Q Is it possible to visit Yellowstone in winter? I want to take my two children, 7 and 10, and would like to know what sort of activities in the park would be suitable for them. We'd prefer lodging inside the park.
Barbara Shepherd
Gaithersburg
A Winter lodging is available in Yellowstone at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge Dec. 18-March 12, with rates starting at about $80 per night, and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Dec. 23-March 5, with nightly rates starting at $96.
An activity schedule has not yet been posted for the coming season, but last winter several ranger-led programs were held, including a daily "Geysers Galore" talk, evening slide shows, snowshoeing tours and wildlife walks. Concessionaires conduct daily snowcoach tours of the park, and cross-country skiing is also offered.
If you like to snowmobile, you're in luck. A federal judge recently struck down a ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. The park service is working on a snowmobile winter-use plan that will be finalized next month. Most likely, it will allow 720 commercially guided snowmobiles per day into Yellowstone. Snowmobile operators must be licensed drivers within Yellowstone, but your children can ride as passengers.
For more details: National Park Service, 307-344-7381, www.nps.gov/yell. For lodging: 307-344-7311, www.travelyellowstone.com.
My husband and I are planning a vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii, but he has heard the volcano may become more active, which could affect our plans. What do you know of this situation?
Hanna Gurl
Madison, Wis.
