Travel News

The Great American Travel Experiment: Can You Recreate the Past with a Family Road Trip?

Locations in this article:  Buffalo, NY Philadelphia, PA

Grand Teton National Park

If your budget won’t allow for the family camp experience, you can still take heart. The National Park Service offers many programs that are equally wonderful and free. We took advantage of all of these at nearby Grand Teton National Park. And while the programs didn’t offer up kiddie playmates, the wonders of the area came through loud and clear.

We went to as many ranger-led talks as possible. Informative and fun, the rangers who give these talks often tailor them to children yet they keep them interesting for adults too. In Grand Teton National Park, the subjects were as varied as the effects of climate change on the Tetons to the life cycle of grizzly bears. At night, it was possible to join a ranger around a roaring bonfire for talks about Indian lore and the night sky.

One of many buffalo grazing throughout Yellowstone. Photo credit: Jon Jay.

And then there’s the absolute superstar of kids’ activities in the national parks―the Junior Ranger Program. Differing from park to park, the program always includes a magazine or newspaper filled with educational games that challenge children to learn more about their surroundings. The reward for completing the usually free program? An official swearing-in ceremony complete with a junior ranger badge or patch.

Looking for something with a bit more heft? Don’t underestimate the excellent services provided by the national park lodges. In Grand Teton National Park, we stayed at the famous Grand Teton Lodge. Built in the 1950s by the Rockefeller family, its biggest attraction is the floor-to-sky-high windows that look out onto willow flats where moose, wolves, grizzlies and elk come to feed. (Okay, for our daughter the biggest attraction was the pool). Besides joining a staff guide for the most interesting talk of our vacation, we also loved their many activities.