Taking Time Away.

It took me awhile to get the message. Vacation time is important.

Despite wanting to go to Yellowstone National Park since I was a teenager. Despite living in the state of Wyoming, I had never actually been there until this August.

As a faculty member, there is always work to do. Something that needs urgent attention. Something that needs to be done now, or nowish, to keep everything on schedule. Always something.

When the pandemic struck, and the world shut down, I realized the importance of making time for whats actually important.

Though I wouldn’t say it was the easiest thing to do, navigating the vast wild expanse with my two young child explorers, it was an amazing trip, filled with unforgettable sights!

My only regret now is that we didn’t stay longer. We stayed 4 days, mainly migrating around sights on the Lower Loop.

My girls favorite part of the trip were the alpine strawberries and wild raspberries!

If you are planning to visit this amazing place in the Fall season, a packing tip- expect to experience summer and winter weather in the same day!

We drove to Yellowstone through the South entrance. This meant we got to see some of the Teton National Forest on our way.

At the gate, we needed a Teton Forest pass and Yellowstone pass for $70 but we opted for the yearlong pass which covers all national parks at $80.

When leaving, we used the East exit. From this exit, we were able to see the Wind River Canyon and the largest mineral spring in the world in Thermopolis WY.

The Wind River Canyon left me utterly speechless.

Next year, the Yellowstone Upper Loop!