Vacations in Wyoming
Vacation Ideas

My approach to the region is to fly in and out of Jackson Hole, pick up a rental car, then make either a clockwise or counter-clockwise loop, staying for several days in each of a few locations.

Jackson Hole itself is a tremendously enjoyable town with accommodations, shopping and restaurants ranging from on-the-cheap to opulence.

A tremendously wide range of activities is also available, including rafting on the Snake River, hot air ballooning – which I highly recommend, hiking and fishing to museums, plays and musicals. The National Museum of Wildlife Art is especially exquisite.

Chuck wagon and ranch dinners are available nearby, and I especially recommend the Bar J ranch for its hospitality and musical show. Be sure to take the mountain pass to Driggs, Idaho and look for the Victor Emporium that offers Huckleberry milk shakes.

As for accommodations on your vacations in Wyoming, I have usually stayed in nearby Teton Village, once renting an apartment and once staying at the Alpenhof. Take the tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain for a tremendous view of the Grand Teton range as well as the opportunity for light hiking – or hike back to the base if you’re feeling more vigorous. Be sure to visit the Chapel of the Transfiguration, a log cabin church with a simple, breath-taking view.

Now you are ready to head north through Grand Teton National Park, and you may enjoy staying another night or two, possibly near Jenny Lake. Then it’s time to journey further north to Yellowstone National Park, a place with far too many features to detail here.

Any of the park’s inns are pleasant, but my favorite is The Old Faithful Inn, and incredible piece of architecture as well as a great place to dine. Allow lots of time in Yellowstone, and remember that people ahead may stop their vehicle at any given moment because they’ve spotted wild life.

To the north of Yellowstone there is the rugged mountain beauty of Montana. This landscape is what vacations in Wyoming are all about. It’s beautiful, but I like to turn east and exit the park there.

The highway toward Cody provides some of the most beautiful scenery in this world, and Pahaska Teepee is a great place to lodge. This motel with housekeeping A-frame cabins is on the grounds of Buffalo Bill Cody’s hunting lodge, and it is steeped in history. Meanwhile I have seen bears, elk and moose in this rustic spot.

Further east we come to the town of Cody, and the hotel named after Buffalo Bill is well worth visiting. The Buffalo Bill Historical Museum is well worth an afternoon and there are other museums to see as well. From here I head to the wonderfully relaxing town of Thermopolis, a place named after its geo-thermal springs.

There are various ways to enjoy the springs, but I prefer to stay at the Holiday Inn, which has its own pool fed by them. From here, be sure to visit the dinosaur archeology site in Dubois as well as the mountain sheep center. Now it is on to Pinedale and the surrounding mountains, lakes and streams.

Finally the journey ends back in Jackson Hole. All the while there have been opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, the varied geology and history of the region. I hope these vacation ideas help you plan your vacations in Wyoming. There is plenty to do and activities can be tailored to any budget and capability.

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