LBAC Travel Planner, Wendy Thompson shares her recent family trip exploring our national parks. Contact Wendy today to plan your next dream vacation!

There are so many beautiful National Parks to visit within the USA and around the world. If you are having wanderlust and cannot wait to travel this is a great option. You can feed your wanderlust and also stay safe and socially distant. National Parks can be visited many different ways – by road tripping, by rail or even small group tours and sometimes a various combination of all three. Our LBAC Travel partners can put together an itinerary just for you and your family. If you don’t want to drive, you can also join various small group tours – we have many wonderful suppliers that we work with and we can assist you in finding the best one to fit your wants and needs. So if you’re a solo traveler, small group, family, etc… we can find the best fit for you. Watch a short video of our time at US National Parks!

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If you have never visited a National Park this would be a great time to add it to your bucket list.  You can visit just one park or visit multiple depending on what you want to see and how much time that you have.  Many National Parks you can visit all year round.  Not everything will be accessible all year round, but the benefits of going off season is less crowds and more nature to yourself.  For this article I am going to touch on Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the beautiful national parks nearby — Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. 

Teton Village, Wildflower Trail, Wyoming

Jackson Hole is the ideal base camp for a visit to Yellowstone National Park (60 miles south) and Grand Teton National Park (adjacent). Jackson is a town in Wyoming’s Jackson Hole valley, home to 3 ski areas: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain Resort and Grand Targhee Resort. Your access to outdoor adventure is incredible when you vacation here. The area is also know for its tons of scenic lakes and rivers, and its variety of unique dining and shopping experiences.  Jackson Hole Airport services direct flights from several major U.S. cities and it’s only a 20 minute (and very scenic) drive from downtown Jackson.  The Jackson Hole airport is located within the Grand Teton National Park and has amazing views of the Grand Teton Mountains!  It is the only airport in the world located within a national park!

There are many activities to do all year in and around the Jackson Hole area:  hiking, wildlife watching/tours, star gazing, backpacking, camping, whitewater rafting/scenic float trips, horseback riding, world-class fishing, downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowcoach tours, and many more.  It is highly recommended to book popular activities ahead of your trip so you are not disappointed when you arrive.

I highly recommend a Horse Drawn dinner sleigh ride while staying in the Jackson Hole area. See incredible views of the Grand Tetons a aerial perspective over the National Elk Refuge and the twinkling lights of Jackson. This peaceful sunset trip is followed by a three-course meal. This will be a one-of-a-kind experience you won’t soon forget!   

Jackson Hole, Wyoming – Town Square

Jackson Hole offers a wide variety of accommodations to choose from at all different price points – unique vacation rental properties ,as well as, hotels, cabins, inns, lodges and full-service luxury resorts – in town, in the surrounding areas, at ski resorts, and in or near the national parks.  Your LBAC Travel agent can assist you with finding the best lodging for you.  One of my favorites for a romantic winter stay or anytime of year:  Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa

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Located on seven lush acres across from the National Elk Refuge and just a few blocks from Jackson’s lively Town Square.   The Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa welcomes guests to Jackson, WY with warm Western hospitality and offers 152 historic rooms and luxury cabins.

Everyone will delight in the lavishly appointed historic rooms and luxury cabins. The crown jewels of the resort, these 400 square foot luxury cabins are light and airy thanks to vaulted ceilings and a large picture window.  Spacious private verandas outfitted with Adirondack chairs are the perfect place to unwind.  Start your day with a breakfast buffet (incl) and then take a walk on the beautifully landscaped trails along the aspen-laden Flat Creek where you can enjoy fishing and the enchanting outdoors. After a long day of activities, relax and enjoy the outdoor heated pool and hot tub.  In the evening, for dinner enjoy a glass of fine wine and exquisite cuisine in the lounge or pamper yourself in the revitalizing spa.  However, you choose to vacation, the Rustic Inn’s abundance of amenities and idyllic setting will make your trip memorable.

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In Yellowstone National Park there is so much to see and do, but the famous Old Faithful geyser is a must. In the winter you can take The Old Faithful Snowmobile Tour — 45 miles each way an exhilarating ride and popular points of interests along the way — for viewing the beautiful landscape, scenery, and wildlife. If this is too much exhilaration to handle – there is a chauffeured snowcoach tour — the only warm way to see Yellowstone. The only way to see Yellowstone in the winter is by snowmobile, snowcoach, cross country skiing or snowshoeing.

A great activity to do in the summer is horseback riding. A great way to see the beauty of the Grand Tetons is to spend a day horseback riding through some of the most beautiful landscapes Wyoming has to offer. Guided Horseback Riding Trips are a relaxing way to have a backcountry adventure in the wilderness and to spend quality time with your family.

For the more adventurous, I recommend some whitewater rafting. There are a wide variety of trips to accommodate families, adrenaline junkies or those looking for a more relaxing adventure, Half day and Full day trips at various levels of adventure. A scenic float trip is a more relaxing way to enjoy the views while on the water and favorable circumstances for photos. Floats are peaceful, provide opportunities to spot wildlife and breathtaking views all while learning the history of the area.

So many dining opportunities to choose from in the area. Here are a couple of my favs. My favorite for breakfast/brunch during the warmer months is the Persephone Bakery it has wonderful outdoor seating and delicious baked goods and coffee. For a romantic, more upscale dinner is the Snake River Grill. It is a modern American grill with a wood burning oven. It has indoor and outdoor seating available. It is fine dining, but you can dress “Jackson” casual.

Now is the perfect time to plan a quick spring break getaway or your summer adventure in Jackson Hole.

Watch the video of our trip to US National parks.

Contact Wendy today to plan your next dream vacation!