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Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park

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.

Happy traveling!

©What Stirs Your Soul Media

December 6, 2020
Jackson Hole, Wyoming – Favorite Restaurants

Best Restaurants in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Driving Teton Pass towards Jackson from Idaho at sunrise is breathtaking. For the last few years, we have made it a priority to get up early and catch the sunrise at 8,432 feet. Then it’s off to Nora’s Fish Creek Inn for breakfast! Don’t miss any of the best restaurants in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Our Favorite Breakfast Jackson Hole Wyoming

Nora’s has rustic charm with outstanding service. The food always tastes like home. You can tell it’s cooked with love. ❤️

To keep us going throughout the day, we stop for one more cup at Cowboy Coffee Co. They are located right across from Jackson’s quaint town square. Jackson Hole has that magic that makes you want to slow down and soak it all in. The town square is lovely to walk around, shop, and enjoy the scenery.

The first time we went to Snake River Brewery, we were surprised. We knew that we loved their beer but we were not expecting the food to be so amazing! They make the best french onion soup and homemade pretzels. My husband loves their burgers and pizza.

Best Eats Grand Teton National Park

For beautiful mountain views, visit the Blue Heron Lounge at Jackson Lake Lodge for lunch or dinner to see the sunset. If you decide to stay at Jackson Lake Lodge, make sure to sign up for their Jackson Lake Scenic Breakfast Cruise! One of our all time best experiences, you can read about it here.

Hand Fire Pizza located in the historic Teton Theater offers a fun location with delicious pizza. We were impressed with the level of service. We sat at the bar and enjoyed conversations with the manager and bartender. It’s always nice to get tips and ideas from the locals!

For dessert, stop by the Jackson Drug for an ice cream cone. The first Jackson Drug opened in 1919 and closed its doors in 2001. In 2016, Nikki and Jessica Gill reopened bringing back a piece of Jackson’s past. You can read all about the history and their story here.

While in Jackson, you have to stop at the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. You can literally saddle up at the bar. Check out amazing live music and hit the dance floor.

Other mentions that I didn’t get pictures because we were too busy enjoying ourselves. 🙂 Cafe Genevieve is our favorite! Every meal has been delicious, it’s cozy and quaint, with excellent service. You can sit outside on the porch with your dog too.

We also always have a great time at the Silver Dollar Bar at the Wort Hotel. If you’re there on a Tuesday, make sure to stop in and enjoy the locals two stepping around the dance floor.

Happy Traveling!

©What Stirs Your Soul Media

August 8, 2020
One Blanket, Two Hearts

The human connection.

Traveling always offers the most interesting conversations and connections with strangers. Each encounter teaches us something and leaves an imprint.

While staying at Jackson Lake Lodge, on a brisk early morning, we met Adel.

One of our favorite things to do is to take the Jackson Lake Breakfast Cruise to Elk Island. We’ve learned from the past that mountain mornings on the boat can be pretty chilly and this year we packed a blanket.

Jackson Lake Lodge Breakfast Cruise

After we arrived on the island, the sun was rising and I started warming up. I unwrapped from the blanket and had it resting in my arms while talking with the ship captain. An older, beautiful, petite woman walked up and stood next to me. I thought she was waiting to talk to the captain but shivering, she said…

“It’s so cold, isn’t it?”

As I started to answer her, I realized how cold she was and asked…

“Do you want to use my blanket?”

Her face lit up and she said, “Yes, thank you, thank you!”

She wrapped herself in it and my heart smiled. I felt so thankful that we brought the blanket and that I could share it with her. She kept herself wrapped in it all through breakfast and on the boat ride back. When we got back to the dock, we reconnected and she gave us this advice…

“Stay together, trust each other and love each other.” – Adel

We hugged and as she walked away she said ” You’re an angel on earth.” which is exactly what I thought about her. That morning, strangers connected over a blanket. I will never forget Adel. ❤️

The Blanket: We love our Rumpl blanket and bring it everywhere! It’s lightweight, packable, eco-friendly, and machine washable. We have two dogs and it’s their favorite to cuddle up in. It’s so durable that even after three years, it looks like new.

Rumpl is offering 25% now through December 2, 2019!

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This post is sponsored, which means if you purchase, What Stirs Your Soul may get something in return. Thank you for your support!

