This 1904 national historic landmark, a rustic-style lodge, is just steps from the famous Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. Designed to reflect the surrounding forces of nature, the interior has 65-foot ceilings and a stone fireplace. Families can climb up a gnarled log staircase and experience the grandeur of the space from different internal balconies; and although it’s no longer opened to the public there’s even a crow’s nest, where a chamber orchestra initially performed for the guests standing in the lobby below.

The Inn's 327 units, including six suites, are in the main building and in wings that flank the main lodge. Be clear about which amenities you require upon check in, as some rooms don’t have private baths. These rooms have a sink with hot and cold water and share a hallway bathroom with a shower. Mid- range rooms have one or two queen beds and a private bath equipped with a tub, toilet and sink. Suites have a well-appointed sitting room with a refrigerator, a bedroom with two queen beds, a private bathroom with a tub/shower, sink and toilet. None of the rooms have televisions, radios, air conditioning, or Internet access.

The Old Faithful Inn is not open during the winter, which is generally December through March.

Yellowstone-area lodging is rustic, pretty much across the board; and Old Faithful Inn is no exception. You won't find organized children's programs, babysitting, or many of the modern conveniences your family may be accustomed to. Stay here because of what is at your doorstep.

Nearby activities include a Junior Ranger Program which is open to children ages 5 to 12. Families pay a $3 fee for the 12-page activity paper, available at any visitor center. After completing age-appropriate requirements like attending a ranger-led program, hiking on a park trail and studying park resources, parents return the form and review their work with a ranger at any visitor center. Kids are then awarded with an official Yellowstone Junior Ranger patch.

Kids ages 5 and older can also take part in Yellowstone Park's in-park science inquiry paper and become an official "young scientist."

Families can also purchase a self-guiding booklet for $5 at the Canyon Visitor Education Center or Old Faithful Visitor Center and begin to investigate the mysteries of Yellowstone by completing activities in the visitor center and field. If kids are investigating in the Old Faithful area, they can pick up a Young Scientist Toolkit, which has a thermometer, stopwatch, and other gear. Once their investigation is complete, they will be awarded an official Young Scientist patch or key chain.

Located 52 miles from Yellowstone in Cody, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is home to five museums devoted to western cultural and natural history all under one roof; and admission to all five museums is good for two consecutive days. These include the Plains Indian Museum, which documents the cultures and histories of the Plains Indians, the Cody Firearms Museum which exhibits rare firearms, the Draper Museum of Natural History which sheds light on the Yellowstone ecosystem, the Buffalo Bill Museum which documents the life and legend of Buffalo Bill Cody and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art which features western art works.

Other family-friendly ideas:
Yellowstone Stagecoach Adventures offer a half-hour ride on a replica stagecoach drawn by two horses through sagebrush flats.

The Yellowstone old West dinner cookout takes place in Pleasant Valley. Eat a buffet dinner while being entertained by a cowboy singer.

Take a Yellowstone Lake Scenicruise aboard the Lake Queen for a one-hour guided tour of Yellowstone Lake.

If you're in the mood to do a little shopping, the Old Faithful Inn gift store has an assortment of regional carvings and bronzes, Native American jewelry, drums, headdresses, and an outstanding array of artifacts.

The Old Faithful Inn offers several dining options. With its large stone fireplace adorned with an original painting of the geyser basin, The Old Faithful Inn’s dining room, seats 300 and offers a kids’ menu at all meals. Breakfast includes a la carte items as well as a buffet with kid favorites like cold cereal, French toast, omelets and bagels. Lunch selections include peanut butter and jelly, hamburgers, fresh salads, sandwiches, house specialties like roasted red pepper and smoked gouda soup, baked brie, vegetarian ruebens and a western-style buffet. Dinner options include kid favorites like chicken tenders and macaroni n' cheese a dinner buffet or signature specialties like; pan-seared elk medallions and pork osso buco.

The Bear Paw Deli has deli-style items like sandwiches, salads, ice cream and treats, and seats 70.

Nearby dining options include the Old Faithful Lodge & Cafeteria and the Bake Shop, which are located adjacent to the geyser basin and serve up hot entrées, sandwiches, pastas, and salads.

There is no room service at any of the lodges in Yellowstone National Park.