You Need A Vacation And Yellowstone Is Calling

The average couple hasn't had a vacation in seven months, and for most, it's been longer than that.  So, it's time to hit the road to save the relationship!  How about Yellowstone?

I took my daughter to Yellowstone two years ago, and the images are still with me.  Literally, because they're on my phone.  But when I shuffle through those pictures, I can't help but want to beam myself back there and soak in the atmosphere.  The Tetons are gorgeous, the air is crisp, and the hot springs are, well, dangerous.

Any guess exactly how hot this "hot spring" is?

Yellowstone has several of these hot water features around Old Faithful in the western side of the park, but we saw this steamy bed on the eastern side at a place called West Thumb.

Part of Yellowstone sits on a volcano in Wyoming, and that means some odd landscape features pop up creating steam, mud bubbles, and super hot mini-lakes.  The tour guide told me that this one reaches 221 degrees Celsius, which would be over 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Ouch.  It looks so blue and inviting.  But ouch.  Even in the winter with 10 to 12 feet snow all around, this little water feature is still hot and steamy.

Many of the hot springs around Idaho are swimmable, but of course, we're not sitting on top of a volcano that we know of.  Rocky Canyon Hot Springs is right above the Middle Fork of the Payette River and those are the closest to Boise.  (From VisitIdaho.org - Take South Middle Fork Road for 12 miles from downtown Crouch. The road will turn to gravel after about 8 miles and a small pull-off on the left side will signal the parking area after the remaining 4. Look for steam across the river and pools on the hillside.)

Six in ten people have canceled travel plans this year because of the pandemic.  The average couple hasn't taken a vacation in seven months, and for those with kids, it's been eleven months.  If not now, then soon, right?  When the restrictions fully lift, there will be some pent up energy to hit the road for sure.

Some lodges at Yellowstone are still closed, but most of the features and campgrounds are open.  You can always check HERE before you head out.