One Thing to do in Jackson Hole

If you find yourself in Jackson Hole to visit or even to live there is one place I think everyone should go. I highly and I mean very highly, recommend the National Museum of Wildlife Art. This wonderful place is just outside of town on the road to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. When you are driving out of town look to the left to see metal sculptures of a group of buffalo and then elk and you will see the entrance to the steep drive to the museum. 

If the weather is nice or you are prepared for whatever it is, starting with a walk outside to see all the outdoor displays is a good idea. Don't forget to look up the hill above from the parking lot to spot wildlife. Deer and other animals are often seen on that hill. Once inside there are spotting scopes for you to use to look out at the National Elk Refuge.

I was fortunate to be able to visit the museum in December last year. One of the collections to view at that time was National Geographic's 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs. I am not sure any description of mine could do this amazing collection of images could do it justice. This exhibit will be available until April 24, 2022, so you still have time to see this one.

Other exhibits include paintings and sculptures in metal or stone. Native basket skills are represented here too. For those of you that have young children in your group, there is a place just for them to explore that includes puppets and a stage as well as paper and crayons for their own creations and play. You can find your favorite wildlife represented in the art here. Below are some of my favorites from my December visit.

Owls in paint and stone.

 A group of elephants coming at you to get away from a fire.

Bears, Bears, Bears!

In paint with fur so real looking you want to pet him but please don't!

In a photo by Thomas Mangelson who is the champion of the famous bear mom 399 with her 4 cubs!

And as a sculpture.

The bears are part of or found close to another exhibit that will be at the museum until May 15, 2022. Be sure and check out While They're Sleeping: A Story of Bears.

Also on the site are a gift shop for souvenirs and gifts, and a cafe for a bite to eat before you go on your way to more adventures.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

On the Shore of Jackson Lake

In early October my daughter and her family came for a visit. Like we have done so many times during other visits that day included a drive through Grand Teton National Park. 

We had high hopes for a chance of seeing the famous grizzly mom 399 and the 4 cubs she had this year. She is one awesome mom and if you want to know more about her just google grizzly 399. Photographers, famous and not, have built part of their careers documenting the life of this bear. Her movements are tracked in out local paper. Everyone cheers her each spring when she comes out of her den. All of this just to say we saw the crowd waiting for her lined up for maybe half a mile along both sides of the main park road but we did not see her this time.

We did take a moment to stop at Leeks Marina on Jackson Lake. I will admit that my pictures aren't so great but in my mind I see the glorious gold of fall against the deep green of the pine trees. You just get my sad attempts that give you a glimpse. The first two are of  islands that shelter the marina. The third shot with the lonely sailboat in it looks across the lake to Mount Moran.

If the Jim's retirement schedule goes as currently planned this day may have been the last time I see this lake that I have fallen in love with during our time living here. I will miss anchoring in Sergeant's Bay and spending the night and falling asleep to the sound of water that rocks the boat and the elk bugling in the distance. Good Times.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!

Mom Bear in Grand Teton National Park

I live close to GTNP as some of you may know from my posts about spending days on Jackson Lake on our boat. Every time I enter the park boundary I am on the lookout for something amazing to see and am rarely disappointed.

Over Memorial Weekend we were at a fundraiser for the local hospital foundation. Known as the "Spring Fling", the evening was hosted at the Jackson Lake Lodge. That event was lovely with great company at our table for dinner. But it can't compare with what we got to see on our way home from the lodge.

The pictures here are of one of the famous roadside mom grizzly bears. I am pretty sure this is the one known as 399. If you google her you can find out lots about her history. We sat in the pickup and watched her for awhile with her two cubs.

Of course there was a traffic jam with others stopping like we did. There were also a lot of professional photographers with lenses as long as your arm so they can get shots worth selling. My own pictures were taken with a point and shoot and no tripod and zoomed as much as I was able. Not the best but I do get to have a reminder that once again something amazing happened on a visit to Grand Teton National Park.

Back with more again soon. Take care and stay cozy!