Surreal and Surprising, This is Jackson Hole Wyoming

I spent the summer there under the shadows of the Grand Teton range. It was the summer of 1998 and I was the Location Chef for the Grand Teton Lodge Company. My actual address was Moran Junction, a little spot in the road where you go on your way to Jackson. It was there in the midst of this Paradise that I oversaw the operation of Three feeding stations in the Coulter bay area for the Grand Teton Lodge.

The people flocked to this part of Wyoming. At the time, Park Rangers told me that over 2 million visitors come to this tiny Park alone. Then there is the Yellowstone Park that receives even more. I bet that summer, I cooked for all 2 million of them. Howbeit, I found out why they came to the area. You can find five star cuisine, plays, top name stores, wilderness, wildlife (and I don't mean people), mountains, and much more here in Jackson Hole.

The first and foremost reason people came to this place was scenery. No where on earth can you find such majestic mountains. In the middle of these projections that reached to the sky, the animals would graze. From Elk, Deer, Mountain Sheep, Coyote, Foxes, Ground Hogs, Moose, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Birds of all sorts, Fishing of all sorts, were here. They would be in there natural surroundings of Pines, water, boulders, trails, valleys, springs, and people. Yes, people. They knew you were looking, but they did not mind it. People would take their time glassing the grasses for what wildlife they could see. It was relaxing, It was gorgeous, and it was wilderness you could drive too.

This was a place where people could get away. I met people from New York, Florida, Great Britain, Asia, California, and many other places. Over the time that summer, my wife even had a limited edition pencil sketch given to her by an artist who came to know her. This is a place that all walks, all professions, and all people can come. You leave the maze of people behind in the big city with all the smog and traffic. Here in the wilds of Wyoming, you could lose yourself. The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance estimates the number of visitors to the Hole country in Jackson in the millions. In the surrounding country of this small island paradise in Wyoming, people come to know nature. This country is known as the "gateway to Yellowstone National Park in the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Peaks of the Grand Tetons reach 13,000 feet above the valley floor.

The second reason people come here is the family friendly nature of the area. There is simply so much to do, so much for everyone, people like it here. The first place to stop is the Jackson Hole chuck wagon dinner. As is described on their website, if you're hungry come to camp where you will find "massive grills sizzle with layers of beef and barbeque chicken. Oversized cast-iron skillets clank loudly as hired-hands prepare homemade beans and fresh corn for this evenings feasts". "This is eating the cowboy way, grub is slathered upon your plate". This is where you can eat all you want too. The wide-open spaces, the cool crisp evening, the smell of the wood, along with the waft of the pine breeze all make you hungry. The open sky full of stars beneath the Tetons makes it a perfect get away. The next place to stop is the Teton Wagon Train and Horse adventure near Yellowstone Park. They say on their website that "it is voted the True West Magazines, Best Wagon Train Experience". As you head out on a Conestoga Wagon, your trek will take you with rubber tires and padded seats on a four day-three night trip. Full of grub, places to sleep, and plenty of wildlife to see like the loon and Trumpeter Swan, along with Moose, Elk, and Deer. There are also Fishing trips, floating trips, white water rafting, hiking trips, helicopter flights, and many more activities in the area.

The third reason people come is the scenic routes and easy access. You can drive from Jackson Hole on highway 26-89-191 south to the Grand Teton Park. Go to the 42 mile Teton Park Scenic Loop. This can be accessed from two other main roads as well. It virtually links Jackson Hole, the Grand Teton Park, Yellowstone Park, and even Dubois. Be sure to bring a map, to make sure you find the spot to turn off. The highlights of this drive are unbelievable. The Snake river winds to this road and the Parks. Here is a list of some points of interest: Teton Point Overlook-the Valley Glaciers Snake River Overlook-The Fur Trapper Era Cunningham Cabin (suggested family activity), Oxbow Bend-River Dynamics Jackson Point Overlook-The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Cathedral Group Turnout-Creation of Peaks Jenny Lake Overlook- Mountain Glaciation Cottonwood Creek Picnic Area-Fire Ecology Bill Menor Homestead and Maude Noble Cabin (family activity) Biotic Communities of Grand Teton National Park Early Peoples in Jackson Hole, and Mormon Row.

I recommend finding good hotels and making reservations in advance. If you get online you can find great deals and save yourself money. On top of that most online reservation systems like Orbit or Hotels.com will tell you what the accommodations are like and give you peoples comments on the places they have stayed. One place I recommend is to stay at Coulter bay. You can stay in Cabins that have a dated history. For dinners, there are many places to eat at plus a nice walk on Teton Lake shore sides when you are done. You can also take boat rides, go canoeing, charter fishing boats, go on a fish fry in the middle of the lake to one of the small islands, or even watch the wildlife there. Don't be surprise to see a bear, moose, or deer close by.

There is nothing like this country in the summer. The roads can get a bit crowded, but I spent the whole season there, it is a great place anytime. I recommend you do come early in the season or late, as both these times have an extra special touch. You can talk with people, that work in the area, and get to know them. They can fill you in on what to do and where to go. These are the times you can sit quietly and write, make music, take pictures, meditate, pray, and enjoy the scenery. It will make you want to come back. Believe me, the colors are vibrant, the animals are wild, the place is serene, and the people are friendly. It's a place I like to go and you will too.