Quest for the West Trip Report

[K and K's Mommy]

We had a fabulous trip to Wyoming! Our guides Geraldine and Stefanie were terrific. We also had a guide in training, Drew. He was great, also. Stefanie is getting married in July so Drew will be taking over. He probably starts tomorrow!

We arrived a day early. Being from Indiana, I wanted my kids to have a day to adjust to the time change. Right away, I loved the airport! It is small and quaint! Disney did meet us, no problems, great driver who gave us a lot of facts about Jackson and Jackson Hole.

We LOVED the Wort Hotel. It is also small and quaint! It is beautiful. We only had one room that first night. The five of us fit, but it was nice to have two bathrooms when we started the ABD portion. Take some time to look at all the artwork in the Wort - paintings, sculptures and photographs. The front desk was so nice. They helped us find a place to eat and things to do the next morning. My only complaint about the Wort was that the bathroom was a bit dark. There is a lighted make-up mirror so that helps.

We ate a late lunch at Sweetwaters. It is in a historic log cabin. It was very good. I tried to be healthy and got the chicken salad in avocado. My DH got the elk melt, and my DS 13 got the Cowboy (roast beef and bacon), minus the horseradish. Everything was good, but the Cowboy was the best!

We didn't do much that evening - just looked around Jackson at all the fun shops. We also had ice cream at Moo's. Very good!

The next morning we ate breakfast at The Bunnery. I already knew I wanted to eat here, and the front desk confirmed it was good. Still being on Indiana time, we were there around 7:45 and had no wait. By 8:30, there was a wait. I had the OSM pancakes - absolutely delicious!! They have a nutty, wheat flavor, so you need to like whole grains. My DD 10 loved her cinnamon french toast. I thought it was too sweet. My dad had the Teton burrito and said it was good. My DH really liked his omelet. The only complaint was from my brother who thought his chillaquilles needed more spice.

That morning we went to the Alpine Slide. The front desk at the Wort will give you coupons. Everyone loved it.

My brother wrecked trying to beat my SIL, so it is possible. You can control how fast you go, and they give you instructions at the top. Before the Alpine Slide, we came across a "climbing" playground. The kids enjoyed that for a bit.

We got to the Alpine Slide about 10:15, and there was no wait. When we left, 11:15 ish, there was starting to be a line.

Next we took the bus to Teton Village (35 minutes) - again the front desk told us how. We ate lunch there - unremarkable, I can't remember the name of it - and then took the aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. The views were gorgeous! I don't know if I would do this again, but the kids had never been in anything like the aerial tram so it was fun for them. I wanted to go to the Western Art Museum in Jackson, but we didn't have time.

Next up: Welcoming Dinner for the start of our ABD Quest for the West

We met for a buffet dinner in one of the conference rooms at the Wort.
We had already checked in with our guides, but we learned a little bit more about them - and Drew, too. Then each family had one person introduce them and tell what they were most looking forward to.

Dinner was a choice of salmon or steak or a hot dog for the kids. Then there was a buffet for the sides. It was good, but I don't think it was great. There is wine provided at this first meal. There is also a singing Cowboy. He's fun and knew all my DH's requests.

 

[Dolby1000]

Looking forward to the rest of the report. We are considering this as a future trip.

We have a Alpine Slide a couple of west of here (Lisle, IL) at Galena, it goes down to the Mississippi river and we go at least once a summer, they are loads of fun.

Dolby1000

 

[tracyz]

Hooray, I've been waiting for your trip report!!
Can't wait for the next installment...

 

[Gonecruisin]

Wow! Just checked out the itinerary for this trip. What great excursions. Can't wait to hear all about them.

 

[sayhello]

Looking forward to more! Be sure & put a link to this thread in the Trip Reports Sticky!

Sayhello

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I'm back! Sorry for the delay. I was hoping to get more done before the holiday, but it didn't happen.

Day 2 - ABD eats breakfast in the Wort Hotel's dining room, The Silver Dollar Grill. You can order whatever you want off the menu. Both breakfasts were good. I had an egg skillet one day, and oatmeal on Day 3. I probably liked my oatmeal better. My DS 13 scarfed down his bagel sandwich so it must have been good! My DH had an omelet both days and enjoyed it. The first morning (Day 2) service was slow. The next morning was much faster.

This morning is on your own. We shopped. There is a lot of shopping in Jackson. There are high priced boutiques and t-shirt shops with everything in between. My kids enjoyed some candy at a candy shop. I bought myself a fun Western belt. We were told that the shopping would go downhill, but I actually liked the national park gift shops!

