The Great Outdoors: Exploring the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone in Style

Visiting both parks and their surrounding areas could take months of exploration, but a great deal can be discovered and enjoyed by choosing properties and guided experiences to get the most out of your trip. This is an ideal trip for individuals of all ages who love adventure and luxury wrapped into one experience.

Flying into Jackson Hole Airport and renting a car was a hassle-free experience. Just a short drive away, our first stop was The Cloudveil in downtown Jackson—a cozy yet chic property with a fabulous restaurant onsite, The Bistro. The staff is attentive and there are nice touches to make you feel at home, such as a trail mix bar and sparkling water selection on each floor.

This was a perfect first stop for us as we were able to enjoy all the town of Jackson had to offer before exploring the parks. The town is a great mix of Western character and upscale amenities. The highlights were getting a fabulous pair of cowboy boots at Kemo Sabe (don't worry, they ship) and branding our own boot jack, having a local brew at the world-famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and browsing the many art galleries in town.

Boot shopping in Jackson

The next day, we started early and drove north through Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone. This was a great way to check off some of the bucket-list items such as Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic. Then, we arrived at our accommodation for the next two nights, Under Canvas West Yellowstone.

Under Canvas West Yellowstone glamping

Lodging in and around Yellowstone is a whole separate report in itself, but in-park lodging requires booking far in advance and there aren't many luxury options. I will preface this by saying I am not a camper, however, we decided that the "glamping" option would be a great way to experience Yellowstone, and it was also conveniently located right at the west entrance to the park. Under Canvas was a mostly pleasant and unique experience overall. There is a surprisingly good dining option on property, and I was served the best sage lemon drop martini that I have ever had. I am not sure that I would enjoy the rustic nature of this accommodation for any longer than two nights, but it was a memorable experience.

Bison and babies in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley

Hayden Valley, Yellowstone

The next morning, we were picked up bright and early by our guide, Toni, for a private chauffeured and guided tour of Yellowstone. Private guided tours are my go-to when I have a limited time in or I am on my first visit to a destination. We opted to focus on wildlife experiences and followed the north loop of the park. In addition to seeing a ton of bison, we saw wolves, eagles, bears, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep, thanks to Toni's extensive knowledge of the park and its inhabitants, along with her viewing scope that made sure we saw it all. She also packed a fabulous lunch made locally from an artisan bakery in Big Sky. Other must-sees were the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Artist Point, and the Mammoth terraces.

Mammoth terraces

Yellowstone wildlife

Departing Yellowstone, we headed to our final lodging destination, The Four Seasons in Teton Village near Jackson, which was a welcome experience after our "glamping" nights. After a luxurious night of sleep, we set out on a guided fish and float with another guide, Caleb. Again, I cannot underestimate how valuable local guides are when exploring a new area. In addition to Caleb being knowledgeable about the sport and the beautiful views from the Snake River, he had a deep familiarity with all the best fishing and wildlife-viewing spots. We then spent our last day exploring Grand Teton National Park by driving the 42-mile loop and enjoying a beautiful dining experience at Calico in Wilson near Teton Village.

Fishing on the Snake River

We saw so much of both of these stunning areas due to our guided expeditions, and our wonderfully curated hotel and dining experiences were great places to rest, restore, and refuel.

Yellowstone books up early and there are limited options for park lodging. Another option is to consider flying into Bozeman and stay there or at Sage Lodge. We are planning an encore visit next year and will explore more of this area since we enjoyed the Jackson area this time.

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