“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.”
Psalm 147:1
Happy Thursday sweet friends. Can you believe that 2020 is half over? I think we all would agree, this year has been most unusual and challenging. The virus and our country’s unrest has changed our way of living. The last time that Butch and I dined out was March 13th. Even though a few restaurants in our small city have opened, I have not felt comfortable in going. There are no vacations planned for this year, we will be staying home and catching up on projects.
Even though no travel is planned, we have memories of exciting trips that we have enjoyed through the years. I had this bright idea to revisit some of our trips. After all, who doesn’t love to armchair travel? It is a safe, no hassle, no packing, no reservations, and no stress vacation, all while resting comfortably in your own home!
To view the original posts, click on the links below!
Autumn In The Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone In October – A Day In The Park
One of our favorite vacations in recent years was a trip out west to scenic Wyoming! We took in the majesty of Grand Teton National Park, the quaint town of Jackson, and amazing Yellowstone National Park!
Grand Teton National Park is named for Grand Teton, the tallest mountain at 13,770 feet in the Teton range.
This willow bog covers thousands of acres and is a rich feeding ground for a lot of wildlife including grizzly bears. Mount Moran with its glaciers are in the background!
Schwabacher’s Landing is a beautiful spot on the Snake River. This is considered a prime location for photo opportunities. The reflection of the Tetons on the water, even with cloudy skies, did not disappoint!
This is the most photographed barn in America, some references say in the world. With the dramatic Teton Mountain Range soaring in the background, it is easy to understand its popularity with photographers. The T.A. Moulton barn was once part of a community of Mormon homesteaders known as Mormon Row which was established in the late 1800’s. This area is called Antelope Flats and is situated between the towns of Moose and Kelly.
The Chapel of Transfiguration was constructed in 1925 in this magnificent setting about twelve miles north of Jackson, Wyoming. This small log chapel in Grand Teton National Park was sited and built to frame a view of the Cathedral Group of peaks in a large window behind the altar.
Jackson is a small town in the Jackson Hole Valley of approximately 10,000 residents. The four antler arches are the gates to Jackson Town Square. About 7,500 elk winter on the National Elk Refuge. The bulls shed their antlers every spring and are picked up by local Boy Scouts and then sold at public auction in the square. I have seen many photos of the elk wintering and at times taking refuge on the main highway north of Jackson!
Our stay at the Rusty Parrot was as good as it gets. We loved the ambiance of the family owned 32 room world class lodge. The on site restaurant was phenomenal as was their spa. Last November the lodge experienced a fire that destroyed the structure. All was lost except the building that housed the spa. They anticipate reopening spring of 2022 and we hope to visit once again.
The vastness of Jackson Lake and the prominence of Mount Moran as seen from Signal Mountain. Jackson Lake is one of the largest high altitude lakes in the U.S. at an elevation of 6,672 feet above sea level. The water temperature averages below 60 degrees in summer.
Wherever we travel, we always enjoy a local burger…an addition of onion rings and milk shake made this meal exceptional!
This was one of the most gorgeous, jaw-dropping, grab a camera views that I have ever experienced. Oxbow Bend in the Grand Teton National Park is the most photographed site in the park, and you can see why. The image of the Snake River with Mount Moran’s reflection on the still water is a photographer’s dream. I am just an amateur, but I was so excited to catch this view with the bright blue sky and the aspens dressed for autumn!
For our guided visit to Yellowstone on the first day of October, the weather was perfect. We spent the day traveling the South Loop of the Park. A bit of trivia…Yellowstone became the world’s first National Park in 1872. We should be grateful for those who came before us realizing the need to preserve this treasure!
Holding true to its name, Old Faithful did not let us down! There are approximately 1,000 geysers on the planet and half of those are found within the caldera boundary in Yellowstone.
The breathtaking color variations in the Emerald Pool are a result of the water temperature and the cooling that occurs as you near the edges of the pool. The bacteria and organisms that thrive at different temps bring tremendous color to many areas of Yellowstone.
I found the “bobby socks” area to be quite interesting. The Lodgepole pines have soaked up the minerals around their bases and when the moisture evaporates they are left with their white socks!
Spasm Geyser was having one of its spasms along with a few others across this vast landscape!
Yellowstone is truly one of the most unique places in the world with its abundant wildlife like the bison (buffalo), geothermal activity, geysers, hot springs, alpine rivers…
…and dramatic canyons! The lower falls on the Yellowstone River as it makes its way through the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone! The falls is over 300 hundred feet high. My photo almost looks like a painting, I probably should frame it.
I hope you have enjoyed touring a small part of The Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Thank you so much for your visits and please let me know in the comments if you want to see more of our travels. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
i so loved traveling in those areas…I have very fond memories of our trip there…the Chapel of the Transfiguration had truly majestic views and gave you such a sense of peace. Many of us are relying on vacation memories and look forward to the day when we can travel and enjoy this beautiful Country.
Thank you dear Shirley. I do look forward to the time we can travel again!
Breathtaking as always. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a blessed day.
Thanks so much Judy. Happy Friday!
Pam, I really did enjoy my armchair visit to the Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. Your photographs are truly amazing as well as your descriptions of mountains, lakes, geysers and other points of interest. I agree that you should frame your last photograph of the falls at Yellowstone. Yes, share your travels. We will not be traveling this year. We did have a three week vacation in February. It was the longest vacation we have had and very thankful for it. This virus has changed every aspect of our lives. Please pray for Jennifer as she tries to open her K-12 charter school with 1,250 students.
Thanks so much Dianne. I remember your February vacation. I will be praying for Jennifer.
