Yellowstone Adventure Hike Montana 5D Trip for $1800, Kids 15 Percent Off
Hiking our nation's oldest national park on your own sounds great, but when you've got a tent strapped to your back and you're being followed by a brood of traveling companions who'd rather play video games than relish the great outdoors, even Yellowstone National Park doesn't seem worth the effort.
Big Adventures For The Small
Montana-based Zephyr Adventures (888/758-8687) knows the ins and outs of Yellowstone, and their knowledgeable guides can help your entire family appreciate the abundant natural wonders with kid and adult-friendly activities, comfortable hotel arrangements and recently reduced prices for young travelers.
This summer, drag the kids away from the air-conditioning and hop on a flight to Billings Logan International Airport in Montana, where you meet your enthusiastic guides for the 5 day/4 night Yellowstone Family Adventure.
Adventurers will first be treated with a Fourth of July celebration complete with fireworks, rodeos and parades. After that, it's time for wildlife spotting and geological formation discovery via the high-elevation Beartooth Pass. Kids will even have the chance to see injured wildlife recuperating at the Beartooth Nature Center. Sure to be a kid-pleaser, the Old Faithful geyser and a last night stay at the Chico Hot Springs Resort in Montana's Paradise Valley are scheduled as well. During the initial nights of your trip, you'll stay at a number of Yellowstone's lodges, among them the Chateau Rouge.
To help get them out the door and into the wild, Zephyr is giving kids aged 17 and under a discount of 15% if they stay in a room with their parent. Prices for this 5-day adventure program are $1,800 per person with a single supplement option of $600. Other savings are available this summer, too.
Just For The Big Kids
Zephyr Adventures also offers the rigorous 5 day/4 night Trek to Old Faithful Adventure. Trekking 33 miles over four days, hikers will get to experience first-hand the wonders of the wilderness and the area's geothermal features.
The lucky and exhausted traveler will be well rewarded along the way with a soothing soak in two separate geothermal hotspring as well as the chance to watch the powerful eruption of the Lonestar Geyser. Later, guests will ride on horseback and indulge in a truly simple, but authentic western pioneer's meal with Dry Ridge Outfitters. The trying experience will finally be capped off with a celebratory stay at the Old Faithful Inn, where, instead of sleeping in tents outdoors, guests can enjoy a more "civilized" and comfortable overnight accommodation at the world's largest log structure.
Zephyr Adventures typically offers this trip, which includes guides, activities, lodging, and meals, for $1900 per person ($400 single supplement). Guests can choose to bring their own sleeping bag or rent one for $75. Good for those who were Boy Scouts but easy enough to learn for those who weren't, it's suggested that each person has some basic map reading skills.
Details, Details
Zephyr also runs a similar itinerary to Glacier National Park, another family favorite. Because these trips are designed with families in mind, no previous experience or specific fitness level is required for any of the activities, and kids as young as 5-years-old can have a blast getting active and learning at the same time. Even the most reluctant kids won't miss their Nintendos and Playstations.
The Yellowstone program takes place in September, while Glacier National Park itineraries run through August. Keep in mind that August brings warm summer days but much cooler nights in this mountainous region, so be sure to pack some slightly warmer clothing for evening excitement.
If you're looking for more to do in the area, be sure to read up on FTF's Going Wild At Yellowstone National Park article.
