Yellowstone National Park Isn’t Just About Old Faithful

Millions of people make the trip out to Yellowstone National Park each year. They mostly come to see one thing – Old Faithful. Yes, Old Faithful is one of the park’s most “faithful” geysers. But, it is only a small part of what the park has to offer.

If you are looking to find the most geologically active part of Yellowstone, then a trip to Norris Geyser Basin is a must. Here, the earth shakes, rattles, and rolls more than any other area of the park. Shimmering pools can quickly turn into churning, muddy, boiling cauldrons. Lakes crackle. The world’s tallest geyser, Steamboat, occasionally erupts. The Earth’s surface can get so hot that park rangers need to close a few of the boardwalks.



You have two options to explore Norris Geyser Basin. We recommend you spend the time exploring both. You don’t have to be a hard core athlete to walk the trails. Just bring plenty of water – there isn’t much shade here. And don’t forget your camera! Buffalo and elk like to wander through this area.

The 0.5 mile loop around Porcelain Basin takes you past the Black Growler Steam Vent (yes, it sounds like a dragon and stinks like one too!), Constant Geyser (the name says it all), and to Crackling Lake. Crackling Lake may just be the ugliest body of water you ever see. It’s a toxic acidic brew that constantly pops and occasionally boils. But, it is one of the reasons why this section of the park is so very active.

The 1.5 mile Back Basin Loop takes you up close to Steamboat Geyer. When it erupts, it puts on one heck of a show. Steamboat has thrown water and steam as high as 300 feet into the air! You may or may not be lucky enough to witness one of these eruptions. Scientists are not sure what causes this massive geyser to blow her top. But, it is still worth the hike to stand in front of it. The loop also takes you past Echinus Geyser (so acidic that is like vinegar) and Porkchop Geyser (it’s shaped like a chop you enjoy for dinner!)

Norris Geyser Basin is just one of many areas you will want to explore in the park. Interested in learning more? We have created the ultimate Yellowstone National Park travel guide to help you plan your dream vacation. Our guide provides you in-depth details about the park’s trails, canyons, shimmering lakes, mud pots, geysers, hot springs, sparkling pools, petrified trees, and wildlife. Go to www.greatamericanvacationideas.com/National_Parks and order on today!

Holiday Gift Ideas for the National Park Lover

The Holidays are here once again. It is time to decide what to get your friends and family members. Do you want to give the standard gifts – ties, clothes, perfumes, DVD’s, and CD’s? Or do you want to get them something they would really like and never expect? If your family and friends enjoy visiting National Parks, we have some gift ideas for you.



The Internet is great for Christmas shopping. You have so many more choices than you do just going to the mall. National parks have their own websites, and many have links to the park’s gift shops. Here are a few of our favorites.

• Grand Canyon National Park Gifts (www.grandcanyonlodges.com/shop) – You can purchase Grand Canyon T-shirts, books, videos, Native American jewelry, knick knacks, and even food items. Our favorite – National Park Monopoly. The game is the same as traditional Monopoly, but the properties are different. You can buy up National Parks like Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, and Glacier.

• Great Smoky Mountain Association
(www.smokiesstore.org) - If you have ever visited the Smokies, you probably tasted some of that good country cooking. Well, you can purchase some of those foods here. Yummy blackberry preserves, apple butter, and honey. You can even buy cornmeal produced at one of the area's famous gristmills. There are also t-shirts, calendars, posters, and DVD’s available for purchase. All purchases made on this site benefit Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

• Yellowstone National Park Store (www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com) – For many years, the Fred Harvey Company operated gift stores and restaurants in Western National Parks. This site follows in the Fred Harvey tradition. You can buy a variety of souvenirs here including shirts, planners, toys, mugs, shot glasses, books, and even lotions. We love the huckleberry products offered here. If you ever visited this area, you probably ate something huckleberry flavored and loved it!! Well, you can buy huckleberry syrup, huckleberry toppings, and even huckleberry flavored candy on this site!!

• National Park Passes – If you have someone on your Christmas list who visits America’s National Parks each year, consider giving them a National Park Pass. There are many different options to choose from. Passes can be purchased at parks or online. For more information, visit http://store.usgs.gov/pass.

• National Park Travel Guides – (www.greatamericanvacationideas.com) – It is never too early to start planning a vacation. Consider giving a travel guide. National park guides lay out in detail the areas to see, hikes to take, and park lodging and dining. Plus, each guide has sample itineraries. Start packing your bags for an adventure of a lifetime!!

America's National Park

Summer is winding down. Maybe some of you went to one of America’s beautiful National Parks for vacation. Or maybe some of you are planning your next National Park getaway.

Ever wonder what your favorite park looks like at this very moment? I stumbled upon a great website that has live webcams at some of America’s most popular parks. The National Park Service operates the site, which is actually for measuring air quality. But go ahead and ignore all that mumbo jumbo about air quality. Just click on your favorite park and be transported to a relaxing moment with Mother Nature.

Take in the beautiful vistas of Grand Canyon National Park. Relive your family’s Washington DC vacation by taking a peak at the Lincoln Memorial and National Monument. Wonder if the leaves are changing yet in Great Smoky Mountain National Park? Check out their two webcams. California dreaming? Take a look at the Point Reyes cam.

Check out these webcams by going to www.nature.nps.gov/air/WebCams. There are live shots of Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, National Mall, Great Smoky Mountains, Point Reyes, Big Bend, Denali (in the summer), Mount Rainer, Olympic National Park, Acadia, North Cascades, Sequoia, and Theodore Roosevelt Parks.

But the best National Park webcam of all can be found by clicking on this site: www.nps.gov/archive/yell/oldfaithfulcam.htm. Why?
You get to see live shots of Old Faithful – watch it erupt just like you did when you visited Yellowstone National Park!! There is even an eruption prediction in the upper left hand corner. Plus there are links to webcams at Mammoth Hot Springs and Mount Washburn.

Enjoy!!