#Gates50States

We visited Wyoming as part of our Summer of 2016 Western trip that included Idaho and Montana.  After spending some days in southeastern Idaho with the kids, we drove back to Jackson Hole to meet up with RG.

As it turned out, RG got stuck in Chicago, missing his 10am flight out to Jackson Hole because of high winds and tornadoes above the clouds.  It took him running from terminal to terminal in O’Hare after the flight was eventually canceled (after 14 hours of waiting) to catch a 12:20am-Central flight to Denver, then renting a Nissan at an extortionist’s rate from Hertz for an 8 hour drive north to meet up with us around 10:00am-Mountain.  His suitcase beat him to the airport.  While exhausted, he said the drive was absolutely beautiful as the sun rose over the southwest Wyoming plains and one that he’s glad he made.

In any event, this hiccup shortened our plans for the Grand Tetons, but as we’ve said before, ya gotta be flexible.

Before he arrived…

Although I really liked the idea of staying in downtown Jackson, with it’s quaint shops and restaurants and picturesque setting, there weren’t very many feasible options with a kitchenette or fridge for a family of 5. After completing the trip I can say with supreme confidence I’m glad we didn’t stay in town. Traffic was nightmare and we were so thankful to be located closer to the park entrance in such a gorgeous setting.

Moulton Ranch Cabins, located in Moose, WY, just 13 miles north of Jackson and situated along historic Mormon Row, was an excellent choice. With Grand Teton and roaming bison visible from the deck, I don’t really see what else one could possibly ask for in a vacation rental. Hal and Iola, the resident owners, were kind and helpful without being intrusive. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition and the kids had a blast on the old-fashioned swings and playing baseball with some kids from another cabin. Mornings could be spent bundled up in a blanket on the deck with coffee just waiting for the sun to kiss the face of Grand Teton, or strolling down Mormon Row, camera at the ready.  Either way, it’s impossible to be disappointed!

(As an aside, if you happen to be traveling without kids, there’s a terrific 10 mile loop run from Mormon Row to Kelly to Antelope Flats. A well-maintained, multi-purpose trail is also available running from Jackson to the Jenny Lake Visitor’s Center for cycling enthusiasts.)

Our cabin, The Grand, came equipped with a full kitchen (bring all you need because the closest Albertson’s is about 30 minutes away) and grill on the deck. A queen bed, Queen Sleeper sofa and 2 twin beds in the loft gave us all a comfy place to sleep after long days of fun. I wish we could have stayed much longer.

RG and I always liked to stay flexible enough on State vacations to allow for spontaneous activities we discover after arriving. Our first day in Jackson, before the men arrived, Mom and I saw a flyer for the local rodeo. RG was supposed to get there in time, so we went ahead and bought tickets. Although he didn’t make it, the grandparents and I packed up the kids and attended anyway. The rodeo was awesome! What a great way to show the kids a pastime so specific to the area! Bronco and bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing in 2 action-packed hours. LG even gave sheep penning a try with about a hundred other kids – hilarious, but poor sheep!  Check it out on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summer.

We also stopped into the Laurance S. Rockefeller Visitors Center situated at the trailhead and picked up an Activity Backpack which contained crayons, magnifying glass, activity book and other fun stuff for the kids.

After we picked up RG from the airport, we had a day to spend on a nice walk and some water time for the kids in GTNP. The Phelps Lake Trail was a great way to start the day. Not too difficult for the kids with several different routes available if you may not be able to make the whole 7.2 mile loop. We didn’t opt to hike the loop around the lake, just the Lake Trail to get out there and the Woodland Trail to head back. Get to the parking area early though since there are limited spaces available.

Wanting to see as much of the park in one day as possible, we next headed to String Lake. Research indicated the trail was an out-and-back variety we could take at an easy pace looking for swimming areas along the way. Again the parking was packed! There are several parking areas around, so definitely keep going and check the next one if cars are already lining up on the road. We prefer a more peaceful (i.e. less populated) trail and swimming area, so we just kept hiking north towards Leigh Lake until the crowds thinned out and we found something appealing. In late June the water was still freezing. Of course, the kids didn’t mind that much, but the adults were total popsicles.  🙂  One thing I was totally unprepared for however were the flies. They were everywhere and unrelenting. It definitely put a damper on my fun, but the kids didn’t really seem to notice.

On our last afternoon in the Tetons, we ventured north to Jackson Lake where my parents were staying. The Jackson Lake Lodge offers Lodge room or Cottage accommodations and boasts several restaurants, plus a heated swimming pool – a huge favorite of the kids! It really is a self-contained community at the northern end of the park with access to a post office, general store, activities desk, shopping, swimming and gorgeous views.  Driving back and forth between Moose and Jackson Lake is also some of the most scenic road I’ve even driven. Traffic slow downs for bison and elk herds were the norm not the exception.

Pull-offs are spaced along the road at particularly beautiful vistas, so make sure to take advantage if you see one.

Our adventures in Wyoming continued in America’s first national park: Yellowstone.