Lunch is at the Jackson Hole Playhouse. This is so much fun! They start with giving you a short history of the Playhouse and then you get to check out the stage and take pictures on it. Lunch is served in an adjacent room. I think everyone in my family had a bison burger. It was very good. I got sweet potato fries but liked my DS's regular fries better. Most people loved the sweet potato fries, but they are the type with sugar on them. I like mine with salt. They sing to you while you eat. SO MUCH FUN! I knew about this from reading a trip report, so I prepared my 13 year old. I know this helped him just to go with it and laugh. There were a couple of little boys under the table. TIP - Be sure to also get pictures of those doing the laughing. I have the best picture of my mom laughing hysterically when my dad is getting sung to!

We wore our swim suits under our lunch clothes. You have about 10 minutes between lunch and leaving for whitewater rafting. I just pulled my hair back and put on sunscreen.

A bus takes you to Barker-Ewing for everyone to get wetsuits if they want. It was a BEAUTIFUL day, but the Snake River is still only 50 degrees, so I chose to get one - long pants. They also have short pants. We brought our own water shoes - must be able to stay firmly on your foot, no flip flops. If you don't have your own water shoes, Barker Ewing will let you borrow some. I was glad I had my own. My mom borrowed, and they were still wet and squishy. You then get back on the bus to drive to where you will start your rafting trip.

All of us loved it. I was a tad nervous about it. I didn't need to be. The Snake River is deep and wide so there isn't even a need for helmets. There are some fun spots where you get soaked and some spots where you can look at nature and relax. You can even hop in and swim at one point. I did, but I quickly had myself pulled back in because it is cold! I am glad I tried it though! After it is over, there is a changing spot and then you ride back into town.

My one tip - I didn't bring a change of shoes. I was okay in wet shoes, but if it had been a cold day, I think I would have wanted dry shoes. They told us not to bring a lot so I didn't think about shoes.

Next tip - We do own a waterproof video camera. My DH got some good video, but you don't need to bring a camera. The pictures the professionals take were really good. You have to go to their store in Jackson - very close to the Wort. You do pay for what you want.

We were a small group - 21 of us - so I am guessing we moved around a little quicker. We were told we would be back around 6. We got back around 5:20. We brushed hair and some of us did a quick change so we could get to the Shootout on the Square. This is worthwhile. They re-enact an old western shootout. There is a mayor and a drunk sheriff. It is loud if someone in your family can't do loud.

After the shootout we walked directly to Snake River Brewery. Stefanie was going to make us a reservation, but they don't take reservations. We got right in with a party of 12. It is very large. There is an over 21 section and a family section. It is a good place for families - very casual - remember we haven't showered yet - and somewhat loud. The beer was good. I had the margarita pizza which was very good - big though! I didn't try it, but my DH really liked the chili. I didn't try it because he said it was very spicy. The kids decided the best meal was the mac and cheese.

We went back to the hotel and showered and started to pack as we had to have our luggage ready at 7:15 the next morning.

We never hung out at the Silver Dollar Bar, which is in the hotel, because we were too tired those first nights. The bar itself is very cool so even if you are too tired at night or don't have someone to leave your kids with, be sure to check it out during the day. Kids can go into the bar in the afternoon.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Day 3

Luggage is ready by 7:15, breakfast goes quickly today, and we are in the lobby by 8:20 for an 8:30 departure to the Tetons. This is where we meet Desi, our motor coach driver.

The first stop is the Visitor's Center. You only stay here for half an hour. The guides do family photo shoots with the Tetons in the background. Beautiful! This is one of the many things I loved about having ABD guides. They always did family shots for us. On other vacations I try to ask a stranger at least once, but most pictures have one person missing. Not this trip! It is a very nice visitor center - and clean bathrooms (this will not be the case at most of the other bathroom stops in the national parks - but those wonderful guides will have hand sanitizer!). My kids enjoyed feeling different animal fur and trying on antlers. There is also a very small climbing wall. My oldest enjoyed reading the history. There is a gift shop. I only had one minute, and I was a bit mad I hadn't checked it out earlier. There are a lot of books - we love to read. However, there were a lot of books in other gift shops where we had more time.

You next travel to Jenny Lake (and poor Jenny died of smallpox at 27) and take a ferry across the lake. It is only about 5 minutes. For some reason, I was expecting longer. The guides took care of the tickets so you just wait to hop on the ferry! Once across the lake you take a hike to Hidden Falls. I loved this hike. It is rocky and a definite incline. My mom (65) used her hiking stick on this one. It was fairly well traveled with other hikers. We like to hike so I have hiking shoes. I think regular tennis shoes would be fine though. Probably my biggest disappoint came next. Last year there was a ton of snow. The second part of the hike to Inspiration Point has had too much erosion to be deemed "Disney safe," so we did not go further. I kind of wish they had let me sign a waiver and sent those who wanted on up. Oh well, a reason to go back!

