STEP THREE: Make Your Can’t-Miss List
>> What should I do while I’m here? <<
You made it to Step Three! Up until now, the steps have been pretty simple….but it’s time to dig into the nitty-gritty of trip planning.
Your task now is to decide what you want to see while you are in Yellowstone. This will likely involve several hours of planning and research.
Or…if you’d like to bypass this step, you should take a look at this Yellowstone Itinerary. I’ve already done all the hard work for you!
Now it’s time to get out your notes and laptop and get ready to research.
First, you’ll want to make a list of the things you absolutely don’t want to miss while you are in Yellowstone.
These are the big points of interest that initially made you excited about taking a trip to the park.
You may find the official NPS website and the Dirt In My Shoes Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone helpful for finding the can’t-miss spots.
If it’s your first time to Yellowstone, your list will probably include places like Old Faithful, Artist Point, and Grand Prismatic.
This list might also include wildlife viewing spots, activities you’d like to take part in, or restaurants you’re dying to try depending on your own personal interests and priorities.
Second, make a list of things that would be nice to do or see if you’re able to fit them in.
Maybe you’re excited about the geysers, but you’re not sure if you’ll be able to get to a few of the smaller ones. Put those smaller ones on this list.
Maybe you want to see the waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, but you’re not sure how much time you’ll have to hike down to them. Put those hikes on this list.
Third, use the lists you made to group the activities together by region.
Take a look at the Yellowstone map and organize the things you want to do based on where they are located within the park.
For example, a few of the main regions in Yellowstone are Old Faithful, Canyon Village, and Mammoth Hot Springs. Referring to this list of things you can’t miss, I’d lump Artist Point, Uncle Tom’s Trail, and Mud Volcano under the Canyon Village Area. The Old Faithful Area would include Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic…..and so on.
It is possible to have a disastrous time in Yellowstone, which is why this step is so important to complete. Yellowstone is definitely not a place you just want to show up to without a good plan.
Don’t forget that I’ve already created an itinerary for you if you need some help completing this step.
It’s much easier to move forward with planning if you have a list of must-see’s organized together by region….and it sure will come in handy over the next two steps as we wrap up your Yellowstone plan.
That’s it for Step Three! Now on to Step Four, where you’ll learn all about the entrances and towns that surround the park.
Click NEXT to plan out your lodging.
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