We're planning on doing a road trip next summer and hitting a few national parks along the way. I've been to the Grand Canyon, but nowhere else, and DH hasn't seen any as far as he knows. We'll plan our route according to what we want to see.
Does anyone have any recommendations of National Parks that they really enjoyed, and/or recommendations of good hotels/inns nearby? Thanks.
YES, we absolutely LOVED Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. They are very close to each other and work well as one trip. Yellowstone has many different and unique thermal features, geisers and mudpots and "paint pots". It's fascinating. It also has lots of wildlife which it is easy to see.....bison, elk, mule deer, bald eagles, less common are moose and once we saw a brown bear.
The tetons are absolutely gorgeous and the scenery varies depending on time of day and location. We took a sunrise float trip on the snake river (no rapids, pretty smooth water) and saw the tetons in morning light, several moose, many many bald eagles...wonderful experience). You can hike a lot or a little, wide range of difficulty....or just do the "parking lot hikes"!!! You will still see a lot.
On different trips, we have spent more time in 1 park or the other. In Grand Teton, a night or 2 in Jackson Lake Lodge is worthwhile. Beautiful picture window views of the mountains. In Yellowstone, Old Faithful Inn is nice to visit for dinner, but you might want to stay in the nearby Snow Lodge, more modern and nicer rooms.
One thing we learned is that the parks are BIG!!!!! Our first trip, we rented a house with another couple and we spent a lot of time just getting to each area. On subsequent trips, we moved thru and spent a couple nights here and a couple nights there. That worked much better.
Feel free to PM if you have questions. Obviously, we love these 2 parks...tho' we haven't been there as many times as WDW!!!! 
Lauri
Yellowstone has many different and unique thermal features, geisers and mudpots and "paint pots".
May 2008 CSR 
YES, we absolutely LOVED Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. They are very close to each other and work well as one trip. Yellowstone has many different and unique thermal features, geisers and mudpots and "paint pots". It's fascinating. It also has lots of wildlife which it is easy to see.....bison, elk, mule deer, bald eagles, less common are moose and once we saw a brown bear.The tetons are absolutely gorgeous and the scenery varies depending on time of day and location. We took a sunrise float trip on the snake river (no rapids, pretty smooth water) and saw the tetons in morning light, several moose, many many bald eagles...wonderful experience). You can hike a lot or a little, wide range of difficulty....or just do the "parking lot hikes"!!! You will still see a lot.
On different trips, we have spent more time in 1 park or the other. In Grand Teton, a night or 2 in Jackson Lake Lodge is worthwhile. Beautiful picture window views of the mountains. In Yellowstone, Old Faithful Inn is nice to visit for dinner, but you might want to stay in the nearby Snow Lodge, more modern and nicer rooms.
One thing we learned is that the parks are BIG!!!!! Our first trip, we rented a house with another couple and we spent a lot of time just getting to each area. On subsequent trips, we moved thru and spent a couple nights here and a couple nights there. That worked much better.
Feel free to PM if you have questions. Obviously, we love these 2 parks...tho' we haven't been there as many times as WDW!!!!
Lauri
Hi! I haven't figured out how to make this forum email me when I get a reply......so sorry for taking so long to answer.....
A paint pot is a thermal feature. It doesn't spout water like a geyser does. It might sort of bubble and boil...but the minerals and/or bacteria that live in the water create beautiful colors. They are really something to see!
I don't remember which company we used for the float trip. When you contact the various companies, be sure to ask whether their trip goes thru the national park (Grand Tetons). Some of them do not (did one of those in the afternoon on a different trip) but the scenery inside the park is much more beautiful. And if you are into taking pictures, the early morning light on the Tetons can't be beat! Have fun planning!
Hi! I haven't figured out how to make this forum email me when I get a reply......so sorry for taking so long to answer.....
A paint pot is a thermal feature. It doesn't spout water like a geyser does. It might sort of bubble and boil...but the minerals and/or bacteria that live in the water create beautiful colors. They are really something to see!
I don't remember which company we used for the float trip. When you contact the various companies, be sure to ask whether their trip goes thru the national park (Grand Tetons). Some of them do not (did one of those in the afternoon on a different trip) but the scenery inside the park is much more beautiful. And if you are into taking pictures, the early morning light on the Tetons can't be beat! Have fun planning!
