Yellowstone National Park is a familiar name to most Americans, but unfortunately many people do not realize how beautiful it actually is.  In fact, it is the first National Park to be established in the United States.  Yellowstone is my favorite natural area I have seen during my travels.  Every landscape is picturesque, with crystal clear waters, bright blue skies, vibrant burnt-orange brush, and evergreen trees.  We have seen gorgeous landscapes from the east coast to the west coast, but Wyoming, Montana, and northern Idaho exhibit literally breathtaking views.

We arrived at Yellowstone at a perfect time of the year – the spring is bringing in warm weather, and the snow melt is streaming down the rivers.  The wildlife is up and about, especially the bison.  Bison are beautiful!  They are huge, snorting and panting as they walk by.  Nights are still cold in the spring, but it’s nothing a pair of silk underwear can’t handle.

Any level of camping is available in and around Yellowstone.  If you would rather camp in the park close to others, there are plenty of options and areas to do so.  Those who wish to camp in more secluded areas can venture into outskirts of the park.  Nick and I opted for the secluded option but must have visited a little too early in the year since the forests were still closed.  We found an area on the west side to camp, which costs around $12 a night.

For more information about Yellowstone National Park, visit www.nps.gov/yell/.