After the hike you get back on the ferry. This is another spot where I would have liked to hike a bit more. Instead of the ferry, you can walk two miles back. My 13 year old wanted to do that. It would be a nice option for families with older kids. I know they would have to be very firm about making sure that one parent stays with kids.

We ate lunch at String Lake. You can choose a picnic table or take your lunch down by the lake. We ate at a table and then walked to the lake. I had the turkey sandwich - very good, lots of turkey. You can wade in this lake, but I am not a fan of putting wet feet into socks and tennis shoes so I didn't. So, my next tip: You may want to pack your water shoes in a bus carry-on. There are overhead compartments on the motor coach so plenty of room. There were plenty of non ABD people here swimming and sunning, so it is a popular spot. This is, however, where you will encounter your first gross bathroom.

After lunch it is off to Yellowstone!! I think it was 1 1/2 hours. They stop by the Yellowstone entrance sign for a photo op. Geraldine did a good job of sometimes telling us what we were seeing and sometimes letting us rest.

Our first "hike" in Yellowstone is the West Thumb Geyser Basin. This is along a boardwalk where you see examples of the different thermal features. There are hot springs, geysers, mud pots, and fumaroles. You will also see Lake Yellowstone. Some of the people in the group thought this walk wasn't needed because you see all of these things the next day in a much grander scale. This is true, but I liked the little introduction. Plus, I was ready to stretch my legs. You also get to see the spot where they used to catch a fish in Lake Yellowstone and then cook it in a geyser!!

Next stop: Snow Lodge Check-in is painless. The guides give you keys, and your luggage is brought to you fairly quickly. Remembering that this is a national park, I was impressed with the rooms. The Snow Lodge has minimal decorations, but that is because they want you outside. The beds were comfy and the shower was fine. My only complaint was the walls are thin. I was listening to my DS 7 sing a song, and then I realized that he was in the next room! You can definitely hear hallway noise, also.

There is a buffet dinner that night. Alcohol costs extra. I was very surprised at how good the food was. I thought it was better than the Wort's buffet. The huckleberry crisp is delicious! Save room! This was the first night to have a kids' table. Drew taught them a game, but I am not allowed to know the rules. The kids adored the guides!!

It was a great dinner, but Old Faithful was about to go off so most of us rush out. After we see Old Faithful, we spend some time in the gift shop. My kids and I wait outside while my DH is paying for our purchases, when we see everyone start running. Another geyser (Beehive) is erupting. So fun! My DH comes out. He doesn't have his credit card. He left it at the Snow Lodge because he had given it to our server to pay for wine. We go back and get it, and two other families had done the same thing! So, my tip here is to remember your credit card even if Old Faithful is about to erupt!

Before bed we spent some time relaxing in the lobby. My DH and DS checked out chess pieces from the front desk and the rest of us read.

Packing tip: I thought I would pause to discuss packing. I researched the weather for June, I looked at the pictures in the pre-departure handbook, I looked at the forecast, but I was not prepared for the GORGEOUS weather we had. The heat wave that is gripping the nation is also in Wyoming. That means 70's and low 80's. I had too much long stuff and not enough short stuff. Two moms did laundry at Snow Lodge so you can do it there. We just all bought a t-shirt in either Jackson or Yellowstone and needed to wear it on the trip. There are hair dryers in each hotel or lodge. I used my own shampoo and conditioner, but it is in all the rooms so you wouldn't have to bring it. Insect repellent - We didn't need it until Brooks Lake Lodge. The guides had some, but we went through two really fast. The mosquitoes were bad there. Sunscreen - Yes! Again, the guides had some, but I should have used more on my face. Binoculars - We did not have them. There were just a few times where I wish I had some, so your call on if you want to carry them.

 

[tracyz]

Your tips are soooo helpful! Thank you especially for the packing tips!

 

[sayhello]

I'm enjoying your report! I'm glad the river rafting isn't too intense.

And I had to smile that you had oatmeal for breakfast! I never make real oatmeal (vs instant). I just rarely have time in the morning. So I *love* to have oatmeal when I'm doing breakfast "out". One of my favorites!

Sayhello

 

[3mmm]

We finished up our Quest for the West on July 3rd and took a few days getting home, spending some time in Chicago. It was an incredible trip. Thank you for doing a trip report. Our guides, Tiffany and Doug were awesome. When I get a few minutes, I'll add my two cents. for now, I'm going to skip over to the Medical Diet thread I started and give an update.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

(A few pictures were added to Day 3.)

