the day. If you are in an area around Yellow stone & you have 8-12 hours to kill, make the drive. Pay the National Park fee and explore!

ISSUE 3 : Yellowstone National Park 2014