We loooooove Wyoming

Just got back from a family trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  We had the best time--if you want to see all 200+ pictures, check out our Shutterfly page.  Here are my favorites and a few trip details:

Lodging:

Snake River Lodge in Teton Village

One night at the Canyon Lodge in Yellowstone

Memorable Meals:

Bar T-5 Chuckwagon dinner

Dornan's in Moose for lunch on our first day and breakfast on our last day

Calico near Teton Village--awesome and reasonably priced Italian restaurant.  Wood-fired pizza for John, salad for me from the garden out back.

Pioneer Grill at the Jackson Lake Lodge

Mangy Moose for dinner

Village Cafe--yummy breakfast granola

Huckleberry licorice (the only thing that kept Anna hiking) and ice cream from the Yellowstone General Store

Waffles at Corbet's Cabin and dinner on The Deck, both on the mountain at Teton Village

Hiking Trails:

In GTNP: Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point on a ranger-led hike, around 2 miles round trip; String Lake and Leigh Lake trails, around 3 miles round trip with paddleboarding and swimming in the lake as a reward for finishing :-)

In YNP: Mystic Falls trail (a little over 2 miles); Uncle Tom's Trail and Southern Rim Trail (around 3 miles plus a whole lot of steps)

Critters:

5 bears (two grizzlies, three black bears--we think!)

Uinta ground squirrels

Pikas

Maybe a beaver?

Canadian geese

Antelope

Waaay too many elk and bison to count

Possibly two moose on the side of a hill the first night we arrived--the shuttle driver was going too fast for me to be sure!

Most Life-Threatening Moment:

Our guidebook recommended a dip in the Firehole Swimming Area.  I looked at our map and didn't see a swimming area, but did see a Firehole Lake, and assumed that was it.  We pulled up and were surprised to have it to ourselves, but I went ahead and waded right into the lake---and then ran right back out when I realized the lake was HOT!  Like, hotter than a hot tub hot (158 degrees in fact).  Puzzled, we got back in the car, at which point I realized we were supposed to have gone to another area of the park at Firehole Falls.  I unwittingly sent us into a thermal spring.  Luckily, I didn't boil us alive. :-)

It's a Small World Moment of the Trip:

Eating waffles at Corbet's Cabin on top of Rendezvous Mountain, hearing a familiar voice, and turning around to find one of my senior residents from UF enjoying waffles with his family.  

Books We Read to Prepare:

The Lonely Planet Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

This guide was helpful, but concentrated more on less popular hikes.  This was sometimes good (Will and I had fun getting an unusual view of the Grand Prismatic Spring), but I think we could have used more info on the popular areas of the park.  It would be great for adults doing backcountry hikes, though.

Who Pooped in the Park?

Awesome book for kids.  We had a lot of fun looking for scat and trying to identify it.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton Activity Book

I bought this book as an activity for Will to do on the plane, but he thought it was too much like schoolwork.  Anna colored a few pages, but otherwise it's in pristine condition.  Maybe I'll save it for another trip.

Books We Read on the Trip:

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

I had more fun reading this book aloud to Will than I did when I first read it over 25 years ago.  And that's saying something.  Beverly Cleary is a genius.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

I'm a little obsessed with hiking memoirs.  Which is odd for someone who can't go more than 24 hours without a hot shower.

Trip Knitting:

Guacamole sweater for Anna.  Although all I did on the trip was knit swatches, lots of gauge swatches.

Reason I Wished I Was Still 8 Years Old:

I wished I was young enough to do the Junior Ranger Programs at both parks, and the Young Scientist Program at Yellowstone.

Will wanted the Junior Ranger title (he was impressed by the rangers) but reluctant to doing the required tasks (a pretty simple workbook).  I finally cajoled him into finishing the YNP program and he earned his wolf patch, only to lose it on the way home.  Sigh.  Anna was too young for the Yellowstone program, but the Grand Teton Junior Ranger program is way more easygoing in their requirements, so she was thrilled to be sworn in as a GTNP Junior Ranger and wore her little badge everywhere.

Yellowstone also has a fun Young Scientist Program, which involves checking out a workbook and backpack of tools from the Visitor Center and completing an experiment at the geyser basin.  Fun, right?  Might have to try it again when Will is older and more enthusiastic.

Best Souvenirs:

Lots of gemstones for Will

A deer antler for Will

A pink holster and gun for cowgirl Anna

What We'll Do Next Time:

Book the Old Faithful Inn a year in advance

Spend a night at Jackson Lake Lodge

Do some activities the kids were too young for this time (horseback riding, hot air balloon flight, whitewater rafting)

Rent a solid, non-inflatable, paddleboard

Go to the actual Firehole Falls swimming area :-)