Itenaray Tetons and Yellowstone

I%26#39;m in the middle stages of planning our summer vacation. Would love to run it by the experts, you%26#39;re always so great . . . I have four nights booked at Teton Mountain Lodge and thought we would go whitewater rafting, hiking, maybe horseback riding, exploring the park, swim in pool/hot tubs, go to Jackson etc. Then we have two nights booked at a YNP Canyon Western Cabin. I still need to research what our path will be in YNP. Is this too much time in the Tetons? I%26#39;m traveling with my hubby and 11 year old son, he doesn%26#39;t like (o.k. hates is the word he uses) being in the car so I was trying not to make this a big car trip vacation. Thanks in advance!

Itenaray Tetons and Yellowstone

Please understand that this is just my personal opinion, but I would spend the four nights in Yellowstone, and the two in Grand Teton. By comparison, GTNP is a lot smaller than YNP, and there is so much to experience in YNP that your son should not get bored or tired of riding. It%26#39;s not really about the riding anyway, as much as it is about the ever changing scenery and searching for the awesome wildlife that you will encounter, around nearly every bend in the road. Once he experiences his first bison jam, or watches a grizzly mother and her cubs cross the road, I rather doubt that he will consider it just another ';big car trip vacation'; after that.

Itenaray Tetons and Yellowstone

I agree 2 nights in Jackson Hole and 4 nights in YNP sounds much better.

Agree, absolutely, with above.

When you pick up the National Park information at the entrances to either, the map clearly depicts the roads and major and most minor attractions. As you will see, with four days in YNP, you%26#39;ll have plenty of time to explore, dawn to dusk. Let the park experience move you along; it%26#39;s unbelievable and your son is a great age to be your eyes and ears for wildlife, among other wonderful sights.

An interactive and quite descriptive map is available on the NPS, YNP, website. Canyon is a great location, Lake, IMO, a very good second for the three of you.

Worthwhile reading that will enhance the trip:

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

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g28973-c100586/Wyomin…

This gives me a lot to think about, mainly what type of vacation are we all looking for. I was trying to do a combo resort/nature trip - maybe this location is better suited for a full-up nature trip. Huuummm, thank you very much for your advice - this is why I love tripadvisor!

You are welcome for what ever help we might have been. If you have more specific questions about the area, please feel free to post them and we will be happy to help.

While it is certainly possible to fit all of the activities that you have mentioned into six days, I just feel that you will be doing a lot of running around to meet scheduled tours and trips, etc. If a full on action vacation is what you are after, then that might be fine, for you. I personally feel that the area is better experienced at a more relaxed pace, but then I do not travel with an 11 year old. As you said though, you should decide just what type of vacation you are looking for. The GTP/YNP area really lends itself more to the ';nature and the great outdoors'; side, than it does the ';resort'; type of vacation.

Should you decide to spend two days in GTNP, one suggestion could be to spend a day hiking, then another day take that rafting trip. Horseback riding can always be arranged in Yellowstone, and there are over 1,000 miles of hiking trails waiting to be explored there as well!

I%26#39;ve posted on the Jackson forum as well - and what you mention about traveling with an 11 year old and ';action packed'; is where finding the right fit comes in. If he had his choice we would spend every vacation at Disney World (1 hour from our house) or Legoland, but we would really like him to see more of the country, he only gets to travel as a kid for a very short time! Thanks for listening :)

As I said above, your son will enjoy being your eyes and ears, w/o the ';fiction'; of Disneyworld - I%26#39;m not putting the latter down - just a very different experience. Give him binoculars, watch him go! And think of this WOW trip report to his friends...

I%26#39;m SO happy you reminded me of the binoculars, I would have remembered them but now I%26#39;ll make sure we bring more than one pair, excellent idea!

We%26#39;ll also be traveling to GTNP %26amp; YNP this summer with kids who kill each other in the car. One thing we did is bought the kids their own cameras and my son his own mini camcorder for Christmas this year. You can actually pick up both kind of cheaply if you watch the circulars. With them both being able to take their own pictures, it makes them more a ';part'; of it and they won%26#39;t be trying to take my camera when we see something spectacular (that I don%26#39;t want to chance missing). They both got to try out their cameras this past weekend when we went to Washington DC and it was really great- they were like mini-photographers. They can%26#39;t wait to order the pictures that they took. Have a great trip!

We%26#39;ve actually changed our vacation plans due several circumstances (we%26#39;re going to Hawaii instead), but I still like the idea. Thanks!!