We’re home, and settling into the green of western Washington. We had a great trip, but I am always reminded when I come home of what a beautiful place we live in. However, Montana is now high on my list of livable places. I'll tell you why another time.
Meanwhile, I highly recommend the northern part of Yellowstone. That said, I'm glad we saw as much of the more southern thermal activity as we did (and we could have done a lot more) because Leah loved it. I was surprised by her enthusiasm, but I think this was her favorite part of the park. If you decide to go, don't forget to make reservations early at travelyellowstone.com (I actually talked to a person on the phone who made recommendations). As in now for next summer. Or at least this winter for next summer. Even if you're camping. It's that busy.
Ty’s highlight: The bison walking down the centerline in the Lamar Valley (a beautiful place indeed). Actually, the real highlight was watching Leah, normally a hardy soul, panic as we squeezed past in the left lane. I wanted to take a close-up photo of this guy, but we were so close I couldn’t get him in the frame, and I decided, too, it might be better not to make eye contact as we were moving past. What if he decided to butt the car? What then?
Leah’s highlight: Sapphire Pool near the Firehole River, not far from Old Faithful. 
Although the pool is beautifully blue and enticing, you wouldn’t want to swim here. Too hot. About as hot as you can get, in fact (the bluer the pool, the hotter the temperature). Wildlife like to hang out among the thermal pools, particularly in the winter, but they risk breaking through the thermal crust, and, yes, even animals make mistakes. Think bleached bones.
Curt and Joanna’s highlight: Hiking Mt. Washburn to a panoramic view at 10,243 feet.
Curt loves hiking, and I was happy to discover that my ankle didn’t complain. (And I love hiking too, as well as wildflowers, which were in full bloom). We both loved not driving for a while.
Other highlights: Uncle Tom’s Trail with 328 steps to get down to the viewing platform in the “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.” The yellow rock of the canyon is what gives Yellowstone its name.
The view of the “Grand Canyon” from Artist Point.
And while not a highlight, the crowds at Old Faithful did make for good people watching. You have to go there in a sociological frame of mind or you could end up irritated.
Overheard conversations: From a dad to his four-year-old son: "You have to what? We were just at the bathrooms."
From a dad to his teenage son: "We're going to figure out a place to have some lunch." Unintelligible muttering from son. Dad: "I don't care if your mom said you could have ice cream, we're having lunch first." More unintelligible muttering. Dad: "Lunch!"
Ah, the universal language of parenting that makes you feel like maybe you're not doing so badly after all. I haven't mentioned our horse ride at all. Next time.