Post 6: Grand Teton: Grand Views and Genuine Moments

There were so many highlights on this road trip with my mom. We'd already done and seen so much. When it was time to head towards Wyoming, I knew that this would be the last big stop on our road trip. We still had several days together, and I was once again really excited to share Jackson Hole Resort and Grand Teton National Park with her.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

We had just spent two 12-hour days in Yellowstone and would likely have long days in Grand Teton, so this day in between allowed us to have a "slower" day. We slept in a little and enjoyed breakfast in West Yellowstone before the 2.5 hr drive to Jackson, Wyoming.

Driving into Jackson was the perfect time for us to visit Teton Village at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. We would have the afternoon to explore and then end the day at our hotel. Riding the tram to the summit for the famous waffles at Corbet's Cabin is a must! We chose to share the mixed berry waffle, making the perfect afternoon snack! The tram ride allows you to see the ski area, including Corbet's Couloir. This is the famous location of the Kings and Queens of Corbert's competition.

Next, we walked around the resort for a bit and decided to take the gondola to another peak; it's really nice that it's all included in one ticket. This was my mom's first time in a gondola. I think it was fun for her to see and experience another ski resort and get an idea of what it's like to be on the mountain during ski season. There really is so much to see and do at the ski resorts in the summer.

After the gondola, we meandered through the shops and various activities going on. Finally, we had dinner at the Mangy Moose, a Jackson Hole classic. The food is always so good, and the western mountain atmosphere creates a great experience.

Grand Teton National Park

Our first day in Grand Teton National Park started with some of the most legendary views of the park: Mormon Row, Schwabacher Landing, Snake River Overlook, and Oxbow Bend! It was a relaxing morning to drive through the park and visit these sites. We really enjoyed the quietness and taking pictures! It felt much less busy and at a slower pace than Yellowstone had been. That was nice since we had been traveling for several days at this point.

Two memories that pop into my head from this morning were stopping to get some pictures, and my mom was excited to be wearing her Tour Divide shirt for Keith, who was just over a week into his ride at that point. She took this cute picture to send to him for encouragement and support. It was super sweet! The other memory is when we stopped at the Jackson Lake Lodge and were so impressed with the view that we decided to get an outdoor table at the Blue Heron Lounge for lunch. Sitting outside with our food and drinks, just chatting with the amazing view, is a core memory for me.

In the afternoon, we made a stop at Mount Moran, named for the famous landscape artist Thomas Moran. We even saw a woman with her easel and paints out in the field painting. Then took a walk along the shoreline of String Lake. The trail makes a 4-mile loop around the lake, but we opted to walk for a while before turning around and coming back the way we came. Once again, it was quality time with my mom and just the perfect mix of enjoying this stunning scenery and chatting it up! Next up, a stop at Teton Glacier, the largest glacier in the park, before heading back to the town of Jackson for dinner and some shopping.

Our second day in Grand Teton National Park started with some wet weather. We weren't sure how to adjust our plans for the day since everything is pretty much outdoors. Coffee is always a good place to start, so we headed to Persephone Coffee in Jackson. There is another location in Moose, WY, located northwest of Jackson, and that might have just been the start of my coffee rankings. Keith and I, along with some friends, got coffee there several times since we were staying nearby. It ended up that I made my mom stand in the line, out the door in the rain, for some time before we got to place our order. It was packed, and with the rain, that meant the seating was very limited because more than half was outdoors. We ended up getting coffee and pastries to go and ate in the car. It was as good as I remembered!

Our main goal for the day was to take the Jenny Lake Shuttle across the lake to hike to Hidden Falls, maybe even hike to Inspiration Point. It's hard to know how busy the shuttle will be across the lake. Since it was June 22, I worried it was prime family vacation season and didn't want to get there too late in the afternoon. I guess the rain scared people off because there wasn't much of a wait. We weren't sure if we were the smart people or making a dumb decision to hike in the rain.

It was chilly and technically stopped raining by the time we arrived at the visitor center. We took the boat across and started our hike to Hidden Falls. We enjoyed the hike, and the gradual uphill kept us just warm enough. As we began back down the trail, it started snowing. It was surreal and felt magical! Since we weren't sure how long this was going to last, we decided not to hike to Inspiration Point. That proved to be the right choice because once we got back to the visitor center, the snow got slightly heavier/wetter, and the wind made it quite cold. Our day was complete after a scenic drive through Moose, WY, looking for wildlife and dinner downtown.

Upcoming Post

Check back next week as my mom and I leave Wyoming and head to my home in Orem, Utah. We have just a couple more days together before she flies back to Indiana.

Have you visited Grand Teton National Park? What are some of your favorite sights in the park? Let us know in the comments section below.👇 💬