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.
Welcome to Explore Local Together Episode 4! If you’re visiting from the podcast, thank you for listening. If not, please join us! At Explore Local Together, we share local gems in Minnesota, the Midwest, and Road-Tripping the USA. Below, you will find links throughout the blog post to click and listen to the podcast while you read.
On Episode 4, we’re talking about the Minnesota National Park systems, including the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and Voyageurs National Park. We love National Parks and we’re thankful for these protected areas in Minnesota and across the country. (Did you know there are over 400?!) You can explore pristine beauty, experience pretty much every kind of recreation, and learn about everything from the wildlife to history.
Voyageurs National Park – Photo Credit: NPS/Mark Miller – Park Ranger
National Park Week is in April every year and runs special events for a week. It kicks off with a free-entry day and is followed by nine days of celebrations, each with a theme. Additionally, this is a great way to learn more about each park and about the National Park Service’s programs to preserve natural and cultural heritage and provide recreational opportunities. You can join the fun in person or online at nps.gov.
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
The river was Minnesota’s first to be designated in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, managed by the National Park Service and designated in 1968. The Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway includes the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers and makes over 200 miles of clean water among wild and scenic beauty. From the heavily wooded banks, bluffs, cliffs, and pinnacles, and ever-changing landscapes, there is so much beauty and wonder to take in.
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Things To Do
Exploring the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway also includes the St. Croix Scenic Byway, State Parks, hiking, and historic towns with plenty of local gems to discover. Of course, this is what our podcast is all about and we have some other great blogs for you to explore. Read more about Taylors Falls HERE and find our St. Croix Valley itinerary HERE.
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours offers authentic paddlewheel excursions on the St. Croix 7 days a week, May through October. Cruises are a great way to see the river and include a narrated tour of the history and rock formations. There are family-friendly tours throughout the day but our favorite is the sundown cruise. The Boats include the Taylors Falls Queen and the Taylors Falls Princess, both featuring enclosed lower levels and open upper decks to enjoy the fresh air and views.
Tip: Go early and hang out on the Red Rock Patio, where you can enjoy a charcuterie board and wine while taking in the views. You can also order ahead and have the food waiting onboard. Plus, watch their calendar for live music events!
The third week of April is also National Volunteer Week. If you’re interested in getting involved in preserving the St. Croix, check out the Wild Rivers Conservancy. Their mission: a thriving watershed, forever accessible, scenic and wild.
Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is in Northern Minnesota near the Canadian border, with over 218,000 acres (40% is water!) and also borders the million acres of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Voyageurs National Park – Photo Credit: NPS/Mark Miller – Park Ranger
Voyageurs National Park offers something for everyone including canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking, houseboating, shopping in surrounding towns, birding, photography, and is a Dark Sky certified park. This park is special because you can truly escape the crowds and spend time alone among nature if that’s what you choose. There are many ways to enjoy this treasure of a park.
We are partnering with Ruff Start Rescue and Best Friends Animal Society to feature one adoptable dog each month. We are passionate about rescue dogs and have two of our own, the Explore Local Together mascots, Allen and Carol.
Ace has been in rescue since May 2022. He is a Mixed American Staffordshire Terrier and American Bulldog and is a little over 3 years old.
He is all about the good vibes—treats, lap snuggles (he’s convinced he can fit on any lap even though he weighs 96 pounds), family car rides, and yard shenanigans. He loves relaxing, walks, playing with toys and chewing on bones. He’ll do best in a home with older kids (maybe above 10) and is not the biggest fan of cats. He has lived with dogs in the past and have done well.
Do you think Ace could be the pup for you?! Visit Ruff Start Rescue HERE plus check out their volunteer opportunites.
Let’s Explore Local Together!
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Celebrate National Park Week in April and explore a new park! Capitol Reef National Park surrounds a 100-mile-long “wrinkle in the earth” known as the Waterpocket Fold and is located in south-central Utah. It is part of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks, including Arches, Zion, Canyonlands, and Zion. If you love to escape the crowds, this park is for you!
Top Things To Do – Capitol Reef National Park
Get homemade pies and cinnamon rolls at the Gifford Homestead!! The pie is homemade from fruit grown in the orchards. The green orchards among the red rocks are so beautiful. Get there early because the pie goes fast! It’s the best pie I’ve ever tasted. So fresh and delicious! Our favorite flavor was the strawberry rhubarb.
After pie, explore the Historic Fruita District. There are historic buildings, a visitor center, campground, and many hikes and trails. Eight families lived in the Fruita District until 1969 (Capitol Reef became a National Park in 1971) and lived completely off the land including the orchards and drinking unfiltered water from the Fremont River. There have been people living in this area for thousands of years as you will see by the petroglyphs below and they believe the first Latter Day Saints settler in this specific area was around 1879. At that time it was known as Junction and mail was delivered to the Fremont Cottonwood tree (“mail tree”), which still stands today.
Scenic Byway 24
Drive Scenic Byway 24 – This is the main road that runs through the park and the views are breathtaking. Some of the top sights along this route are Panorama Point, Sunset Point, and Goosenecks Overlook.
See the Petroglyphs carved by the Fremont Culture in the 300-1300 Common Era. The more you look, the more you will see.
