A Trip To Yellowstone National Park - Introduction

This is a bit of a different post for this site.  It is a bit more in depth, but I thought that I might help others through this process.  I did a lot of research and found quite a few helpful sites and past adventurers to the park.

Even with that there were some things lessons learned to go along with the awe to be found there.

What I would like to do is write up a series of posts to not only chronicle the trip, but to also share my thoughts on the planning process as well as any lessons learned.  Right off the bat, I want everyone to know that there was nothing so horrible that would deter me from returning.  On the contrary, my wife and I found the entire experience much better than expected.

Here is an outline of what I plan to cover:

• Trip planning
• Budget
• Flight
• Accommodations
• Rental Vehicle
• Viewing Plan of the Park
• Gear
• Photo Gear
• Hiking Gear
• Traveling To The Park
• Entrances
• Timing
• Seeing The Sites
• Time of Day
• Weather and Environmental
• Stuff Beyond Yellowstone
• Lessons Learned
• Gear/Supplies - what was missing?
• Climate - under estimating the climate and landscape (from an Ohio perspective)
• Estimating your capabilities
• Expectations on the sites
• The People - staff and visitors

There may be more information than that, but this is going to be the minimum.

Here, I will start with an introduction of sorts.  For that, the best place to start is the beginning.
For 13 years, our family has gone on vacations almost annually.  Up until 2017, every major trip has been to a coastal location.  We've been to New York City, Virginia Beach, Sandbridge, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston, Glouster and San Diego.

My wife approached me with the idea that I could pick the destination of our trip for 2017.  No questions - my total choice.   That is a lot of pressure!   This proposition was made to me early in 2016.  I had quite a few places in mind.  Never been to northern California and have always wanted to visit San Francisco.  Yosemite National Park has always been on the short list.  Texas has always been in my thoughts as well with its larger than life people and grand history.  I have some work colleagues that have been to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Glacier National Parks and rave about them.   But what about Alaska?   I've always wanted to go there too.  Take a cruise through the north, see the ice, experience the wild tundra, so to speak!   Even going a bit more tame, visit Canada.   I've thought going to Toronto or Calgary might be a great experience.

The more I thought about it though - the more that Yellowstone kept picking at me.  The amount of sites, the fact that it is the first US national park and the world's first national park just had me think that that this was a great place to start off a non-coastal adventure!

Once locked in to that location - the trip process began!

I really hope that you enjoy this series, from a story perspective as well as from an informational/trip planning perspective.

More to come!  Keep your eye on the site for future posts.