November 24, 2019
Devils Tower – KOA Campground – Wyoming
Devils Tower National Monument offers so many perspectives.

It’s America’s first national monument established in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. There are many theories about how the tower was created. Most believe it was formed 65 million years ago as volcanic magma and lava cooled. You can learn more about the history of the tower and how the columns formed at the National Park Service site. Other resources listed below.

Traveling from the Twin Cities, Devils Tower is approximately 680 miles. It’s a perfect stop as you drive west or a short distance for a fun family vacation. The KOA is located at the base of the tower. They offer a full-service restaurant, a huge gift shop with lots of sweet treats, a heated outdoor pool, and hayrides. There is an outdoor nightly viewing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (which was filmed at the site).

The campground is located on the Belle Fourche River surrounded by the beautiful Black Hills of Wyoming. We stayed in one of the camper cabins right on the river.

Devils Tower KOA also offers tent sites, RV sites and a park model cabin that sleeps 6.

The sites are spacious so even though we were there during Sturgis, we felt like we had our own space. They have nice picnic tables and firepits located next to each cabin. The shower houses were clean and convenient. There are laundry facilities and free WiFi if needed.

There is so much to do including hiking, climbing and wildlife viewing. We were fortunate to see whitetail deer roaming through the campground.

The Devils Tower Trading Post is across the street from the campground. They offer tons of souvenirs, an old fashioned ice cream parlor, and an awesome deck to view the tower.

Make sure to catch the tower at sunrise, it changes to a beautiful golden color.

In the same year that Theodore Roosevelt established Devils Tower, he authorized the Antiquities Act, giving the President the power to designate national monuments. I’m so thankful for his vision of protecting our nation’s land and history.

Our National Parks need our support and advocacy. Every little bit counts! I got this shirt from Parks Project. Visit their site to shop or for volunteer opportunities.

©Tracy Blowers

Resources
July 8, 2019
Restaurants – Driggs, Idaho – Teton Valley

Big Hole Bagel & Bistro was our first stop for breakfast in Driggs, Idaho. It’s so cozy and offers 100% organic locally roasted coffee from around the world! I loved the veggie omelet with the addition of avocado. The building is historic and has been part of Main Street for over 100 years. There is a full bakery in-house so the bagels are baked fresh every morning! Isn’t the front door cute?

One of the things that I love most about traveling is researching and planning the trip. I kept reading awesome reviews about Rise Coffee House. They have a lovely outdoor patio with a nice lawn area to sit and sip your coffee. The morning that we stopped in there was an acoustic guitar player which made the atmosphere perfect. I could have sat there all day. Try one of their mouth-watering pastries!

Forage Bistro & Lounge was another restaurant that I added to our list while researching Teton Valley. The food was incredible!! Look at this pork chop that Terry devoured. It was so good, he literally ate every last bite. The service was superb and we can’t wait to visit again! They also recently opened a brewery called Citizen-33. We will check it out in August and put up a blog post.

The owners of the townhome that we rented through VRBO told us that we had to check out Music on Main in Victor. Music on Main is on Thursday nights. This summer the dates run June 20th through August 15th, 2019 (No shows on July 4th). We had a blast! It felt like a family picnic. Everyone was so friendly and there was so much good food to choose from. Plus if you’re planning on drinking, there is a shuttle provided by Grand Targhee Resort with pickups in Alta, Wyoming at the resort and in downtown Driggs.

Last, a great option for cooking at home! A fun story about how we found barrels & bins community market. We stopped at The Coffee Pot Bakery and Cafe in Bozeman, Montana on our way through to Driggs. I started chatting with one of the employees and she told me that she was from Driggs, Idaho. She said she previously worked at barrels & bins and that we should check it out. I always love recommendations! We ended up going there every day for fresh pressed juice. The juice is truly made fresh so don’t be in a rush, it’s worth the wait. It was also wonderful to buy our groceries from local farms.

*There’s also a Farmer’s Market every Friday throughout the summer in downtown Driggs. We found some wonderful local jam, bakery items and had fun talking with the locals. There’s a lot of beautiful crafts too!

We still have so much to explore on the “quiet side of the mountains”. We are headed back in August and I can’t wait to share more with you!

June 17, 2019

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