You've driven (or flown) for miles to get here and seen some of the most rural areas the US has, yet, despite its ruralness, this park is such a gem that it always has a crowd in summer and fall. So many people want to see it - after seeing it yourself, you can't blame them. The sights are simply incomparable.

Note, it's also mostly about 7500 feet in elevation, so expect a chill at night - even in the dead of summer, yet it's very hot during the day. Prepare for 30's to 90's.

So, where to start? To best see Yellowstone, first, do some research. Seeing it all in one or two days isn't going to happen, so a minimum of a couple nights lodging is recommended. We stayed 4 nights and could have used at least one more. Decide if you want to camp or stay in a lodge/cabin - you'll most likely need reservations well in advance. (Some camping is first come, first served, but you still generally need to get there early.)

If you're on time constraints, you'll have to decide what's most important to you to see. Simply driving from one end of the park to the other will take you 2-3 hours (one way) - without stopping - and if you don't stop, did you see anything? Some stopping (for critter jams) may be required. "Critters" can be anything from buffalo/bison, elk, bears, moose, or anything else others consider worth stopping for.

For quick advice, for thermal features, the south western part of the park is best - for critter watching, the mid-eastern tends to be better (though critters can be seen anywhere, so keep your camera ready!) Waterfalls are (mostly) in the east/northeast. Mountains are everywhere as are hikes.

To allow some space to actually write, all of our Yellowstone experiences are in separate journal entries. This is mainly an overview to "warn" you not to underestimate the time for this park - especially if you want to hike. (This is our second time there after underestimating it the first time...) There are more geysers than Old Faithful, so even that's not a "short stop just to see it" for most folks. The pools are so incredibly beautiful that they too take longer than most anticipate. Then there's the animals and "critter watching" - a whole fun aspect in itself. Read on to see what might interest you!

There's food, gas, and lodging in this park, but expect to pay extra for all of the above... though the cost for camp sites was quite reasonable.

In both winter and summer, wildlife is everywhere. A camera is a must. The geysers and hot springs are too numerous to mention. See photos.

Our second stop began at the Grand Yellowstone Lodge, a ruggedly designed resort that also houses a restaurant and gift shop. Touring the hotel was more like a time-killer though, because it was located just yards away from Old Faithful, making this a perfect place to wait for the geyser to go off. As the time approached, we rushed to the rim to get a close up. We were barely able to contain our excitement when a loud boom thundered across the vicinity as the geyser shot its thick column of steam hundreds of feet up into the air.

For our third leg of the tour, we arrived at the bank of the Yellowstone Lake, where we embarked on a small hike along the lake as we enjoyed beautiful scenery, gazing out into the horizon from the "thumb" side of the lake.

Afterwards, we drove to visit the Yellowstone Falls, where we not only saw it from afar, but also viewed it from the top of the fall, then hiked down the 500-step steel ladder to the bottom, seeing it and feeling the rush of thundering water just yards away from me. But the best view of the falls was definitely the Artists Point, where we got a panoramic view towards the beautiful upper Yellowstone Falls and its valley.

Then we proceeded to our last stop, Mammoth Springs. As we drove towards it, it was to our delight that a buffalo ran up along side of our tour bus, allowing us to view it up close and personal. Amazing. After a brief lunch/tour at the Mammoth Springs Village, we took a hike from the top of the spring to the bottom. It was during this time that we learned that most of the springs have sadly gone dry around 1996. However, there were a few sections of the spring that were still alive, enough so we weren't just seeing a huge, dead, spring. We were able to finish this trail in about 1 hour, frequently stopping to take pictures along the way where springs are still active.

As we finished our tour of the Yellowstone, I walked away with a renewed sense of what Yellowstone is about. It was one of the most memorable national parks I have visited.

The tour to Old Faithful leaves early in the morning. Be prepared for pickup at your hotel around 6:30am. An expanded continental breakfast of rolls, cereal, fruit, juice, milk, and coffee is served at the office. After breakfast you are suited up for the trip: snowsuit, boots, helmet, and gloves. Bring your own gator to keep your neck warm or wear a good turtleneck. Sunglasses may also be needed.

It is still dark when your group leaves on the hour ride to the south entrance of Yellowstone by van. In the Flagg Ranch area the snowmobiles are unloaded, and you have one last chance to go to the restroom and buy a snack at the little shop.

Then it is off into the winter wonderland of Yellowstone for a 100-mile trip. This day is cloudy and cold, but not bitter. The grips on the snowmobile (even the ones on the back for a passenger) are warmed, so your hands stay pretty warm. The wind, though, does bite at your face and neck.

Lots of stops are made to view wildlife and take pictures. We see waterfalls and snow-studded rivers and walk on frozen Lake Lewis. The guide is knowledgeable, and we learned some things about Yellowstone we didn't know, even though we have made many visits there in winter and summer.

We arrive at Old Faithful at lunchtime. We watch it erupt against a gray sky and head for the Geyser Cafe for lunch. We are allowed to order anything on the menu as part of our fee. It serves fairly typical fast food and is quite good. After lunch, we walk the boardwalks in the Old Faithful Basin together, seeing some buffalo, wild geese, and a coyote. There is not enough snow in the park this time to continue on to Biscuit Basin, where usually more wildlife is seen. Snow machines are not allowed beyond Old Faithful.

The return trip has several more stops. The guide shows a place where the water from a small lake flows in two different directions at the Continental Divide at Craig Pass.

It is getting dark again as we pull into the Flagg Ranch area gas station. Hot chocolate sold in the shop is a big hit! We pile back in the van for the return trip to Jackson tired and happy. Once everyone has turned in the snow clothes and picked up their belongings, the guide returns us all to our respective lodgings in the van about 6pm. FYI--Drivers must have a driver's license because this trip is on the roads of Yellowstone.

For information and reservations, call 1-800-647-2561 or log on to the website Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Tours.