Finding Inspiration in the Grand Tetons

23 March 202423 September 2024

The beauty of the Grand Tetons can hardly be explained in words. With its tall peaks, winding rivers, waterfalls and spectacular wildlife, I could not pass up the opportunity to visit here while making plans to explore Yellowstone National Park.

The sunlight glistened on Jenny Lake as I prepared to ride the ferry over to the south side. I would catch as soon as exiting the boat and venture towards Cascade Falls and Inspiration Point. From the top, there were spectacular views of the Grand Tetons and the surrounding area.

The wait was short and the ride most astounding. I heard the slight humming of the boat’s engine and the stirring of the water beneath. The fresh air was as intoxicating as the views from the small vessel that carried us across the lake. The crags and boulders appeared intermittently between the pines and provide the most beautiful reflection. The immense stature of the Tetons were noticeably present and grand and we arrived at our destination in a short time.

The moderate trail was broken in and we made our climb through the forest and over a large stream. Soon it was taking a more steep approach as we closed in on our final destination of Inspiration Point. The sounds of the falls in the distance challenged us to quicken our step and as we pressed on to the glorious view that we were about to witness.

We sat atop of the rocks overlooking the lake as a silence fell among us. It was a magical experience, so breathtaking that we could have stayed the afternoon taking in the scenery. It is no doubt, inspirational.

Have you taken the ferry to Inspirational Point? What other places did you visit at Grand Teton National Park? I would love to hear about your travel experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!

The Jenny Lake shuttle runs every 15 minutes for a cost of $9 roundtrip.

What to See and What to Do:

Grand Teton National Park
PO Box 170
Moose, WY 83012
Telephone: 307 739 3399

Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $35; Motorcycle: $30 and Hiker/Biker: $20 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Grand Teton National Park is $70 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. The Grand Teton National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Check out their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours; Refer to the Grand Teton National Park website for the operating hours of the Visitor Centers.
Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, skiing, biking, bird watching, climbing and mountaineering, fishing, horseback riding, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
Scenic View: Scenic drives throughout the park include the Teton Park Road, Jenny Lake Scenic Drive and Signal Mountain Summit Road.
Length of Visit: To maximize your visit to Grand Teton National Park one would need at least a couple of days to experience all that the park provides.
Tips for Your Visit: The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Signal Mountain is perfect for sunsets.

Where to Stay:

Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa
3385 Cody Lane
Teton Village, WY 83025
Telephone: 307 201 6066

Where to Eat:

The Deck @ Piste
Rendezvous Mountain
Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83025
Telephone: 307 732 3177

I ordered the Southern Belle made from White Wine with Orange and Passion Fruit. In addition, I had a glass of Henry Estate Pinot Noir to accompany my House Meatballs and Fries.

A Very Friendly Chipmunk

Incredible Vantage Point returning from Inspiration Point

Inspiration Point Hike

Gorgeous views of Jenny lake from Inspiration Point

The Shuttle Stop

Hidden Falls

A Chipmunk Waiting for Snacks

A Magpie

Waking Up to the Beauty of the Grand Tetons

16 March 202423 September 2024

Having arrived in Jackson around midnight, I missed the opportunity to experience the extraordinary splendor of the Grand Tetons. I was so excited to begin exploring the ethereal beauty of this national park and wildly anticipated the journey that was ahead of me over the next couple of days.

Entering the park from the south, the first glimpse of the magical peaks were spectacular. With scenery as gorgeous as this, I knew I was about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

Within minutes of my drive, a herd of elk crossed the road, hardly noticing the cars coming to a stop. The eloquence in their gait was one of careless grace as they reached the grassy knoll on the opposite side. The bull, imperiously leading his harem of does, stood out among the pack with his eight point rack identifying him as the leader of this domain.

My plan for the day was to drive as far north of the park as possible and backtrack through the Grand Tetons before heading east towards home. My first stop on this agenda was Colter Bay where I would hike the short trail near the marina.

