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Posted by MO Pat E (76.233.78.1) on 22:37:17 02/17/16
In Reply to: Resources for trip planning posted by TravelingBear
You may choose to stay 1st 2 nights in Gardiner and 2nd 2 nights at Lake Hotel, or if you keep calling Xanterra you may luck in on a cancellation at another location in park. I don't think you'll want to take the time for their tours or activities unless you'd like the Roosevelt Cookout, which you'd definitely need the advance reservation. The one hour Scenicruise at marina near Lake wouldn't be too expensive and you'd get a boat ride on the lake, but they may not be running yet when you're there. Even so, these can usually be booked same day or prior day. As to sleeping on the floor, this was always allowed, but it depended on the accommodation as to whether there was room for one or two. Lake Hotel rooms are rather large. Ask. The best help is to follow NPS's park map and newspaper. I'll put the link below. The park map (listed in left column) shows the major attractions--geyser basins, waterfalls, visitor centers, etc. Follow it as you drive the Figure 8 loop through the park. As recommended earlier, stop at the first visitor center to check on the junior ranger program and ask the rangers there all your questions. They also have a good selection of trail guide and other books at Visitor Centers. Also on the NPS page there's a link to the Official Park Newspaper, which currently is the winter edition, but then you can click on Archive ones. Last spring and summer's editions will give you the Ranger led programs and amphitheater programs, dates started and times. My dining suggestion is to have a cooler with you and supply it with picnic food and drinks for lunch each day so that you don't have to try to find someplace to eat when you're busy viewing all the sights. If you're not traveling with a cooler, buy a cheap styrofoam one before you get there (also groceries at neighboring cities are cheaper than the stores inside park). In evenings at all locations you can go to the cafeterias and other eating places which don't require reservations. Check for road closures on that website also. I'm not sure if they're still working on a bridge between West Thumb and Old Faithful. The Tetons have nice places to hike, Visitor Centers, and better chance of seeing a moose. Mormon Row has the old barns that you see on postcards, and the Gros Ventre Slide is nearby. My last advice is to carry bear spray if you're going on any back country hikes.
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