The cruise takes you out on Jackson Lake to Elk Island surrounding by breathtaking views of the Tetons. As the boat docks, you can smell the coffee brewing and the pancakes cooking.
You are greeted by a fun and friendly staff. The food is ready as soon as you arrive. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, trout, potatoes, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and yogurt. And you can go for seconds! They don’t miss a beat; everything you need is at the tables. Once you finish eating, you can explore the island.
Then back on the boat for a relaxing ride to the marina.
We highly recommend taking the breakfast cruise! Honestly, I wondered if they would be able to pull off good food on the island, and it exceeded my expectations. It was a treat eating breakfast outside surrounded by such grand views! Jackson Lake Lodge is a class act, and this was a fun, unique experience.
There is something about Grand Teton National Park and the first moment you see the jagged peaks of the Tetons. We’ve driven this road many times and the view takes my breath away every time. Growing up, I loved traveling west with my Dad. He was a science teacher and would give us lessons on how these grand mountains were formed. It was like having a park ranger in the car with us! If you want to learn more while visiting, the park offers great educational park ranger programs.
Grand Teton National Park Hiking
Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) has something for everyone. Hiking, camping, boating, fishing, scenic drives and more. We love the hikes! Below, find a few of our favorite popular easy hikes, mountain lakes, and places to relax. This barely scratches the surface. There is so much to do and see at GTNP!
Lunch Tree Hill Loop Trail is a great spot to start. It’s an easy hike with full views of the Teton Range and Willow Flats. This is a 1/2 mile hike starting at Jackson Lake Lodge. John D. Rockefeller ate his lunch on this hill and the view was what inspired him to push to protect this land.
String Lake is crystal clear and gorgeous! Go for a hike and then jump in to cool off. The String Lake Loop is 3.7 miles. The loop is rated easy but for us it felt moderate. Even though it’s relatively short, it takes 2-3 hours. When hiking in the mountains, make sure you understand your abilities. We are from the flatlands so the elevation definitely affects us. Always have plenty of water and snacks! And bear spray.
You can do an out and back to make this a shorter hike OR you can connect with different trails to make it longer. String Lake connects to Leigh Lake. Leigh Lake is a little less populated and adds another 1.8 miles to your hike.
There are very few places left that you can escape the sounds of cars, planes, people, etc. This spot was my favorite because it was silent. ❤️
Colter Bay – Grand Teton National Park
Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail is stunning in the morning! This is an easy 2.1 mile hike starting at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. The trail makes a figure eight around the wooded peninsula that protects Colter Bay. There are beautiful views in every direction and we loved the rocky beaches. It’s a perfect spot to pack a lunch, sit on the beach, and listen to the waves.
Oxbow Bend is ideal for watching the sunset over the mountains and capture stunning photos. It’s a popular spot so be prepared for traffic and get there early. We noticed people brought their lawn chairs and settled in waiting for the sun to set. Good tip to bring a chair!
Take a Jenny Lake Boat Cruise to see the mountains from a different angle. You might even spot a bear eating huckleberries from a safe distance. The boat cruise is a fun way to get out on the water and learn more about GTNP from the driver.
Even the cloudy, smoky days are beautiful. It’s fun to just drive around and soak up the scenery. I love finding and capturing the reflections.
Also, check out my blog post about the Jackson Lake Lodge Breakfast Cruise that departs from Colter Bay HERE. One of our all time favorite things to do at Grand Teton National Park while staying at Jackson Lake Lodge.
We attain freedom as we let go of whatever does not reflect our magnificence. A bird cannot fly high or far with a stone tied to its back. But release the impediment, and we are free to soar to unprecedented heights. – Alan Cohen
Let go of the negative and make room for the positive. 💛
Today as we start the week, if something or someone is holding you back, try hard to release that energy or find distance from that person. Life is short and every passing moment is a new opportunity to find your happiness.
The best part of travel is discovering something new. A new place, a breathtaking view, meeting a new friend, tasting different local food, or even challenging yourself to step outside your comfort zone to experience a new feeling.
The Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board started the “Tag Responsibly, Keep Jackson Hole Wild” campaign after people started geotagging their photos with specific locations on social media.
Not only is this campaign good for the environment, but it’s also good for us.
With social media and specific tags, don’t you think it takes the adventure out of traveling? Planning, researching, and asking questions is all part of the fun. When we talk to the locals, they always give us recommendations and we invariably meet hikers on the trails and exchange ideas. It’s great to look at social for inspiration and ideas but does it have to be an exact spot?
Let’s not lose our sense of wonder. If you’re only focusing on getting to that one specific location, the one that you’ve already seen a million pictures of on social, you’ll miss out on the surprises. You’ll miss the moments that can take change you forever.
It’s also good for safety reasons, many of the epic views that you see on social media, the person trained to get to whether hiking, biking, skiing, etc.