Strolling the serene path I realized that, regardless of where I am, the Grand Tetons are a central fixture within the park. Robust and dominating the skyline, their snowy peaks are a welcome site. I could not resist the gorgeous backdrop against the beautiful sailboats anchored in the cove.

The weather was perfect for hiking the Lakeshore Trail. The trailhead, originating at the marina, was a 45-minute figure eight path. I strolled along the beach and crossed over the causeway which led to an island on the other side.

The trek took an unexpected shift through the woods where fir trees lined the path on each side. The shadows from the morning light offered protection from the sun and there was a momentary coolness to the air.

I completed the hike and after standing in awe of the marina, began my trek towards Jenny Lake. I was so excited to board the ferry to explore Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. Reaching the southern part of the lake, I was just in time for the water taxi which runs every fifteen minutes. The round trip fare was $18 and well worth the serene trek across the water. The ferry arrived on the west side of Jenny Lake and drops visitors off at Cascade Canyon trailhead.

The afternoon was spectacular spent hiking, but I had only a short time to visit Mormon Row and the Snake River Lookout. With a half a day ahead of me, I had so much more to explore and I felt I was just getting started.

Have you visited the Grand Tetons? What were some of your activities during your stay? I would love to hear about your adventure if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading my post about the Grand Tetons and I hope you stick around to check out my next post about this fabulous location! Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Grand Teton National Park
PO Box 170
Moose, WY 83012
Telephone: 307 739 3399

Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $35; Motorcycle: $30 and Hiker/Biker: $20 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Grand Teton National Park is $70 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. The Grand Teton National Park accepts the America the Beautiful Pass which allows access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites for a cost of $80 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase. Check out their website for more information: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours; Refer to the Grand Teton National Park website for the operating hours of the Visitor Centers.
Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, skiing, biking, bird watching, climbing and mountaineering, fishing, horseback riding, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
Scenic View: Scenic drives throughout the park include the Teton Park Road, Jenny Lake Scenic Drive and Signal Mountain Summit Road.
Length of Visit: To maximize your visit to Grand Teton National Park one would need at least a couple of days to experience all that the park provides.
Tips for Your Visit: The park is open year around, but winter time can be a challenging during snow and ice. If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Signal Mountain is perfect for sunsets.

Where to Stay:

Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa
3385 Cody Lane
Teton Village, WY 83025
Telephone: 307 201 6066

Where to Eat:

The Deck @ Piste
Rendezvous Mountain
Jackson Hole, Wyoming 83025
Telephone: 307 732 3177

I ordered the Southern Belle made from White Wine with Orange and Passion Fruit. In addition, I had a glass of Henry Estate Pinot Noir to accompany my House Meatballs and Fries.

What to Read:

Where the Water Goes, by David Owen
Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah
Where the Forest Meets the Stars, by Glendy Vanderah
Journey, by James A. Michener
The Cocktail Hour in Jackson Hole, by Donald Hough

Photo Guide for The Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole:

Oxbow Bend
Schwabacher Landing
Mormon Row
Snake River Overlook
String Lake Roadway
Willow Flats Overlook
Elk Ranch Flats Turnout

Maine’s Acadia, Watching Whales and Exploring Doubling Point Lighthouse

2 February 201531 August 2024

As a family, we booked an RV vacation which took us along the east coast of the United States. Each of my siblings and I were given the task of coming up with an itinerary for an assigned stop on our RV adventure. We visited northern Ohio, Niagara Falls, Maine, Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.

Each of us was given a location to research and select the activities for the day. My sister, Shelly mapped out our itinerary for our visit to Maine and I was so excited she included Acadia National Park. Sprawling nearly 50,000 acres on the east coast, this mesmerizing, scenic park is full of stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife. I was hoping to see moose at Acadia, and viewing the majestic whales on our cruise of the harbor was such an awesome experience as well.

We started our day by stopping by Hulls Cove Visitor Center to pick up a map and additional information about the park. We were curious to find if there were any educational sessions or ranger talks scheduled. From here, we picked up Acadia’s 27-mile scenic Park Loop Road, eventually reaching the top of Cadillac Mountain. From 1500 feet, we caught an amazing panoramic view of the Atlantic, the park and its nearby islands.

