We returned last weekend from an incredible (and much anticipated) vacation to Jackson, Wyoming with the entire Geers clan. We stayed in a beautiful 3-story home at the base of Jackson Hole ski area, complete with incredible views out the front and creek in the back yard. The boys had their own room, which Isaac really enjoyed. We had so much fun spending time & relaxing with everyone, playing games, drinking wine and local brews (of course!), and plenty of sightseeing. We stayed literally minutes outside of Grand Teton National Park & spent an entire day touring Yellowstone. With the exception of the 1st day, we had unbeatable weather and saw tons of wildlife - mule deer, Elk, marmot, antelope, buffalo, a great grey owl, bear (kind of) and a big 'ol moose!
Our road trip included a stop near Yakima for some wine tasting and turtle viewing in the little pond outside of Windy Point Winery (one of our favorites!). We spent the night in Boise and made it to Jackson the next afternoon.
On the trail right out the back door of our house. It didn't take the boys any time to get going!
On our first day of sightseeing in the Grand Tetons - buffalo grazing in the field
At the top of Signal Mountain...notice anything funny about the shape of the lake below?!?!
It was a gloomy and chilly day (with even some snow flakes at the higher elevations), but still with dramatic views of the surrounding mountains
Uncky Kevin with Brooke at Jenny Lake
Isaac sporting some moose antlers at the visitor center
One day we left the kids with Nana and Papa and went on a nearly 9 mile hike, with the goal of reaching Amphitheater Lake and Surprise Lake in Grand Teton Nat'l Park...but we had to turn back about 1/2 mile from our destination b/c of all of the snow! We did have beautiful views along the way, and according to some other hikers we came across, we missed a bear and her cubs by only a couple of minutes! Darn!
Halfway up...Bradley Lake and Taggart Lake in the background
Allison's friend, the marmot, came to visit us during our lunch break
A view looking up to the Grand Teton from close to the trailhead
A stop to admire the Teton's on our way to Yellowstone
A gorgeous outlook...on.an absolutely perfect day
Entering Yellowstone...it is amazing to see all of the changes in topography by just turning the corner. All through the park there was evidence of forest fires, all in various stages of regrowth.
Waiting for Old Faithful
Oooohhhh...there she is!
At the Geyser Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring - this was truely amazing. The hot and humid steam was such a contrast from the cool air, and the colors of the rock and water were so vibrant. Nothing like we have every seen before...
Traffic slowed while we were driving on the 2 lane road through the park, and we thought it was going to be for a typical "wildlife sighting"...but then we saw the herd of buffalo and calves walking right down the road! Thankfully, we were not stuck in the 1-2 mile back-up behind them!
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Yellowstone River
A view of the Lower Falls
A stop off of Yellowstone Lake...again more dead trees
B and her boys
Spending an afternoon in downtown Jackson...
and Isaac on the way home (complete with sucker still in his mouth!)
Spending another day in Grand Teton Nat'l Park...apparently behind us was a bear, but all we saw was some fuzz in the distance. We can count that as a bear sighting, right?!?
So cute - Papa with his littlest girl
We took a boat ride across Lake Jenny and then hiked up to the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
My 2 favorite 4-year-olds!
Uncky Kev and Isaac goofin' around
At Hidden Falls...one of us is sleeping:)
Taking a break at the Falls before continuing up to Inspiration Point
Here we are...a gorgeous view
The whole gang
On the way back down
We were all pretty impressed with Nana, recovering from recent spinal surgery...what a trooper!
Strike a pose
We were so excited to see a moose across the river while we were eating lunch outside (Kevin is petting him), and then...we went to see if we could get closer!
We were probably 15-20 feet away from the moose and watched him eat leaves from the tree. It was an absolutely surreal experience to be this close to this HUGE moose after we had been searching the entire trip for one close-up!
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