Grand Teton Day #1

I have wanted to take the girls to Yellowstone for a couple of years- especially when I looked it up and Jackson Hole is only 8 hours from our house! That is nothing!

Because the girls aren't doing soccer, and with Audra possibly going to high school full time next year, this was the perfect time to do it. Ben didn't want to go, but my parents were able to meet up with us in Jackson and enjoy the trip with us.

It was WONDERFUL!!!! We had such an incredible time!

I had the girls watch some videos about Yellowstone before we left and make a list of everything they wanted to see. I am happy to say that we did most everything on their list, plus about a thousand more things.

We drove first to Jackson Hole, which was quite nostalgic because as kids we would go there every summer. We would take a day trip with my cousins through the southwestern loop of Yellowstone, going through the West Entrance from Blackfoot, then go to Jackson and watch a melodrama and shootout (they do pretend cowboy shootouts in the street), and then head back to Blackfoot.

We also stayed at The Virginian because my parents stayed there on their honeymoon, so that was fun. Although, I don't think they have done a single update since their honeymoon 50 years ago.

We arrived Sunday night, then Monday morning- bright and EARLY (we left at 6:30 and got there before the gates were even being manned) we headed to Grand Teton National Park.

It was COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, oh my goodness- SO INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL! I say this a lot, but honestly- this may be the most beautiful place I have ever seen!

Check out the reflection of the lake! It was simply incredible!

I don't ever take scenery pictures. They are so boring. BUT- oh my goodness!!!! It was so exceptionally beautiful that I had no choice!

We took a boat ride over to Jenny Lake and then hiked Inspiration Point. My mom said when she was little they would ride the boat over, but not get off for the hiking and just come right back. Even though she had been there several times, she never hiked it.

Check out this picture- Audra looks superimposed in front of a backdrop, but it's a normal, unfiltered picture!

God had fun putting Teton together!

Each day we found a place to have a picnic lunch. It was perfect!

This is an old ferry that was used to transport people from one side of the river to another back in the 1800s. 

And, after all that hiking, we deserved some ice-cream when we got back.

In the era of Covid, this was a different trip. For starters, it was very busy for the end of September. Normally the parks are empty this time of year, but it was pretty full. HOWEVER, since it is a national park, we had absolutely no problem social distancing. I was never worried we were too close to people. Most people were wearing masks- when inside, 100% of people were wearing masks, and most of the time we were either at our hotel, in our car, or on a trail. With almost every place in the world closed, thousands decided, like us, to go enjoy the great outdoors. I head someone say, "We were supposed to be on a cruise in Mexico right now."