“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish these natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children.”
President Theodore Roosevelt was actually standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon when he spoke these words in 1903 but his intent was equally about Yellowstone National Park. Visiting Yellowstone the same year, Roosevelt proclaimed “It is the property of Uncle Sam and therefore of all of us.”
President Roosevelt’s speeches highlighted what he considered the central legacy of national parks such as Yellowstone. Roosevelt believed the park’s lasting impact would be not the geysers, the forests, or the wild animals themselves but the idea, new in the world, that these treasures belonged to the people. And he believed we the people should make use of this treasure.
According to the National Park Service, 13,727 people visited Yellowstone National Park in 1904, the year after President Roosevelt’s visit. In 2023, a record 4.1 million people visited the park. Teddy Roosevelt would be proud. And yet, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom received 17 million visits in 2022. More amazingly, those visitors crammed into 27,000 square miles as compared to Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres. Is there any reason Walt Disney World should be over five times more popular than Yellowstone, especially for families choosing a vacation? As longtime destination specialists in Yellowstone, we can unequivocally answer: no.
Yellowstone National Park is a Fantastic Family Destination
Yellowstone National Park has it all, everything a family would want on vacation. Here are just a few highlights for families, most of them free once you are in the park.
Hot Springs, Mud Pots, and Geysers
With half the world’s geothermal features, Yellowstone is a natural history museum in itself. Boardwalk trails allow visitors to see these geothermal features up close and personal. Your kids will be impressed by Old Faithful!
Wildlife
While the grizzly bear and bison top the list of the park’s wildlife, there is much more to it than these huge creatures. Buy a guidebook, print off a list of the park’s mammals from the official park website, and see how many of the park’s animals your family can identify during your trip. And that doesn’t even include the amphibians, birds, and reptiles.
Visitor Centers
The park has nine visitor centers and museums, always a good break during the day. Each center has exhibits and video screenings that will entertain at least some members of your family.
Ranger-Led Programs
One of the best bets in Yellowstone—and in most national parks—are the ranger-led programs. Yellowstone offers ranger talks, hikes, and kid-specific activities in seven separate areas of the park, seven days a week and almost every hour of the day during the summer. Check with the visitor centers for the schedule.
Amphitheater Programs
Families love the evening-time programs held at outdoor amphitheaters near campgrounds and visitor centers throughout the park. Programs range from history talks to campfire songs.
Junior Ranger Program
Kids aged 5-12 can participate in the Junior Ranger Program. For a small fee, kids receive a 12-page activity packet. After completing the requirements, kids review their work with a ranger and receive a Junior Ranger patch. Beware, kids—if you don’t complete your work, the ranger won’t pass you!
Hiking, Biking, Fishing, and More
For active families, the park abounds with outdoor adventures. Take a hike along the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, ride your bikes through campground loops at one of the many campgrounds, or bring your fishing poles and try your luck in the park’s streams and lakes.
The best part of a family vacation to Yellowstone, for both parents and kids, is the fun is intertwined with education. Your kids will be learning without knowing it! One of our guides was in Yellowstone one summer leading a group of families through the park. As they were walking down a path after having viewed a waterfall, a bushy-tailed red fox decided to join them on the trail. He walked casually along behind the group, showing no fear, although some of the younger kids were nervous being so close to him. They kept hiking as if the fox was one of the group. When they approached a fork in the trail, the fox went one way and they went the other. The fox looked back at briefly, and one of the boys who was originally a little scared of the animal quickly pointed out they were sharing the trail with the fox and that it was his home. Normally, this would be something a guide might point out to enhance the learning. In this case, Yellowstone was doing the work for the them!
In making your decision where to go for a fantastic family destination this summer, consider Yellowstone National Park. Your family will not only love it, they definitely will never forget it.