My wife and I are planning a trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons this August with our son, who will be 10 months old. We are scheduled to be gone for 8 to 10 days. We will not be camping but are planning several day hikes within the park. We are trying to get all of our bases covered — not wanting to forget anything. We'll forget something, I know that. Is there any advice you might give concerning traveling with young children?

Les James
Manhattan, Kansas

Alice's Answer:

Sounds like a great trip. In fact, we're heading for Yellowstone this summer ourselves. Your son is at a fine age for such an adventure. He's probably past the fussiness and unpredictability of early infancy, yet he's still not too heavy to be toted along in a child carrier.

Here are a few suggestions, most of which apply to any family trip:

Plan, Plan, Plan
Do as much advance planning as possible. Have all your reservations lined up as early as possible, because these are very popular destinations. Try to get an idea of activities and trails you might like to try. There are plenty of books about these parks; so check your bookstore and library. Three useful cyber-resources include:

		The official Yellowstone website: www.nps.gov/yell/home.htm
		The official Grand Teton website: www.nps.gov/grte/
		Maptech's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park Digital Guide, CD-ROMs for Window PCs that include lodging info, attractions, photos, history, etc., plus topo maps, $29.95 each, or part of a five park series for $59.95. Other national park digital guides are also available; see www.maptech.com

Don't fret-there always seems to be a low-point in the packing process when everyone wonders why they're going on this trip in the first place. Luckily, this phase quickly passes.

A few things you're sure to need for your son:

		Portable crib
		Car seat
		Warm clothes, including warm hat and gloves
		A basic medicine kit for your child, including a thermometer, infant fever drops, infant decongestant drops and other medical needs he might have
		A child carrier so you can get out on those trails
		Sun hat and suntan lotion
		Diapers and wipes, of course, and a bit of any special food or formula your child needs. You don't want to have to go shopping the minute you get to Yellowstone, and it's always possible that some items may be hard to find.

On the Road or In the Air
Take plenty of distractions for your son during travel time. Pack a backpack full of toys and a few snacks to keep him entertained. You can take along some of these items in restaurants too, where distractions are often needed. I still pack a travel fun bag for my six-year-old; the nature of the toys has simply changed over the years.

If you're flying, your son can sit on your lap and you'll save the price of an extra ticket (you can do this until he's two). It's no picnic, but it's worth the effort. You and your wife can take turns on boy-duty.

Keep your little traveler fed, rested, and entertained, and he should be a happy explorer.

Be Realistic
Remember, your son's schedule will be foremost. You're likely to have to adjust plans to meet his mood and schedule. Don't be overly ambitious, but you'll still be able to have plenty of fun.

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