Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park--Picture Perfect

Our view of the Tetons can't be beat.

The carful of kids spent the night in Grand Teton National Park as we wind down our epic road trip that started in Central Texas to the Canadian Rockies and back through Yellowstone National Park. Staying at some kid-pleasing places along the way, the carful of kids have spent their days exploring the some of the grandest scenery in North America.

We bunked down in a camping cabin in Colter Bay Village with a pot belly stove to keep us warm, until it burned out. It seems our pioneering skills could be better and I wouldn't recommend this property to families with young children. 

This is the view from behind the camping cabin, pretty amazing.

A new day has dawned and we are up and ready to go to our next planned excursion, a breakfast wagon ride. It departs from Jackson Lake Lodge Corrals, just around the corner from our camping cabin.

We are scheduled to ride out to the Willow Flats area for a hearty breakfast except it's raining lightly. When I check in, I notice that the wagon is not covered--yikes. But the trip is still a go.

A bit of a cool, drizzly start to our Breakfast Cookout in Willow Flats.

I really want to love this but the carful of kids just finished an Old West Cookout and wagon ride at Roosevelt Lodge. They did it better, from start to finish. Both excursions are booked and managed by Xanterra, the NPS concessionaire.

The ride itself is less picturesque, especially when you pass the water treatment plant on the way out and back. I just didn't have the feeling that I'm away from it all, especially when I see cars passing by. 

When we get to their cookout site, it isn't covered so the tables are wet but they have a campfire going for us. The food is great and there is plenty of it, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, pancakes and lots of coffee and cocoa for the kids. That's great except when we have to huddle together and eat standing up under the tiny cooking pavilion--not fun.

So my advice to Moms, if you are doing this at Roosevelt Lodge, skip this one. If you are heading out to Grand Teton NP in the dry, high season, the issues I had shouldn't be a problem.

After a hearty breakfast, the carful of kids are ready to walk it off so we drive down Teton Park Road. At the Jackson Lake Junction you have the option of taking the less traveled Teton Park Road or Highway 191. Both routes are stunning, scenic drives so if you have the time, drive both.

The view at Jenny Lake is not to be missed.

After a quick stop at Signal Mountain Lodge, we arrive at Jenny Lake Lodge. This area is picturesque and parking is limited. The cabins are well-appointed and the dining options tend to be more upscale. 

We are itching for a walk and the Jenny Lake Visitor Center has it. This area has lots of parking with trails, restrooms, a visitors center and a bookstore. The walks in this area are great for smaller kids and at the end of the trail we find our next excursion.

Ready to take a ride across Jenny Lake, this is a great activity for kids.

I love waterfalls and look for any reason to visit one--I heard there's one across Jenny Lake so the carful of kids need a ride. At the Jenny Lake Boating Launch, we find what we need.

Jenny Lake Boating offers a shuttle across Jenny Lake to the Hidden Falls trail and onto Inspiration Point. The ride is effortless as it glides across the glass-like water of Jenny Lake; the kids love it. Reservations are not required and a boat leaves every 15 minutes.

The shoreline of Jenny Lake as we take a ride across it to hike to Hidden Falls.

Jenny Lake Boating has round-trip and one way tickets if you want to hike back. The distance is nearly two and a half miles in one direction and nearly five miles in the other. Tickets are $15 round trip and $9 one-way for adults and for children, it's $8 round trip and $6 one-way. 

If you have the time, check out Hidden Falls across Jenny Lake.

The hike to Hidden Falls is a doable one mile with some steps and rocks along the path, my carful of kids enjoy it. The view of the falls makes it all worthwhile for me and the bridge over the creek excites the kids.

The carful of kids love the bridge across the trail. 

After we make the loop, the carful of kids catch the boat back across Jenny Lake--now on to our next quest. Though we have driven through some of the best wildlife viewing in North America, there is still one animal that we haven't seen and we are hot on a lead.

In the SUV, the carful of kids look south towards Moose Junction for the elusive moose. A Park Ranger told us to drive down the Moose-Wilson Road and look in the creek that runs next to the road.

The brown dot in the center is the moose, eating tender greens in the shallow water of the creek.

Moose are notoriously shy creatures; we follow the directions and sure enough in the marshy creek, we find a moose. They are vegetarians and primarily eat the tender green shoots found in shallow water. The best time to see most animals is dawn and dusk.

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center is designed to resemble the jagged peaks of the Tetons.

After our moose adventure, the carful of kids check out the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center--opened in 2007, this building sets the stage for future NPS visitor centers. With recycled and energy-efficient building materials plus an innovative design that mirrors the rugged terrain of the Tetons, the Craig Thomas Visitor Center is one you won't want to miss.

This area of Grand Teton NP is known for its moose population. 

The carful of kids put the finishing touches on their Junior Ranger booklets and turn them in to the Park Ranger for a special badge, a wood one. We add them to our collection of nearly 60 we have already.

The NPS Park Ranger checks over the Junior Ranger booklets

After checking out the southern end of Grand Teton NP, the carful of kids head back to our campsite at the northern end of the park at Colter Bay Village. Instead of taking Teton Park Road, we jump on the year-round Highway 191--it's just as picturesque of a drive, only faster.

The cozy Cunningham Cabin, the carful of kids decide this living is not for them.

On the way back, the carful of kids stop at the Cunningham Cabin to peak into the life of a frontier family. This is a great teaching moment for my kids, who can't even begin to understand the hardship of frontier life without electricity.

Dinner is ready.

The daylight is fading and the carful of kids are hungry so we load up in the SUV. Our next destination is a campfire dinner at our campsite.

Up Next: A morning exploring Boulder, Colorado.

Know before you go:

Grand Teton National Park is open 7-days a week, 24-hours a day, seasonal road closures during the winter. The admission is $30 for a 7-day pass or you can use an America the Beautiful annual pass ( $80 ). The lodging in Grand Teton National Park is reservable up to 16-months in advance. I advise making reservations as far in advance as possible.

This is Grizzly Country and it is advised to carry and know how to use Bear Spray at all times.