Day 4
On this day we learned a lot about the thermal features of the park. We had Courtney, a Xanterra guide, with us for both the morning and afternoon walk. I am going to call both of these "walks" because it is along a boardwalk and nothing strenuous. Of course, you want to stay on the boardwalk so you don't die! Actually, we did learn about that! In the morning, you stay in the Old Faithful area and learn about lots of other geysers. It is amazing how many different sizes and shapes there are! Way back when, people thought this area was the "Gateway to the Underworld." It is very understandable when you look out and see all the steam and bubbling water. The guides took group pictures in front of Castle Geyser.

For lunch we had a picnic. You are free to sit in Snow Lodge or outside on the tables. This picnic was more upscale than yesterdays. There was fried chicken, sandwiches, wraps, potato salad, salad, chips, cookies (they are packaged so we took a couple extra and ate them on the plane), and soft drinks with ice. I thought it was all very good.

After lunch you board the motor coach and go see some more thermal features including Grand Prismatic Spring - my favorite, Excelsior Geyser (huge), the mud pots - another one of my favorites, and more. This is another boardwalk area. We saw our first bison on this trip. The bus stopped so we could get out and get a better view.

When we got back to the Snow Lodge, the kids did a Scavenger Hunt with the guides.

My only thought about this day is adding in a tour of the Old Faithful Inn. The last tour was at 3:30, and the kids weren't done with the Scavenger Hunt until 4:00. We probably could have fit it in before lunch, but I didn't think to walk over there and check the tour times. Old Faithful was going off again, so we went over and saw that.

Dinner is on your own, but all of us chose to eat at the Old Faithful Inn. This place is amazing inside. I highly recommend everyone seeing it. Courtney (our geyser guide) told us quite a bit about its history so I don't feel I totally missed the tour. Dinner was fine but a bit slow although really not too bad for how crowded it was. My bison pot roast was good. My DH had the elk, and it was good but overcooked. I'm glad I ate here once, but next time I would rather do a tour and eat in the nice dining room at Snow Lodge. I think it would be more relaxing without the crowds. Other dinner options include a "grill" in the Snow Lodge, and I think a cafeteria in Old Faithful Inn. Finally, there is "diner" next to the Old Faithful Inn. We had milkshakes there - really good!! The guides made all of our reservations for Old Faithful Inn.

It is off to bed because tomorrow's luggage needs to be ready at 7 A.M.

Day 5
After breakfast you board the motor coach and head to Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This is about an hour and half away. We saw so many bison!! We took about a 2 mile hike and saw both Upper and Lower Falls. This is where you really see why the park is called Yellowstone. Although my youngest thinks the rock looks more gold, so he wants to rename it Goldstone. This is a regular path (no boardwalk) with some incline but nothing my 65 and 68 year old parents couldn't handle. The guides did make junior adventurers stay by parents because there are a few spots where they could go sliding down a cliff. But, I can be nervous on edges, and I was okay. The path is fairly wide. This is a beautiful hike with spectacular scenery. Once again, I would have liked more hiking in this area. I would have loved to hike right next to the falls.

Tip - The restrooms at the end of the hike are horrible! The hotel is only half an hour away.

Lunch is at Lake Hotel. This is the oldest hotel in the park and located on Lake Yellowstone. It is in the middle of nowhere. The guides told us it would be a leisurely lunch. They weren't kidding - one hour and 45 minutes. I had the salmon wrap and enjoyed it. My mom had the chicken sandwich with olive tapenade (sp?) on it. She really liked it. The kids' menu is normal and the same as the Old Faithful Inn. I'm undecided about recommending this lunch. The food was good, and all the kids were very well behaved (they had a coloring contest) but I'm not sure it is worth that long of a wait. You do get desert with the ABD vouchers so that takes up some time. They had us pre-order our Playhouse lunch so it could go quick. I wonder if you could do that here. I sound like a broken record, but I probably would have liked a short hike to explore this part of Yellowstone.

After lunch it is off to Brooks Lake Lodge - almost three hours.

 

[Dolby1000]

Just saying how much I'm enjoying your trip report. Great pictures too.

OWD

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I'm enjoying your report! I'm glad the river rafting isn't too intense.

And I had to smile that you had oatmeal for breakfast! I never make real oatmeal (vs instant). I just rarely have time in the morning. So I *love* to have oatmeal when I'm doing breakfast "out". One of my favorites!

Sayhello

I forgot to write that I also had it had the Snow Lodge, and it, too, was very good!

Just saying how much I'm enjoying your trip report. Great pictures too.

OWD

Thanks! Your trip report about Backstage Magic makes me want to add that trip to my list!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Our last stop was Brooks Lake Lodge. This place is AMAZING!! It really is a great way to end the trip because it is relaxing. I am not going to put pictures of the inside of the lodge itself because I think you will be more awed when you get there by not seeing it now.

