Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular natural tourist sites in the United States, but there is a lot more to the history and subject of geyser tourism. People have been visiting geysers for over a hundred years. In the early 19th century, Waimangu Geyser was a very popular tourist site, resulting in the construction of hotels nearby and the creation of a tour—“the Round Tour”—that is still given today years after that particular geyser became extinct.

Since geysers are actually quite rare—there are only about 1000 in the entire world— there are only a handful of spots to go geyser gazing. Geysers are concentrated in five countries. There is Yellowstone National Park in the United States, the Dolina Geiserov and the Kamchatka Valley of Geysers in Russia, the El Tatio geyser field in Chile, the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand, and many places in Iceland.

Unsurprisingly, many of these places have capitalized on their natural resources and done their best to create a thriving tourist industry around them. Many of the world’s geyser fields are located in remote or difficult to access places because of the requirements for the formation of geysers. The terrain is usually near volcanoes where there is a high level of geothermal activity along with the right type of rock to withstand the water pressure. This can create some difficulties in creating a spot that is practical for tourists to visit. The Kamchatka Valley of Geysers is very hard to access. In fact, groups have to be brought in by helicopter over the mountains. The secluded valley only has one hotel, but even with the difficulties and expense in getting there, thousands of tourists still flock to the Valley of Geysers each year.

There are often other things to see around geyser tourists sites. For instance, Yellowstone National Park has incredible wildlife, such as bison, wolves, and bears. It is also one of the easiest geyser fields to access and can handle large crowds of tourists. Additionally, there are plenty of hotels near the National Park where tourists can stay in comfort or they can rough it and camp at the park. New Zealand—the site of the Waimangu Geyser—has had a history of geyser tourism for over a century. The El Tatio geyser field in Chile is another popular site in the southern hemisphere. Although it is located in a remote and sparsely populated part of the Andes Mountains, there are tour guides that bring you to the geyser fields and you can camp at the park or stay in San Pedro and drive up.

Despite theme parks, resorts, and other new vacation destinations, many tourists still love visiting natural wonders of the world, like the geyser fields as can be seen by the millions who visit geyser all around the world each year. Some countries that contain geysers have taken steps to insure that these natural wonders are protected, so they can be admired by future generations.

You have set aside the time, picked the perfect spot to go, and gotten your directions from the internet. You are all ready for a day of geyser gazing right? Before you head off to the geyser field of your choice, there are some basics that you should make sure to bring with you.

One of the most important things to remember for geyser gazing is sensible clothing. Wear sturdy shoes like boots that can handle rough terrain because you will probably have to do a lot of walking. Boots are also a good idea because they provide more protection in case you step into a hot spring or geyser pool, which can severely burn you. Since geyser gazing may involve a lot of hiking, wear clothing that is loose and comfortable enough to move in while protecting you from the elements. Jeans, cargo pants, t-shirts and sweatshirts are a good idea. You might also want to wear a baseball hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. Sunscreen is a very good thing to have for an all-day excursion. Make sure that you bring it with you instead of putting it on at home, so you can reapply it later on in the day.

If you are making the trip in late autumn or in the winter, bundle up with layers, so you can remove articles of clothing as you warm up from hiking and the midday sun. Bring binoculars in order to check out the geysers from a safe distance and to spot far off geysers. You may get so busy that you forget your growling stomach, but you should consider whether you want to pack a lunch or go to a nearby restaurant. Do not wait until you are in the middle of your tour and find yourself starving without any food. Since geyser fields are tourist spots, the odds are there are many restaurants within a reasonable distance from the geysers. Even if you are not going to eat lunch at the park, make sure you bring water to prevent dehydration.

In addition to bringing binoculars, you will not want to forget your camera. Many of the sights at geyser fields are stunning and you want to be able to capture that memory. You may also want to carry a small notebook and pen to record your observations about the geyser. It might be wise to bring a small first-aid kit—a few bandages, band-aids, and some anti-bacterial wipes—in case you get hurt during your sightseeing. You can carry all of your belongings in a backpack or messenger bag.

Make certain to bring materials about geysers. You do not want to bring encyclopedias because you will have to carry them. Try to bring a paperback guide about geysers and pick up any materials that the park office or visitors’ center offers. If possible, check out the schedule for the geysers’ eruptions ahead of time online. If that is not available, check the schedule when you get to the geyser field and plan your route accordingly. Geyser gazing can be a very enjoyable experience and a little preparation will make it all that much better.

Geyser gazing is the observation and study of geysers with the naked eye or with devices like binoculars. Most geyser gazers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons unlike geologists who are engaged in the formal scientific study of geysers.

Equipment used by geyser gazers most commonly include a digital camera, digital camcorder, binoculars, trail map, compass and GPS device. Geyser gazing can be a lot of fun and it is very entertaining for the kids. Yellowstone National Park makes geysers very accessible for geyser gazing.