Pam, I enjoyed traveling with you this morning. It is so wonderful that you and Butch have been blessed to see so much of our world. Wishing you a lovely day and weekend. Stay well and cool, dear friend.
Thanks for traveling with us Sandra. Happy Friday my friend!
Pam, I love the idea of revisiting your travels. I remember when you shared this trip. It made me some day want to visit this part of the country. Those photographs look like beautiful paintings. It is such a pleasant distraction from everything gong on. I don’t mind the staying at home part…I just miss my family so much. Our numbers are rising every day, and now I’m receiving news of family members being sick. My dad goes into work everyday so he and my mom are too worried to be around us. I pray that all of this will end soon. Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip with us. I think it is an excellent idea to revisit your travels. I look forward to it! Have a most blessed and beautiful day, sweet friend!
Thanks so much Shannon. Our numbers are also climbing, much worse than April, May, and June. Stay safe my friend!
What beautiful territory, Pam. That had to be a marvelous vacation — so much natural beauty. I have enjoyed going through old photos of France for the Paris in July event. Even when we are locked in, we can still celebrate those wonderful trips of the past! Have a great week, what’s left of it!
Memories of great trips in the past give me hope for travel once again. Happy Friday Jeanie!
Thank you for posting one of the most beautiful places in the USA! We went to both for our honeymoon and have been back several times, at one point tried to climb the Tetons!(couldn’t because of a snowstorm in August!). Still one of my favorite destinations!
Hi Angie. Great place for ahoneymoon. Y’all are making wonderful memories with your grands!
Gorgeous photos! Yes, love hearing about your travels. My husband and I want to plan a trip out west soon. Maybe next year if things get better.
Lynda, thank you. Hopefully you can travel out west next year!
Great photos and what wonderful trips and memories for you. Enjoyed the armchair travel. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks for joining the armchair travel Cindy!
These photos are gorgeous! Yellowstone is one of my favorite national parks. I can’t wait to go back one day and bring my daughter!
Thanks so much. I hope you can return with your daughter in the near future!
Such beautiful photos Pam, you’ve really captured the spirit and the soul of the Tetons and of Old Faithful, thank you for posting again, this post is close to my heart ❤.
I so enjoy your travels and information of the areas you visit, and would love to armchair travel with you again! We too are staying close to home 🏡…enjoying these beautiful summer days.
Thank you Sue. I will share more of our travels. Stay safe and Happy Friday!
I want to see MORE please!❤️
I will share more! Happy Friday!
After months of shutdown, your gallery of photos is soul-renewing. Oxbow Bend and the lower falls of the Yellowstone River are a photographers dream come true. I am urging all to keep the faith..soon we will be able to resume our vacation adventures, but with an increased awareness and appreciation of the beauty of our nation. Bless you, Pam and Butch, for uplifting our spirits in the meantime.
I am so thrilled you enjoyed arm chair travel Mary. Hopefully, we will be able to travel in the near future. Happy Friday!
This was AMAZING! Oh, my goodness! I loved seeing all the neat places you have gone, and I didn’t even have to wear a mask to go along with you! LOL! YES, you should absolutely frame that last photo. It is breathtaking. And, YES, please, pretty please do share more. We all need to be “swept away” into the beauty of God’s nature, even though we can’t get out and go many places right now. The sharing of your adventures is a huge blessing!
Thank you Cheryl. Arm chair traveling is very inexpensive. God’s creation always amazes and inspires. Have a joy-filled Friday!
Pam, We enjoyed our armchair visit out west and your pictures reminded us of our vacation there many years ago. All the pics are wonderful; I especially love the last one. Stay cool! The heat & humidity are dangerous in our area so please be careful. Clara ♥️
Thank you Clara. It is hot and humid here also. I think next week will really be hot! Happy Friday♥️
Pam how gorgeous your pictures are! I am so happy that we got to see these places you shared just now… so many years ago when the kids were young. In fact, before digital cameras were even a thought! All our memories are in a scrapbook of these beautiful places.
Thank you so much for the reminiscing of these wonderful areas in our nation! I wish for each and every one of your readers …that they are able to see these spectacular places!
Thank you for the visit!
I am thanking God we left our winter home in AZ with such horribly high numbers of Covid. We are worried for friends there! We are happy we are here in NW Pennsylvania where our numbers are incredibly low… but we still are cautious. And our adventures are close to home or back country roads.
I did get to see my sister and a great friend a few days ago. We met outside and it was lovely!
Happy Friday to you dear Pam… thanks for the wonderful memories!
Thank you Nancy. Our numbers are also high and I now know several people with the virus. I am so glad you are away from your winter home. Stay safe sweet friend and Happy Friday!
Sending prayers for your friends … dear one.
Beautiful photos, Pam. They helped me relive our trips to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone, and brought back wonderful memories. Have a wonderful weekend, and stay safe.
Thank you my friend!
I do love arm chair travel Pam! I’ve never been to Wyoming, so I really enjoyed the beautiful photos of this beautiful state. Even though you can’t travel right now, you can certainly enjoy your beautiful garden and watch your new cottage come to life! Stay cool this weekend!
Thank you Jenna, there is much to keep us busy!
I love to arm chair travel. It was a great trip with you today. Lovely photography.
I’ve been but it has been a very long time. Makes me want to go back for sure.I love the fall pictures. So beautiful.
Thank so much Bonnie. Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Amazing photography Pam! I LOVE armchair travel so thoroughly enjoyed this post sweet friend. ♥
Bless you,
Jennifer
Pam, Your photos are outstanding! We’ve been working puzzles since the pandemic…I kept thinking as I was scrolling that they would make wonderful puzzles, you should license them to a puzzle manufacturer! We would visit there one day. ♥
Thank you Mary for the idea. I have never thought of that.