4 nights and 5 days with my parents

I am planning a trip to the Yellowstone National Park and also the Grand Teton National Park during the 2nd week of August. My parents are coming from Japan, connecting in San Fransisco and I think we will fly into Jackson, then rent a car. My parents are in the late 60s, but they are quite fit for their age and are interested in some light hiking. Do you have any suggestsions for a driving route, nice hotels/lodges to stay (since it is their 35th anniversary, I would like to take them to a really nice place) and hiking routes and other activities?

Thank you very much in advance for your suggestions.

4 nights and 5 days with my parents

Visit this link for a good look at the lodging choices in Jackson: www.jacksonholenet.com

I can personally recommend The Wort Hotel for an in town upscale property. From what I have heard The Wyoming Inn is similar, though not quite as close to the town square. I%26#39;m sure that your parents would be quite comfortable in either property, as well as one of the facilities within Grand Teton itself, such as The Jackson Lake Lodge. That being said, I have to add here that while the Jackson area and the facilities within Grand Teton are fine for visiting that park, they are a bit too far south to be considered good for visiting Yellowstone, so you should plan on moving at least once.

One thing you must understand is, as you head up into Yellowstone, the emphasis is on the park experience itself, with lodging and dinning options being secondary. The available facilities are basic,';rustic';, comfortable, safe, and clean, but for the most part NOT what one would consider upscale. Outside the park in the surrounding towns you will find more ammenities, such as in room phones, TVs, pools, internet access, and more dinning options, however there again, you will not find any five star hotels, resorts, or gourmet dinning experiences.

Both GTNP and YNP offer numerous hiking opportunities, from easy one hour walks along paved trails and boardwalks, to day hikes, to extreme wilderness backpacking. Yellowstone alone has over 1,000 miles of public hiking trails.

The ';route'; from Jackson is really quite simple..... just head north! You can enter GTNP at the southern

(Moose, Wyoming) gate, four or five miles north of the airport, and travel through GTNP to where it connects to YNP. From there, follow the well marked Grand Loop Road to all of the wonders of Yellowstone.

Though it might sound that way, this is NOT a day trip! I would recommend spending a minimum of two days exploring GTNP, and at least three days in YNP, even more if you have the time.

4 nights and 5 days with my parents

If you can get lodging inside YS park look at Lake Yellowstone Hotel or Old Faithful Inn. Great locations and some nice dining available. www.nps.gov/yell

Have you thought about staying for a night or two at a guest ranch? There are ranches out of Jackson and West Yellowstone that also offer activities like hiking, horseback riding, fishing, etc.

Thank you for your very helpful advice!

In YNP, you will find that the geyser basins, and other points, include many ';trails';, including boardwalks, that might be lengthy enough for their taste. And absolutely fascinating. Consider them for the most part as ';walks';, with some up and down, but nothing really strenuous. YNP has its share of trails as well, and some are included in the YNP website, below.

GTNP is a scenic park, which can be enjoyed in a day if only for the beauty. YNP is both a scenic park, in a very different way, and an experiential park, with so much to see, including wildlife everywhere.

Unlike GTNP, YNP is very large with a good road system, so plan on at least two full days, the more the better, to see it all. We stay a week at a time.

Here%26#39;s an Inside Page and some web pages that will enhance the experience...

This National Park website contains a lot of very good information and an interactive map.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/

Official Lodging and Tour vendor for Yellowstone National Park (Call them frequently, cancellations occur.)

http://www.travelyellowstone.com/

For wildlife viewing and photography:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60999-c96653/Yellows…