The staff greets the motor coach, and everyone is so nice. They are like a big family, and you are a new family member. First is orientation where you learn where everything is located and what there is to do.

With our small group all families stayed in cabins. Our family of 5 was in one of the biggest, Solitude.

It could easily sleep 6. There were two bedrooms and a loft, plus two bathrooms and a living room. My kids thought we could live there. I guess they forgot about needing a kitchen although there is a coffee maker and small refrigerator.

After seeing our cabin it was time for tea time. They have this both days at 4:00. There are cookies, fruit, cheese, crackers, lemonade, and tea.

The kids had so much fun playing with the dogs and playing capture the flag. I took a walk down to the lake with my SIL. We hoped we wouldn't run into a bear so we kept clapping.

Dinner is at 7:00. All the food is amazing!!

Activities in the lodge include a shuffleboard table - I think the favorite among the kids - foosball, darts, chess, checkers, and lots of books.

That night we saw a mama grizzly and her two cubs. The previous nights they had been on the far side of the lake, but this night they were on the side closest to us. That was making them a little nervous because she will have to be moved if she gets too close. This bear already had 2 strikes - meaning she was getting too close to humans. My SIL and I clapping on the way to the lake doesn't seem so silly now!!

The next day I enjoyed coffee on my deck before breakfast. You can choose two guided activities for the day. You choose from hiking, horseback riding, and fly fishing. I went horseback riding and hiking.

Both were great. My DH and DS did fly fishing in the afternoon. My DS caught some, but my poor DH never did. My DD liked horseback riding so much she rode again in the afternoon. With our small group she was able to do this. I think there were 20 horses total. You can also canoe on your free time. You just need to get life jackets and paddles from a staff member. The canoes are already down at the lake. One of the nicest teenagers I have ever met was on our trip. She took my DD and another 10 year old girl, so I did not canoe. My DD enjoyed it - and probably the fact that she was away from her brothers and boy cousins.

There is a bar in the lodge. I had a huckleberry margarita. It was really yummy!

The kids got to make smores for the last dessert. I actually think this would be fun for adults, also. However, our chocolate pie was very delicious. We forgot to go get pictures of the kids making smores though, so you might want to remember to have an adult go do that.

Finally, we enjoyed the final presentation. I'll leave it at that in case you are new to ABD and want to be surprised.

The next morning people left at somewhat staggered times for the airport. We were in the first group at 9:30. The family whose plane did not leave until 5:00 p.m. were able to check their luggage at the airport and then ABD had them taken back into Jackson for a few hours. There was also one family that drove (that would be my parents) because they also saw Mt. Rushmore and then headed to California and Colorado. They were able to keep their car at the Wort.

It was a fantastic trip. I loved everywhere. We are nature people, so I would like to go back and explore more of the Tetons and Yellowstone in greater depth. You really don't see much of them. There was one mom who wanted to cut Yellowstone to one day and spend another day at the lodge. I wouldn't mind spending another day at the lodge - never did the 20 person hot tub! - but I wouldn't want to spend less time in Yellowstone. For me, that was the big draw of this trip. It has been mentioned before, but it is a lot of fun to meet and get to know all your fellow adventurers. The last dinner is definitely more rowdy than the first!

 

[3mmm]

We had a fabulous trip to Wyoming! Our guides Geraldine and Stefanie were terrific. We also had a guide in training, Drew. He was great, also. Stefanie is getting married in July so Drew will be taking over. He probably starts tomorrow!

We arrived a day early. Being from Indiana, I wanted my kids to have a day to adjust to the time change. Right away, I loved the airport! It is small and quaint! Disney did meet us, no problems, great driver who gave us a lot of facts about Jackson and Jackson Hole.

We LOVED the Wort Hotel. It is also small and quaint! It is beautiful. We only had one room that first night. The five of us fit, but it was nice to have two bathrooms when we started the ABD portion. Take some time to look at all the artwork in the Wort - paintings, sculptures and photographs. The front desk was so nice. They helped us find a place to eat and things to do the next morning. My only complaint about the Wort was that the bathroom was a bit dark. There is a lighted make-up mirror so that helps.

We ate a late lunch at Sweetwaters. It is in a historic log cabin. It was very good. I tried to be healthy and got the chicken salad in avocado. My DH got the elk melt, and my DS 13 got the Cowboy (roast beef and bacon), minus the horseradish. Everything was good, but the Cowboy was the best!

We didn't do much that evening - just looked around Jackson at all the fun shops. We also had ice cream at Moo's. Very good!

