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Maddie Doman

Old Faithful is not the only must-see part of Yellowstone NP. Within 5 minutes of driving into the Lamar Valley area of the park, my group saw bison, coyotes, bears, even a wolf. It is very neat, and humbling. Even if you don't see all of the wildlife I mentioned I think you'll still be satisfied with the landscape.

It is definitely worth walking around on the boardwalk- I would recommend checking out all of the hot springs, as they're all unique. They're pretty photogenic, too.

Make sure you read the placard on your way down to learn how the falls got to be the way that they are. It is fascinating to visit at different points in the year to see the varying levels of flow either through or over the natural bridge. It's fun to get down near the falls, either via the switchbacks or by climbing over the rocks a bit. There are usually a lot of climbers there, if that's your thing.

You could easily complete this as an out and back hike, but it also makes a wonderful overnight hike- it could easily be a multiple night backpacking trip. Make sure you bring your fly fishing rod! There are grayling in Emerald Lake, and cutthroat in Heather Lake. If you're lucky like me, you might even see a bald eagle in action. Seriously, this hike is accessible, *relatively* easy with a lot of payoff, and close to town. Do it! PS I went the end of June- there was still a bit of snow on the trail to Emerald and a LOT of snow on the way to Heather.

I visited Kerry Park while killing time on a visit to Seattle. I just grabbed a coffee and went. It's worth getting out of the city for a bit- even if only for the photo op. The Seattle skyline is iconic, let's be honest!

The viewpoint for these falls are very accessible- the entire path is paved. There are steps towards the end, that offer multiple different viewing angles. It's awesome anytime of the year, but especially beautiful during the fall. It is quick, and definitely worth the time if in the area.