For so many reasons, today was a pretty great day…
Sunrise at Schwabacher Landing – This iconic location is a pretty special place to watch the sunrise as it illuminates the Teton range to the west. I arrived just as the tall rocky peaks were turning pink with sunlight. A short walk from the parking area provides hundreds of great vantage points, many with a reflection of the mountains in a series of beaver ponds. I even saw a couple of elk on the way out of the parking lot!
Breakfast in the Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge – Named after the famed Western murals hanging on the walls (not the view), the Mural Room provides unparalleled views from its massive windows overlooking the mountains. There was a herd of deer in the field nearby as I dined on the breakfast buffet. One comes here for the view, not necessarily the quality of the food. It was perfectly acceptable, it just didn’t wow me like the view did.
Horseback riding with Swift Creek Outfitters – I wanted to love horseback riding, I really did. In fact, I had been looking forward to it for the past couple of days. As it turns out, horseback riding isn’t exactly my thing. Actually, it’s not at all my thing. About 15 minutes into my two hour ride, I wanted to get off and go back. All my horse wanted to do was run after the horse in front. I just wanted her to walk like the other horses. Instead of enjoying the scenery, mountain views and creek crossings, I was more focused on getting her to walk instead of bouncing me around. I am completely sore afterwards and thankful that the parking lot was full for the afternoon hike I had been planning.
Dornan’s Chuckwagon (again) – How to overcome my rough horseback riding experience? Start drinking. I was in the mood for a burger with a view for dinner, and ending the trip in the same spot I started it seemed fitting. Since the grill was closed when I arrived, I “suffered through” a Teton Lemonade “Sloshie” while I waited for it to open. When it was time to order dinner, I enjoyed another cheeseburger with fries and soaked in my final views of the Tetons. I have been enjoying everything huckleberry for the past ten days, so I obviously needed one last huckleberry ice cream cone for dessert before I head home tomorrow.
Tonight entails my least favorite vacation activity: repacking. I’ve had an amazing vacation and although I would obviously love to stay longer, I’m also okay with going home tomorrow. What I’m not okay with is trying to figure out how to get everything packed back into my suitcase and backpack. I’ve recently become obsessed with packing cubes and they have been great for keeping my suitcase organized. However, everything I’ve accumulated during this trip has taken up residence in the car and in 4 plastic grocery bags. All of that needs to somehow make its way into my suitcase. Fun times ahead!
Traveling with Laura 