Trip to Island Park in July

Would you recommend staying at Grandmas Cabins in Island Park? We have a group of 12 going, 5 kids under the age of 9 and this is our first trip to Island Park. Could you suggest some favorite things to see and do? We are planning to spend a day or two in west yellowstone as well, if anyone could suggest some favorites there as well. Thanks!

Trip to Island Park in July

Never stayed at Grandma%26#39;s Cabins - so I can%26#39;t give you a recommendation there. We%26#39;ve stayed at Pond%26#39;s Lodge a couple of times, and enjoyed it. The restaurant at Pond%26#39;s isn%26#39;t bad (family run, so the service is a bit slow, but the food is good and reasonable). Pond%26#39;s is right on Hwy 20 on the northern side of the ';downtown'; area.

In West Yellowstone there%26#39;s a big pharmacy on the corner of South Canyon (the main street through town)and Madison Street. There%26#39;s a fountain in the middle of the store and a toy section on the second level. Kids are allowed (encouraged!) to play with the toys up there. We stop at this store every time we drive through W. Yellowstone (twice a year, usually) and our kids have always loved it (we have three girls: 9, 11 %26amp; 13 now). There%26#39;s also an IMAX theater (maybe a bit spendy if you%26#39;re on a budget with several kids) and Bear exhibit. We generally eat at the Gusher Pizzeria (Madison and Dunraven) - a bit divey but relatively cheap. There%26#39;s a mall (think small-town here) around the pharmacy that%26#39;s worth wandering around (upper-end antiques, western art, indian jewelry, that kind of stuff).

The gas station on the corner of South Canyon and Yellowstone Ave (where you%26#39;d turn if you were entering the park) has an old fashioned soda fountain that the kids enjoy, too (ice cream sundaes, malteds).

The park will cost you $25.00 for a one week pass (even if you%26#39;re only there one day) to drive through. It%26#39;s about a two hour loop (plus stops)to see the lower basin of the park (the lower is more interesting than the upper from a number-of-geysers-and-animals point of view). If you%26#39;ve got limited time, just go to Old Faithful and back (and stop at the Painted Mud Pots).

Trip to Island Park in July

Thanks for the information. We will definately have to check out some of those spots in Yellowstone and take the 2 hour drive, sounds great!

We stayed at Grandma%26#39;s cabin Christmas 2004 and it was very cozy. We had 9 adults and 3 children. There is a huge master bedroom with 1 bed. There is a bedroom upstairs with 1 queen and 1 single, and there is a bedroom with 4 beds next to that. Great location. Only drawback is 1 bathroom. Other than that everything was wonderful. Mack%26#39;s Inn has a float trip for 30 bucks that will take 8 people down the river. They will drop you off at the river and pick you and the raft up at the bottom.

Of course, you have to see Yellowstone. If you want to stay in Yellowstone, there are some great cabins near Old Faithful that you can get for as little as 50 bucks a night.

West Yellowstone is a must see. It has some really cool restaurants and shops downtown. There is also an Imax there. Island Park has great fishing. If you feel like taking a scenic ride, drive up to the top of ';two top';. You will be able to see for miles.

If you go to the dock at Buffalo Creek Campground, you can float on innertubes and floaties down to Pond%26#39;s Lodge. Just send someone down there to pick you up. It is a very slow paced river from that point and you can just lay back and relax.

Have fun!

Grandma%26#39;s Cabin is set back off the highway, quiet and clean. Good amenities. Their web site is www.grandmascabin.com the pictures and stuff are accurate to what is there. Great place to relax.

Island Park is centrally located for Yellowstone and Grand Teton Park for area activities. Horseback riding at Harriman State Park, river float trip from Big Springs where you can feed large trout. Their web site lists area attractions as well.