Grand Teton National Park
Coulter Bay
Boating on the lake - Rent rowboats or kayaks and go out onto Jackson Lake. Or, take a 1 ½ hour scenic boat ride around Elk Island. There are usually three cruises a day, including breakfast and dinner cruises.
Visitor Center and Indian Arts Museum - At the visitor center, watch the short film about Grand Teton in the theater, pick up maps and check out the touch table with moose, bighorn sheep, and elk antlers. The Indian Arts Museum has a collection of artifacts from different Plains Indians tribes - beaded bags, pouches and moccasins (including kids' sizes), tomahawks, coup sticks, toys and games, drums and flutes, buckskin clothing and saddle bags. Watch a contemporary Indian artist at work. Tip: The museum is a good place to spend time if the weather has taken a turn for the worse.
Go horseback riding - Colter Bay Trail Rides has one and two hour trail rides through the sagebrush, forests, and around Swan Lake. For kids ages 8 and up (and 4 ft tall).
Day hikes -
Heron Pond and Swan Lake - This is an easy, level loop trail, that goes first along the edge of Jackson Lake, through the forest to Heron Pond, and then back around by Swan Lake, about 2.5 miles. Heron Pond, covered with lily pads, has a very nice beaver lodge on the western edge of the lake. In the evening, take this hike to look for beaver (they are asleep during the day) at Heron Pond, and moose at Swan Lake. Tip: For this hike, bring insect repellent - we found it very mosquitoey.Lakeshore Trail - For a short, level hike along the lake, 2 miles in a loop, take the Lakeshore Trail. Kids can play along the sandy shore and skip stones on the lake. This little hike is super for picnics (you'll find picnic tables along the way). The trail starts just north of the Visitor Center.Tip: Pick up the brochures at the trailhead, with not only details about the trails around the lakes, but wildlife, trees and wildflowers.