The next morning we ate breakfast at The Bunnery. I already knew I wanted to eat here, and the front desk confirmed it was good. Still being on Indiana time, we were there around 7:45 and had no wait. By 8:30, there was a wait. I had the OSM pancakes - absolutely delicious!! They have a nutty, wheat flavor, so you need to like whole grains. My DD 10 loved her cinnamon french toast. I thought it was too sweet. My dad had the Teton burrito and said it was good. My DH really liked his omelet. The only complaint was from my brother who thought his chillaquilles needed more spice.

That morning we went to the Alpine Slide. The front desk at the Wort will give you coupons. Everyone loved it.

My brother wrecked trying to beat my SIL, so it is possible. You can control how fast you go, and they give you instructions at the top. Before the Alpine Slide, we came across a "climbing" playground. The kids enjoyed that for a bit.

We got to the Alpine Slide about 10:15, and there was no wait. When we left, 11:15 ish, there was starting to be a line.

Next we took the bus to Teton Village (35 minutes) - again the front desk told us how. We ate lunch there - unremarkable, I can't remember the name of it - and then took the aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. The views were gorgeous! I don't know if I would do this again, but the kids had never been in anything like the aerial tram so it was fun for them. I wanted to go to the Western Art Museum in Jackson, but we didn't have time.

Next up: Welcoming Dinner for the start of our ABD Quest for the West

We met for a buffet dinner in one of the conference rooms at the Wort.
We had already checked in with our guides, but we learned a little bit more about them - and Drew, too. Then each family had one person introduce them and tell what they were most looking forward to.

Dinner was a choice of salmon or steak or a hot dog for the kids. Then there was a buffet for the sides. It was good, but I don't think it was great. There is wine provided at this first meal. There is also a singing Cowboy. He's fun and knew all my DH's requests.

I am going to just add in any comments or experience post by post if you don't mind. I'm not going to repeat anything that's already been said since it was a great trip report and I agree with just about everything that was said. Tiffany and Doug were our guides and they were fantastic!

We had 37 in our group. 18 were from my family - grandparents and three children and their families. I had the largest family and the three youngest children on the trip.

Surprised at the older ages of the kids. 19 kids total ranging from 18 to 5 and all but 9 were teens (4 of the non-teens were mine) Nine of the kids were between 10 and 12 when the trip started. (Two of the 'teens' had their 13th birthdays on the trip - the actual birthday, not just celebrating) I have to add that all the kids on our trip were awesome! Even the three 16 to 18 year olds had a great time with all the kids and joined in all the activities. It was a great experience for my kids to interact with older kids, especially older kids who are great role-models!

Doug said 10 - 12 is a very typical age but they also get a lot of teens. For the most part the only little ones like my 5 year old come as part of a family with several older kids. My 5 year old did great, but it would be a different trip if there were several of him running around! He is also used to being around older kids so that may have helped

We were one trip behind you, less than a week. We drove and arrived a day early. Stayed at the Inn at Jackson Hole because we wanted to do the tram and I could get a two bedroom suite with a kitchen for less than one room at the Wort. It was a fine place, but not nearly as nice as the Wort.

We took the tram to the top and enjoyed the view, took great pictures, had one of their famous waffle snacks and explored one of the mountain top trails. My brother then walked down the mountain with his two boys and my 12 and 8 year old. It took all afternoon and they felt it for a couple of days!!

When we checked in at the wort we did not have connecting rooms. They only have 3 sets and they are all King - 2 Queen combos so that left us out with 7. One set was available so I asked for a rollaway which they don't have but they offered me an air mattress. They said it had to go in the king room because it wouldn't fit in the other room so we let them put it there and then we moved it. It was great having all 5 kids in the same room since they were so tired and bedtime was late. We could then stay up a little later.

The rooms have a minifridge in them that was empty! I had requested fridges in all of the rooms and the ABD people told me they didn't think they were available, but they noted it. Turns out there were fridges in all of the rooms we had all week and we didn't need to request. This was very helpful with my son's restricted diet

The Silver dollar bar is basically a restaurant before six. We had a late lunch there after checking in and hung out while our family was arriving. It was very good and the staff was wonderful

The connecting rooms are all on the first floor. The hotel was small and friendly - the older kids were able to go to and from their cousins rooms on their own. There was no band the two nights we were there so we did not have any noise issues.

 

[3mmm]

sorry - tried to post a picture, but couldn't and don't know how to delete a post

 

[3mmm]

I'm back! Sorry for the delay. I was hoping to get more done before the holiday, but it didn't happen.

