>>2090155Hey I'll be there for 2 weeks in July, too. We're staying two nights at Old Faithful lodge, a week at Mammoth, and I think the rest at Roosevelt.
I've been going at least every-other year for oh, almost 40 years now.
Yellowstone is really just two loops, so it's not hard to stop off at everything. There are some out of the way things that are great once you've been going for a long while, but on your first trip hit the biggies:
Some things not to miss:
Yellowstone Canyon: it's a short hike to a beautiful vantage, and there's a nice lunch place. Stop here on your way up to Lamar. It's a crowded but pretty hike. To/from Lamar is the right direction, and that hike is nice and quiet, so it's a good balance
Lamar Valley: A beautiful hike away from the Roosevelt Lodge area. I'd say Canyon in the morning, hike Lamar, then dinner at Roosevelt and sit on the porch in rocking chairs with some drinks and play cards.
Paint Pots / Mud Pots: The artist's paint pots are the best ones. Do them before Norris. They're pretty and a little calmer.
Norris Geyser Basin: The most impressive geysers in the park. Expect to spend some time waiting for erruptions.
Mammot Hot Springs: The springs, lodge and museum are all worth a visit. Make this one a full day.
Old Faithful Lodge & Upper-Lower basins: This is then touristy part of the trip. It's worth doing, though.
West Thumb & Hiking: Pick a trail. Heart lake is nice. Do that and the West Thumb basin. It's small and very steamy. But it's really pretty and very cool to see the boiling geysers inside the lake.
So that's 5 days. You can wrap any of those into each other. But that's how I like it: Roosevelt, Mammot, Norris, Old Faithful, West Thumb.
Then go to Tetons, but it's hella nice and barely populated.
