Grand Tetons

Planning this trip goes back some months.  We knew the general direction we wanted to go...Yellowstone - Grand Canyon - home...but these destinations have many, many miles separating them, so the itinerary between these locations took a lot of planning...a lot of time on the computer...googling, trip advisor, travel websites, blogs...the internet is a wonderful thing.

While researching I started to read a lot of landscape photography websites/blogs....gorgeous images that just inspire you to get off the beaten path.  Now, getting off the beaten path with a family is at times impossible, some of these photographers are really hiking and camping in locations that a pair of 8 year old legs don't want to go!

Well, I found a location that satisfied the family friendly holiday location requirements but also satisfied my desire to try a little landscape photography.

Grand Tetons

Is this not breathtaking?.....Don't you just want to get on a plane and see it with you own eyes!

This place truly is a natural wonder, stunning.  Green & lush with snow capped mountains....remember it's summer, the middle of summer, and there's still snow around!

There were 2 shots I really wanted to get while in Jackson Hole.

One was the Tetons reflected in the Snake River.....check!

The other was the iconic Mormon Row barn, built by John Moulton, circa 1910...

Standing there, before sunrise, everything is still.  Even the few photographers around me who are waiting for the sun to peek over the mountain behind us and strike the barn, talk in quite, hushed tones.

It's a pretty special sight, those majestic Tetons looming over this wooden structure, that has stood the test of time over the past 100 years.  Imagine living and waking up to this view every day?

So that's what I did while the family enjoyed their slumber.  

The actual town of Jackson Hole is just as quaint as it's surrounding scenery.  It's a cowboy/ski town, but some very rich skiers & cowboys live here.  Great restaurants/cafes/eateries are interspersed with fabulous homewares stores.....very gorgeous & pricey homewares!  I think they need to print up t-shirts that read "I went to Jackson Hole and all I could afford was this t-shirt!"

We enjoyed amazing handmade chocolates, gelato & hot chocolates at Coco Love.

The town square, has on each corner, these huge antler covered arches.  A pretty unique feature.

We had done a lot of driving and walking up to this point in our holiday so we thought we'd have a bit of fun.

We booked a terrific whitewater rafting experience down the Snake River.  

It really was so much fun, and we all got a bit wet!

The boys took turns at the front of the raft and were bouncing and jumping through the rapids.  Not only did we raft but we were also able to jump overboard, clothes and all, and enjoy a little float/swim down the river.  

For different reasons we'll all remember our time in Jackson Hole fondly.