We stayed at Rim Rock Inn located in Torrey, Utah at the entrance to the park. It’s a great location! There are regular hotel rooms and individual cabins. We loved the cabins, the view is incredible. The cabins are super spacious with cool antique furniture and are dog-friendly. There is a very good restaurant onsite plus an awesome bar/patio with outdoor patio with live music.
There’s so much more- we only had one day to visit so this barely scratches the surface. There are a lot of scenic drives and hikes to do in this park. I can’t wait to go back and explore more!
While in Southern Utah, another fantastic drive is Cottonwood Canyon Road at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Read more HERE. Life is short, find what stirs your soul. ❤️
Our goal is to visit all of the United States national parks in our lifetime and we recently checked Glacier National Park off our travel list! Included in that list was capturing this photo. The fishing boat was a bonus. When I saw the boat leaving the dock, I was so excited because I knew it would add perspective to the rugged glacier mountains. I wasn’t sure if I would have the opportunity to see this iconic view of Lake McDonald due to the new ticketed entry system. But, we found a way, and I share our entry hack below. I also share our favorite things about Glacier National Park and this trip, like the ever-changing colorful rocks, the refreshing scent of pine, and West Glacier KOA.
Glacier National Park, also referred to as the Crown of the Continent, was established in 1910, making it the 10th National Park in the United States. It is also part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park along with Waterton National Park in Canada. This designation makes it the first international peace park in the world. The park offers grand rocky mountains, over 700 lakes (only 131 are named), tall pine-filled forests, and beautiful meadows. There are endless things to do and see with so many lakes, trails (700 miles), and the scenic Going-To-The-Sun-Road. This road is specifically what you will need an extra ticket for when entering the park.
West Glacier KOA
During our visit, we lodged at the West Glacier KOA. I have to say, our stay was an unexpected, delightful surprise. I’ve always enjoyed our KOA experiences, but the West Glacier KOA goes above and beyond. The staff at the front desk was so helpful at check-in and when asked any questions during our visit. After the first night, we decided to extend our stay. We had to move cabins to extend, and the KOA team made it so easy. The layout of the campground gives ample space, so it doesn’t feel overcrowded.
There are so many amenities beyond the regular KOA standards, including ice cream served every night at Scoops (of course, I list the priorities first), espresso bar, hot breakfast and dinner, a children’s pool and separate adult pool, dog-friendly cabins and two dog parks, a walking trail, basketball court, and live entertainment plus other planned activities. I suggest the huckleberry ice cream! In fact, check out the Huckleberry Patch store filled with everything huckleberry when you enter Glacier National Park at the west entrance. I couldn’t get enough. 🙂 Speaking of the west entrance, it is only a short 3.9-mile drive from the KOA.
The deluxe cabins include linens, have a fire ring and propane grill, full bath and shower, partial kitchen, lofts, and are pet-friendly.
The grounds are impeccable with beautiful views in every direction.
Glacier National Park’s New Ticketed Entry SystemAnd More
From what I’ve read online, it seems many people are frustrated with the Glacier National Park new ticketed entry ticket reservation system. Your best bet for getting a ticket to Going-To-The-Sun-Road is planning ahead. Tickets go on sale 60 days before your date of arrival. They also sell a small number of tickets 2 days ahead, but it’s hard to snag one of those. The other option, which is our hack, is arriving before 6 am or after 5 pm. We loved going during these times because the park is less crowded and the sunrise/sunset is fantastic!
The rocky beaches are amazing! The rocks change based on the time of day. The sun, shadows, and water dance together creating so many different colors. We also enjoyed the fresh cool mountain air during the morning and evening especially after leaving the Minnesota heat.
Going-To-The-Sun-Road was actually closed while we were there in June due to snow, so it’s good to stay flexible and have a backup plan. There are so many other things to see and do in the area, including at West Glacier KOA. We could have stayed at the campground all day and been just as happy. Whitefish, Montana is an easy 20-minute drive, and Bigfork, Montana is 45 minutes. This whole area of northwestern Montana offers tons of adventuring, wildlife, delicious restaurants, unique shopping, live theater, breweries, and so much history. We were there for two weeks and barely scratched the surface.
Cheers KOA! We appreciate the awesome service and can’t wait to visit again.
Learn more about one of our other favorite parks, Grand Teton National Park by clicking HERE.
Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️
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.
There are five no-fee days at National Parks and Monuments throughout the year. On one of these special days, we made the trip to visit Montezuma Well! It was so cool to see this much water in the middle of the desert.
The Story of Montezuma Well
1.5 million gallons of 74-degree water run through the well every day! The water enters through an underground stream and flows through 150 feet of limestone before exiting the other side into an irrigation ditch.
You can feel the Sinagua culture as you walk around looking at the cliff dwellings and reading about the history. I kept imagining what life was like 1000 years ago. This site is still considered sacred by many local tribes.
The trails are nice and easy to walk and the site is pet-friendly. If you want a little bit more of a challenge, there is a rocky area to climb down towards the well.
In every direction, there is a beautiful view…
Montezuma Castle National Monument is only 11 miles away from Montezuma Well. The castle is one of the most well-preserved cliff dwellings in North America. We didn’t make it over there due to time constraints but I would definitely add it to your itinerary if you make the trip to the well.
Grand Teton National Park is another one of our favorite parks. Read more about hiking the park here.
To see all five no-fee days at the National Parks, click HERE.
Keep searching for what stirs your soul and #FindYourPark.
