Yellowstone, established in 1872, is the world’s first national park and has the distinction of being home to the largest collection of mammals in the contiguous United States, as well as the world’s largest collection of geysers. In 2015, more than 4 million visitors traveled to the park to experience its wildlife viewing, recreational opportunities and geothermal features, including Old Faithful Geyser; 2015 marked the highest visitation year on record.
The accolade from Lonely Planet is also significant because, in 2016, the park will honor the centennial year of the National Park Service with various celebrations throughout the year including the 125th anniversary of the Yellowstone Lake Hotel, in the park’s southeast corridor.
“We are delighted to have Yellowstone National Park on this list of elite destinations, which will inspire travel across the country,” said Diane Shober, Executive Director of the Wyoming Office of Tourism. “As millions of tourists around the world can attest, Yellowstone is a special place that represents the unique and dramatic scenery, landscapes and adventure available only in Wyoming.”
The list, published today, includes the iconic Wyoming attraction among other noteworthy destinations, including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (No. 1). Yellowstone National Park is the only national park on the list. To compile the annual list, Lonely Planet asks its US-based editors, authors and contributors, to nominate a variety of attractions and sites. The editorial staff then handpicks the top 10 destinations.
Check WyomingTourism.org today for information on other great Wyoming attractions and destinations.
