When I mention that my family and I just returned from a trip to the Grand Tetons, the response I hear is “I’ve always wanted to go there.” Well now is the time. We had an awesome time thanks to the “Experience the Tetons” package at the Jackson Lake Lodge and the Snake River Lodge & Spa.
Jackson Wyoming and the Grand Teton mountain range provide a stunning backdrop for an awe-inspiring family vacation. The Tetons are the most spectacular mountains in the continental US. They are huge, rising 7,000 feet from the valley floor with no foot hills, the mountains jut up from the plains in a dramatic fashion unlike ranges anywhere else. And the unique geography makes for a neat learning opportunity for kids.
The town of Jackson is an old west town come to life. With its central square complete with elk antler archways and wooden sidewalks, spending a day wandering the streets is a welcome reprieve from the active adventures of your trip.
The “Experience the Tetons” package provides a hassle free way to hit the highlights without worry. First, you don’t have to worry about the lodging. The trip started with a stay at the Snake River Lodge at the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The Snake River Lodge in Teton Village is one of the premiere luxury ski lodges in the Country and the rooms, food and amenities are all first class. While there we ate at the Gamefish restaurant and the food was outstanding. The elk ravioli was a favorite for sure.
Our visit was in late May which was definitely still shoulder season. Even with a bit of snow in the sky, we still were able to pack in the adventures. We rode the Tram to the 10,000 foot top of Jackson Hole and were transported to a winter wonderland. We played in the snow, caught glimpses of the majestic Grand Teton peeking through the clouds and popped into Corbet’s Cabin on the summit for some waffles (try them with Nutella!).
Back at the base, we made the short drive to Spring Creek Ranch for a trail riding western style. As a travel writer, I’ve now been on quite a few good trail rides and can easily say this was the best. Our guide and the horses were all outstanding, but the location was what separates this from the others. The one-hour ride took us in a 360 loop around the top of a butte located in the Jackson Hole valley, and every few minutes brought a new mountain to gawk at.
Our stay at “the Snake” also included a visit to the Spa (a dip in the pool and hot tub for me and the kids and an excellent massage for the spouse), as well as a fun Chuck Wagon ride, cookout and show thanks to the crew at the Bar T 5 Ranch. The show is a bit hokey, so put your sensibilities aside for a few hours and let the kids enjoy the faux-west.
The second half of our trip was hosted by the Grand Teton Lodging Company at the Jackson Lake Lodge and the drive from Teton Village into the Grand Teton National Park and the lodge was an adventure in and of itself. Within minutes, we encountered a pair of mule deer snacking on some spring grass by the road. We got some great pictures (we wished for a better camera, consider bringing the camera you’d bring on an African Safari because that’s how awesome the wildlife spotting is…). Continuing on, we saw a few cars pulled over and saw a moose in a roadside bog. We quickly learned that stopped cars mean nearby wildlife is in view. At the next cluster of minivans and SUV’s, we almost gave up too soon and, after craning our necks to see what everyone else saw, we just about pulled away when I noticed something big and brown near the trees . . . a mama grizzly bear and two cubs!
We were glad we were in the car and they were 200 yards away, but it was an awesome sight to see: the biggest, baddest predator on the Continent. As we finished the drive to Jackson Lake Lodge, we spotted elk and bison to round out the day.
Jackson Lake Lodge is a bit more rustic than the Snake River Lodge, but views are stunning to say the least (I’m running out of adjectives…). The lodge itself overlooks Willow Flats with a 60 foot high glass wall. Willow flats is a spring feast for the winter weary denizens of the park, so elk, moose, deer and more graze within site of the lodge. We upgraded to a “view room” which was worth asking for. The views of the flats, with the Tetons directly behind are something we’ll never forget.
Since we were early in the season, we missed the Jackson Lake dinner cruise that’s part of the package, but thoroughly enjoyed the scenic float down the Snake River instead. Our river guide Scott regaled us with descriptions of the wildlife we saw (elk, bald eagles and more), and his knowledge of local history was impressive (ask how “dead man’s bar” got its name).
We had a few meals at the Pioneer Grill and the Wild Salmon BLT and Southwestern Breakfast Burrito totally rocked. The kids enjoyed their chicken fingers and Lucky Charms (sigh…).
In four days, we packed in a week or more worth of adventure and there’s still more to do and see. If you’ve ever thought of going to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons with your family, there’s no better time and no excuse to put it off. We had a blast, and look forward to going back for more. For details, check out www.snakeriverlodge.com or www.gtlc.com
