We made our way slowly through the fog until the traffic ahead of us stopped and a ranger approached our window. “Wolves are trying to cross the road ahead, be careful,” he cautioned. I was ecstatic in the backseat at the prospect of catching a glimpse of the elusive creature we had traveled several hundred miles to see. Looking off into the mist, I strained my eyes, willing one to appear. As our car crept forward, my breath caught in my throat as suddenly I saw a dark shape materialize out of the fog. As if sensing me, the wolf stopped and turned his head, sharp eyes meeting mine for an instant before he loped off and disappeared into the fog. It was one of the most magical moments of my life.
Yellowstone National Park is full of moments like the one I had with the wolf. There’s no shortage of exotic wildlife and most of the time bison and bears can be observed just from driving through the park. The first time I visited the park, I was awestruck by the rare beauty of the landscape. With its geysers and hot springs, steaming in the cool air, it has an otherworldly feel to it as if you are stepping back in time. There is even a hot spring cave that sounds as though a dragon lurks in its depths.
The park has tons of attractions such as the Old Faithful geyser and the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. There is also hiking, guided tours and horseback riding. My favorite thing to do was to drive around the park and try to spot people staked out with long distance viewing scopes. Whenever you saw people with those set up, I knew something good was on the other end and the people are always willing to share.
Yellowstone is my favorite place in the world and is definitely going to be a popular destination spot for the rest of my life. Its one of those rare places filled with enchantment and beauty that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.