Day 2 - ABD eats breakfast in the Wort Hotel's dining room, The Silver Dollar Grill. You can order whatever you want off the menu. Both breakfasts were good. I had an egg skillet one day, and oatmeal on Day 3. I probably liked my oatmeal better. My DS 13 scarfed down his bagel sandwich so it must have been good! My DH had an omelet both days and enjoyed it. The first morning (Day 2) service was slow. The next morning was much faster.

This morning is on your own. We shopped. There is a lot of shopping in Jackson. There are high priced boutiques and t-shirt shops with everything in between. My kids enjoyed some candy at a candy shop. I bought myself a fun Western belt. We were told that the shopping would go downhill, but I actually liked the national park gift shops!

Lunch is at the Jackson Hole Playhouse. This is so much fun! They start with giving you a short history of the Playhouse and then you get to check out the stage and take pictures on it. Lunch is served in an adjacent room. I think everyone in my family had a bison burger. It was very good. I got sweet potato fries but liked my DS's regular fries better. Most people loved the sweet potato fries, but they are the type with sugar on them. I like mine with salt. They sing to you while you eat. SO MUCH FUN! I knew about this from reading a trip report, so I prepared my 13 year old. I know this helped him just to go with it and laugh. There were a couple of little boys under the table. TIP - Be sure to also get pictures of those doing the laughing. I have the best picture of my mom laughing hysterically when my dad is getting sung to!

We wore our swim suits under our lunch clothes. You have about 10 minutes between lunch and leaving for whitewater rafting. I just pulled my hair back and put on sunscreen.

A bus takes you to Barker-Ewing for everyone to get wetsuits if they want. It was a BEAUTIFUL day, but the Snake River is still only 50 degrees, so I chose to get one - long pants. They also have short pants. We brought our own water shoes - must be able to stay firmly on your foot, no flip flops. If you don't have your own water shoes, Barker Ewing will let you borrow some. I was glad I had my own. My mom borrowed, and they were still wet and squishy. You then get back on the bus to drive to where you will start your rafting trip.

All of us loved it. I was a tad nervous about it. I didn't need to be. The Snake River is deep and wide so there isn't even a need for helmets. There are some fun spots where you get soaked and some spots where you can look at nature and relax. You can even hop in and swim at one point. I did, but I quickly had myself pulled back in because it is cold! I am glad I tried it though! After it is over, there is a changing spot and then you ride back into town.

My one tip - I didn't bring a change of shoes. I was okay in wet shoes, but if it had been a cold day, I think I would have wanted dry shoes. They told us not to bring a lot so I didn't think about shoes.

Next tip - We do own a waterproof video camera. My DH got some good video, but you don't need to bring a camera. The pictures the professionals take were really good. You have to go to their store in Jackson - very close to the Wort. You do pay for what you want.

We were a small group - 21 of us - so I am guessing we moved around a little quicker. We were told we would be back around 6. We got back around 5:20. We brushed hair and some of us did a quick change so we could get to the Shootout on the Square. This is worthwhile. They re-enact an old western shootout. There is a mayor and a drunk sheriff. It is loud if someone in your family can't do loud.

After the shootout we walked directly to Snake River Brewery. Stefanie was going to make us a reservation, but they don't take reservations. We got right in with a party of 12. It is very large. There is an over 21 section and a family section. It is a good place for families - very casual - remember we haven't showered yet - and somewhat loud. The beer was good. I had the margarita pizza which was very good - big though! I didn't try it, but my DH really liked the chili. I didn't try it because he said it was very spicy. The kids decided the best meal was the mac and cheese.

We went back to the hotel and showered and started to pack as we had to have our luggage ready at 7:15 the next morning.

We never hung out at the Silver Dollar Bar, which is in the hotel, because we were too tired those first nights. The bar itself is very cool so even if you are too tired at night or don't have someone to leave your kids with, be sure to check it out during the day. Kids can go into the bar in the afternoon.

I need to reiterate that although breakfast is good, it is SLOW. The first day we went at about 8 and the place was full. I thought that was the reason for the slow service, but the next day we were there before 7:15 and it was just ABD people and it was still slow. It takes a full hour. We ran in to the same issue at the Snow Lodge, but there they have a buffet, so the second day we started our slow eaters immediately on the buffet.

Rafting- a couple of logistics here

The minimum age is 6, but if you go on some of the local companies websites, many of them say they may make exceptions based on conditions. Well, it was a slow year for snow so the river conditions were reasonable, so I asked. This year they are using a minimum weight of 45 pounds which is exactly what my DS5 is! We had to take him to the office in town and have him fitted for a life jacket as that is the deciding factor - if the jacket is too loose, they can't go, but he was fine so we all got to go rafting! And he loved it! Now I will add that we live on a lake, he can swim, and has been tubing behind a speed boat since he was 3, so maybe he's not a typical 5 year old - you need to decide for your own child. Last year the river was running faster and they raised the age limit, but this year worked out great for us.

