Being There: Yellowstone National Park -- Winter: Most wonderful time of year

Since retirement, my wife, Sherry, and I have been going to Yellowstone National Park two or three times a year.

We tell our friends we're addicted to the park.

In many ways, winter is the best season.

Although bears are not seen, many other animals can be spotted and photographed more easily.

You don't have to stay at one of the lodges in the park. By staying in a motel in Gardiner, Mont., you can get off-season rates of less than $50.

If you want to go to the geyser areas in winter, you can only go by snowmobile or snow coach, both of which can be reserved at Mammoth Hot Springs, but you don't have to stay there. The round-trip from Mammoth to Old Faithful is more than 100 miles, but it is surely worth doing.