By the late 1800’s, this land became the playground for the rich and famous to include the Carnegies, Vanderbilts, Astors, Fords and the Rockefellers. It was John D. Rockefeller who gifted the park its 45 miles of carriage roads used for automobiles, bikes, horses and carriages. In addition to its carriage roads, the park offers over 150 miles of hiking trails and is one of the most-visited parks in the United States.

Another feature of the park that we thoroughly enjoyed was walking across the Bar Island Land Bridge. At low tide, we could walk across for spectacular views of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island. We were warned in advance that we would have about an hour and a half to cross and return before the tide would rise.

The views of Bar Harbor were breathtaking from this charming coastal town. Boats anchored in the cove while others were prepared to transport passengers on a number of whale watching excursions. We enjoyed an afternoon of shopping and made lunch reservations at a nearby restaurant with a seaside overlook.

Shortly after lunch, we boarded a small boat for our own whale watching tour. The weather was perfect for our brief sea escape with the opportunity to see humpbacks breaching out of the water. While mid-April is the best time to see these gentle giants, we could not have been happier spotting a couple of whales during our three-hour tour with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company.

After we returned from our trip, we boarded our RV and decided to check out the most visited lighthouse in Maine, the Doubling Point Lighthouse. Located along the Kennebec River, it was not an easy route to reach the light, but we loved the beautiful scenery and remote location. We spent about a half an hour here before piling back into the motor coach for our next stop on our itinerary, Boston.

Have you toured around the state of Maine? What were your favorite places to visit? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my lovely visit to Maine and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

What to See and What to Do:

Acadia National Park
PO Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 3338

Admission Fee: Each entrance fee covers 7 days of park entry. Private Vehicle: $30; Motorcycle: $25 and Hiker/Biker: $15 which only applies to visitors 16 years old and older entering the park by foot, bicycle, etc. An annual Pass for Acadia National Park is $55 which is valid for one year through the month of purchase.
Hours: The park is open seasonally and hours vary, so check the National Park Website for the most up-to-date information.
Amenities: camping, hiking, boating, swimming, biking, bird watching, climbing, fishing, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, Visitor’s Centers which provide interpretive exhibits and park information and Ranger programs. Guided tours are also available in the park.
Scenic View: Take in the view from Cadillac Mountain and along the various trails throughout the park.
Length of Visit: Three days is the minimal recommended time to see all of the attractions at Acadia.
Tips for Your Visit: If you are looking for animals, winter is the time that they hibernate. Spring is a wonderful time to visit because you can see newborn babies. When viewing wildlife, you must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yard from all other animals in the park. For photographers, you may already know that dawn and dusk are the best times to photograph animals and you will want to bring a telephoto lens for capturing them from far distances. Summer is the busiest time for the park you may find road construction and traffic.

Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company
1 West Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 2386

Rates: Rates range from $32 to $63 for adults on a variety of trips; $20 to $33 for children ages 6 – 14 and $14 for children ages five and under.
Hours: The activities take place from May to October. Visit the website for each activities and the departure times for these events.
Amenities: Ferry services
Length of Tour: Varies by tour, refer to the website
Tips for Your Visit: Take medication for seasickness should you think the seas may affect you.

Doubling Point Lighthouse
Doubling Point Road
Arrowsic, ME 04530
Email: mspencer@student.uchc.edu,jaehs@aol.com

Admission Fee: No Admission Fee
Hours: 8AM to 6PM daily
Scenic View: The lighthouse and surrounding area
Length of Visit: No more than one hour
Tips for Your Visit: Wear bug spray during the summer months. Refer to the website for detailed directions to the lighthouse. The lighthouse is not accessible, but you can look inside only.

Where to Stay:

Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA Holiday
136 County Road
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 3520

Where to Eat:

Fish House Grill
1 West Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone: 207 288 3070

We shared the New England Clam Bake and I also ordered the bacon wrapped scallops served with a maple and brown sugar glaze.

What to Eat: