Yellowstone/Grand Tetons Anniversary Trip (Day Four)

Our fourth day started at 8:00 with breakfast in the Canyon Lodge Restaurant. Darryl got the breakfast buffet and the rest of us ordered from the menu. Amelia ate two big pancakes and four strips of bacon. I guess mountain air improved her appetite! (It must have improved Darryl's as well.) The breakfast was plentiful and very tasty. I had read some articles that said that food in the park was not that great, but we have been pleased so far with their offerings.

Amelia wants to be an author, among other things,
when she grows up.  She was working on her
latest book at breakfast.

After visiting the shops and visitor's center in the Canyon Lodge area, we loaded up and set a course for the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. I really didn't know what to expect here, but this canyon was probably as big as I imagined the real Grand Canyon to be. I'm quickly learning that my expectations for this trip were much too low. The most amazing thing to me is that the landscape of Yellowstone changes from one amazing view to a completely different amazing view. There is lush greenery, wild flowers and snow covered mountains. (Yes, there is still snow on the ground.). Then there are areas that look like scenes from movies filmed in the desert. You have the canyon with its jagged edges and colorful rocks and then you drive on into areas full of hot bubbling "pots" of mud and many geysers spewing steam.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

We saw several waterfalls. Darryl, Amy and Amelia took the hike DOWN to an area to view the falls. Amelia said, "I want to climb the mountain!" Well, after going DOWN they had to come UP. All three were out of breath and sweating profusely. Bubba and I took the trail that didn't require any up or down. We know our limitations.

What a hike!

Beautiful waterfall

We also took an off the main road and we came back out where we started from. The main accomplishment from that was that we got the car really, really dirty.

Yesterday at Old Faithful, Amelia signed up for the National Parks Junior Ranger Program. She participated in some tasks to start it off like long jump, a timed sprint, high jump and how close to a scent she has to be to smell it. Then they signed her Junior Ranger book for her. It contained activities she had to complete to be eligible for her first badge. By the time we exited Yellowstone, she had her badge and a Junior Ranger vest to pin it on and to complete the ensemble a Junior Ranger hat. She is the cutest ranger I've ever seen. We all learned a lot as she told us interesting things about animals and the park as we traveled down the road. It is my understanding that she can earn a badge in each national park she visits. She had the biggest smile after she was awarded her badge.

Cute Junior Ranger

Park Ranger signs Amelia's Book

North entrance to Yellowstone near Gardiner, Montana

Lunch was in Gardiner at The Corral.  We ate at a picnic table outside and we all agreed that we had the best burger and fries of the trip so far.  We could see  animals we couldn't quite identify due to the distance playing on the mountain nearby.  We ended our day traveling along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. This was so pretty. You could see the snow covered mountains reflected in the lake. 

Lake Yellowstone

Finally we turned down a dusty road which is famous for the most grizzly bear sightings. We didn't see a grizzly but we came upon a field of wild flowers that was just breath taking. Darryl was sweet enough to kneel down in the midst of the flowers and got me a picture with the snow covered mountains in the background.

My Favorite Picture

Back at the condo we snacked a little in lieu of going out again and then we headed for a hot shower and bed.