Jalyn Robinson

Editorial Assistant

This week is National Park Week, a time to appreciate the marvels of the natural world and explore our country's most beautiful landscapes, and it has me reminiscing on my very first national park excursion. Last year, I visited Arches National Park, and as someone born and raised in the very-green upstate New York, seeing the area for the first time had me awestruck. The park was literally a sea of red, with sandstone rock formations stacked high into the sky and plants and wildlife that I'd never seen before. For the first half-hour, it was hard to do anything but stare. It was beautiful in a way I hadn't expected it to be. (Since when were rocks beautiful, anyway?) The highlight of that trip was the hike up to see the Delicate Arch, one of the most famous symbols of Utah. I hiked up to 4,850 feet (about 4,470 feet higher than home), and when I got to the top, I was huffing, puffing, and red-faced. Was it hard? Absolutely. But the sights when I got up there made it all worth it. It looked like the world was endless. I was proud. And also exhausted.

For the month of April, TripSavvy is also celebrating solo travel with our newest digital issue. If you're looking to go it alone this year, we've got an entire package of unique first-hand accounts to help guide you on your latest journey. From trip ideas (how about a literary-inspired trip around the globe?) to helpful advice (one of our editors learned a few lessons after biking hundreds of miles by himself), we've got you covered.

And National Park Week is the perfect time to appreciate what's around us and connect with ourselves in the outdoors. Lace up those sneakers and start exploring!

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Destination of the Day

Yellowstone National Park

Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park, located mostly in Wyoming and partly in Montana and Idaho, is America's very first national park. Sitting on top of an active volcano, this park is home to thousands of hydrothermal features, hundreds of geysers and waterfalls, deep rust-colored canyons, and wildlife that often spills out of the pine forests and verdant grasslands and onto the road—bison often cause traffic jams to the delight of millions of annual visitors.

Hikes & Trails

The park is vast in size, comprising more than 2 million acres to explore. With over a thousand miles of hiking trails, you're sure to find a picture-perfect, on-foot nature experience to your liking. No permits are required for day hiking, so you can feel free to roam. Among the best trails are the 6.8-mile North Rim Trail, which offers views of the Yellowstone River winding through the park's very own Grand Canyon, and Fairy Falls, one of Yellowstone's most impressive waterfalls.

Thermal Basins

Most people immediately associate Yellowstone with geysers, but these giant eruptions of hot water are just one type of geothermal feature in the park—you can also see mud pots, hot springs, and fumaroles. Located all over the park, these geologic features are easily accessible via boardwalks and well-maintained trails. Check out Old Faithful—perhaps the most famous geyser in the world for its highly predictable eruptions—or Steamboat Geyster in the Norris Geyser Basin; with eruptions that shoot up to 300 feet in the air, it is the world's biggest geyser.

Where to Stay

When deciding on a Yellowstone hotel, there are several options to consider, including location, cost, and amenities. Hotels are available inside or outside the park, and prices will be higher during the summer than at other times of the year. Amenities also vary and impact cost, with some hotels including options such as pools and restaurants, while others are more basic. The most popular hotels book up at least a year in advance, so be sure to plan ahead.

Vacation Like a Pro

If you're entering Yellowstone through the South Entrance, you'll have to pass through Grand Teton National Park first. It's worth seeing both parks, but be aware that you'll need to pay separate admission fees for each one. If you do plan to visit both parks, consider purchasing an America the Beautiful annual pass.

Wendy Altschuler
Contributing Writer

Your Packing List

The summer season experiences the warmest weather (usually between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit); however, thunderstorms can happen, and nighttime temperatures can be quite cool, necessitating warm layers and rain gear.

Bring more water than you think you'll need to avoid dehydration, even when it's not hot.

If you plan to hike Avalanche Peak, keep in mind that snow can linger on the summit as late as July; be sure to pack accordingly.

Be sure to stock up on some bear spray!

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Get Inspired

The Takin, the national animal of Bhutan, is so rare many people believe it's a mythological creature. Part goat, part antelope, they can be found in bamboo forests at high elevations in the eastern Himalayas. While it's highly unlikely you'll see one in the wild during your trip to Bhutan, you are guaranteed to see one in Thimphu's Takin Zoo.

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