Reasons to Visit West Yellowstone
Are you looking for a fun vacation or getaway over the winter or coming months? Well, look no further. Here at Salt Lake Express, we want to highlight some of the reasons to visit West Yellowstone and the world’s first national park.
West Yellowstone
In March 1872, President Grant signed a bill for the protection of Yellowstone National park. Salt Lake Express travelers can visit the park through the town of West Yellowstone. The town has been a gateway to the national park since the early 1900s. Visitors to the national park can find affordable lodging, restaurants, and tours throughout the town.
Attractions
Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
The center opened in 1993 as a sanctuary for bears removed from their natural habitat. At the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, researchers are able to gain a better fundamental understanding of bears and other wildlife. Visitors can view grizzly bears interacting with each other and enjoy the museum.
The Playmill Theatre
The Playmill Theatre has been a staple of West Yellowstone since 1964. The theatre is one of the largest in the area and attracts patrons from the neighboring states of Idaho and Wyoming. Visitors can take a break from the park for an evening at the theatre during the summer season.
Yogi’s Waffle & Grill
If you ever need a break from the park or walking around, stop by Yogi’s for some great food. The Waffle & Grill restaurant has a great selection of food and desserts to choose from. With 40 flavors of Ice cream, Yogi’s is a popular stop for travelers to take a break before they head back into the park.
Yellowstone National Park
Beyond the attractions of West Yellowstone, this stop has plenty to offer within the National Park. If you tour with a group you’ll be restricted, but you’ll still see some great spots. If you’re lucky enough to go in on your own, here’s the things we suggest you look at.
Geysers
Most people have heard of Old Faithful. But did you know that Yellowstone is home to 500 geysers? Some of the most popular include the Grand Geyser and the Riverside Geyser. Yellowstone’s hikes provide a way to get a good view of the eruption. Only a few of these natural wonders are predictable, but catching one as it goes off will leave you speechless! Most of the geysers only go off once or twice a day, but some of the smaller ones erupt almost every hour. Make sure to keep behind the marked path, the water from these geysers is boiling hot.
Hiking & Canoeing
There are several great lakes within Yellowstone Park to explore. Most of these have some sort of hike or access to an area. All canoes and equipment has to come from outside the park. So if you don’t have the equipment, you’re out of luck. But, in the town outside the park you can rent a canoe for a reasonable price. We’d suggest going to Shoshone or Heart Lake.
Nature Photography
Most of the wildlife in Yellowstone try to keep clear of humans, but some of the animals are more bold. During the spring months, female bears with cubs will come closer to areas with more human activity, to keep clear of the larger male bears. If you make sure to keep your distance, you might be able to get a good shot in the spring months.
Larger animals in Yellowstone hibernate for the winter, however visitors commonly see smaller wildlife like coyotes and foxes throughout November and December. Winter months become the perfect time to capture wildlife shots because most of these small animals stand out brilliantly against the harsh white background.