In all of the lower US states, Yellowstone National Park is the largest park with 2.2 million acres. Filled with hot springs, steam vents and geothermal geysers, Yellowstone has become the favorite in vacation destinations for folks all over the country, and in fact, the world.

At 5,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation, the park has a wide range of temperatures throughout the year, averaging 90 degrees in the summer and getting as low as minus 45 in the winter. You'll enter the park through one of five entrances, the north entrance being the only one open in the wintertime.

Once in Yellowstone, you should take the Grand Loop Road, a 142-mile road that runs through the center of the park in a figure eight. There could be heavy traffic, so you should always plan for this. All the major attractions are located along this loop.

Naturally, one of the first things you want to see will be Old Faithful. You'll find it in the Upper Geyser Basin. This most famous geyser erupts about every hour and is a marvelous experience to view for everyone in the family.

Other geysers you can view on this road will be Castle and the Grand, Beehive and Morning Glory Pool. Morning Glory Pool resembles the flower it's named after and has incredible colors. Many hot springs have varied colors depending on their temperatures and the types of algae that grow within them.

When you stop by the Lower Geyser Basin, be sure to see the Fountain Paint Pots. You'll marvel at the colored mud that erupts and bubbles. Although Yellowstone has around 10,000 thermal features, only 3% of those are actually geysers, and only 100 of those erupt daily at 100 feet or higher.

As you travel and peer between the lodgepole pine trees that fill the park, you will be able to see many kinds of wildlife. One famous symbol of Yellowstone is the buffalo. This animal became almost extinct early in the 1900s and Yellowstone became the only place they could roam safely, protected from hunters.

During the summer you will see elk grazing along the side of the road in the early morning or evening, or you may glimpse a moose watering at a stream or lake. Other wildlife you will see will be black or grizzly bears, mule deer, coyotes and some eagles and pelicans.

Don't miss the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, famous for its waterfalls and the variety of colors and shapes in the canyon. This canyon was created by the Yellowstone River and is 20 miles long. If you get there early in the morning, you will see the spectacular colors. The best views are along the South Rim Trail. You will also witness the Lower Falls, the highest in the park.

Yellowstone Lake is a must-see as well. Bring your fishing rod on vacation, because the lake is filled with different species of trout. Enjoy the otters and muskrats that are abundant in the area.