Every traveler deserves that one perfect vacation spent exploring someplace wonderful, a place that offers peace, serenity, and a natural landscape that will make them long for simpler days in their own hometowns. And if that vacation happens to fall during a season that isn’t usually considered tourist season, a time when traffic jams are rare and wait times in restaurants are shortened, the only thing that could make that vacation even better is knowing that it is West Yellowstone your airplane and rental car are pointed in the direction of, and realizing that every night you will be able to rest your heads on the most comfortable pillows in the state of Montana, simply because you chose Sweet Home Montana for your vacation accommodations. This guide to a West Yellowstone vacation that occurs in the midst of our quiet season is destined to speak to your soul.

The Quiet Season Starts Soon

As summer draws ever closer to its natural conclusion, travelers are returning home in droves, lured by the siren’s song of back to school bells and the realization that the end of the year holidays are almost here. And although you may be tempted to do the same, you also know that your soul needs a few extra days where your responsibilities are few and your free moments are many. You want to sleep in late, greeting the day on your own time schedule and you need to find the moments so serene and peaceful you can tuck them away in your heart to be explored at a later time, perhaps when real life gets too harsh. In West Yellowstone, those quiet days can be found in the months of September and October—April too, but that’s a story for another day! Don’t take that quiet for boredom, however, especially in the fall months when the sounds of elk calling out for a mate may ring through the countryside, and when the call is answered, you too can sleep peacefully knowing the bull has found his cow, and when spring rolls around, new babies will be frolicking in our beautiful landscape.

Faithfully Yours

There are other geysers in Yellowstone National Park, but the first one named is the most famous of all and in the tourist season, Old Faithful can be a little more difficult to access as all the crowds want to witness its predictability. Officially known as a cone geyser, the geyser has erupted every 44 minutes to two hours since the year 2000, with the boiling water reaching heights of up to 125 feet, creating a sensation every time. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the boardwalk that takes you to other, less predictable geysers, springs, and pools known for their beautiful colors and extreme heat and feel as if the entire park belongs to you as you will encounter very few thrill seekers during your adventures. (The Biscuit Basin Interpretive Trail is currently closed due to a hydrothermal explosion, but there are still areas you can enjoy during your visit.)

Play in the Snow

Yes, you read that correctly. Although we can’t predict exactly when, the snow often starts falling sometime in September and October, and although it is chilly, we firmly believe you haven’t lived until you have seen the landscape of West Yellowstone blanketed in the white stuff. For families living in warmer areas, these early season snowstorms can be the first opportunity your children will have to make snow angels and build snowmen, creating memories they will never forget.

Delicious Meals, Little to No Waiting

Parents traveling with young children understand the frustration that can accompany long waits at restaurants, the kiddos are hungry and they don’t care who knows it, but during your late summer or early fall visit, the wait is shortened, and the hearty meals served at places such as Old Town Cafe, 128 Madison Ave, can be quickly devoured, perhaps even before the little tykes realize they are hungry. Also offering lower prices during this quiet season of wonder, your bank account is sure to thank you for visiting West Yellowstone during this most beautiful time of the year!

West Yellowstone Vacation Difference

The quiet moments spent in your Sweet Home Montana seasonal sanctuary will be the ones that help fortify you for the crazy times that lie ahead. Relaxing on large decks that overlook the West Yellowstone countryside where views of trees dressed in their autumn finest or meadows blanketed with snow remind you that it’s the simple things that can provide the largest impact on your peace of mind. Sleep late every morning, play games with the kiddos, and let the peaceful ambience of your Montana home away from home fill you with joy. Our homes will be where you make your most meaningful memories—reserve your favorite escape today!