Wetsuits - it was beautiful the day we went, but most people still got the wetsuits (does not cover arms). The kids had to get them, and most adults did too. Two older teens on our raft did not and they were sorry. For us, it was included and I would recommend it. We also got the booties and I liked them. The folks on our boat who used Keenes were cold - they wished they got the booties. If your water shoes cover your feet then you are probably okay, but the sandal ones were not as effective.

The float trip - you can choose this, but it is scheduled at a different time and includes a meal, so either you go earlier and miss the Playhouse lunch or you go later and it includes your dinner. Only one person on our trip did not raft and she just opted to stay in town and not do any trip. NOw it there is a larger group that wants the float trip, I do not know if they will schedule a better time.

We had dinner at The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Tiffany made the reservation. We went with that because it was the only one that called her back for a group of 18. The food was incredible and the service was great. We put all 10 kids at one table and the staff was great with that - the kids were also very well behaved. I would recommend it, but it is very expensive

 

[emesmom]

We did this trip last summer, after record snow falls in 2011. There was still snow in most areas in early July. The water levels were high and they didn't recommend anyone 10 or under do the white water rafting, so we opted for the float. It was really very nice and each kid got to steer the raft 2 times. We ended with a lovely outdoor barbecue..even though it rained during dinner, we were under a shelter so it was fine. Dinner for the white water rafters was on their own that night. We left only a short time after the white water rafters and we didn't miss any other activities.
So if you are like me and prefer not to mix your "thrills" with water..you will not be disappointed with the "float" option. The scenery is gorgeous from the raft.. I took lots of photos

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I need to reiterate that although breakfast is good, it is SLOW. The first day we went at about 8 and the place was full. I thought that was the reason for the slow service, but the next day we were there before 7:15 and it was just ABD people and it was still slow. It takes a full hour. We ran in to the same issue at the Snow Lodge, but there they have a buffet, so the second day we started our slow eaters immediately on the buffet.

Interesting - our breakfast at Snow Lodge was fairly quick. Did you eat with all 18? We ate breakfast with just five of us. I look forward to hearing how your service was at Lake Hotel!

 

[3mmm]

Interesting - our breakfast at Snow Lodge was fairly quick. Did you eat with all 18? We ate breakfast with just five of us. I look forward to hearing how your service was at Lake Hotel!

We ate breakfast as individual families, but that still meant we were 7. The Wort doesn't have much in the way of big tables, so one or two of mine ate with the grandparents. At the Snow Lodge it was all 7 of us. We got to breakfast with ample time and always ended up rushing. For example, on the days we had to put out luggage, we would put out most of the luggage early and my husband would take the kids before the appointed luggage pull time and I would finish up and join them 5 - 10 minutes later (which was right on schedule). My husband would order for me if they had gotten that far which only happened once. I guess I'm used to breakfast restaurants that have high turn over so they move you through fast. I always felt like we were rushing at the end.

The Lake Hotel deserves a post in itself, but I'll do it here. Service was horrible! Our departure got delayed by 20 minutes. When they said we had 2 hours for a leisurely lunch I didn't believe them, especially when we were seated immediately.

After finally ordering, my husband and 12 year old went to the gift shop for a T shirt and came back with a Yellowstone Trivia book so we read and talked and laughed through lunch and we let our 5 year old play on my phone. Before we knew it we had only 15 minutes left and we hadn't ordered dessert! It took me 10 minutes to find someone who would take our order. I even talked to the manager. Meanwhile, Doug and Tiffany delayed our departure by 20 minutes. I had my son order his lava cake to go because they said it took time, but the others all had ice cream. Turns out his cake came right out, so I suspect they gave him one that someone else had ordered.

An interesting side: as we were finishing, our waitress brought a bread basket to the table behind us. They had been seated about the same time as us and had finished eating long before. Obviously they were shocked and asked if it was for their soup and salad and the waitress said "yes, don't you want it?" One woman responded she would have loved it with her soup but not now! And those two ladies were reservationists for the park who had never eaten there despite making many reservations and were excited to finally try it - I wonder if their reservations have dropped off.

I assumed we would get a chance to walk around and explore a little and we didn't do anything but eat and get on the bus. I do feel bad that I lost track of the time and didn't start harassing the staff sooner. I would have skipped dessert, but the kids had already seen the menu and had their hearts set on it.

They need to do something to fix this. A preorder is a great idea as it was nice to have a sit down lunch after a couple of picnics, but the food wasn't good enough to make up for the time and the anguish.