Archive for the ‘Keepin' Active’ Category

Canoeing Explorations on String Lake

A few weeks ago while enjoying a day off from work, my honey and I were fishing around for ideas on how to spend our precious summer afternoon. It was a nice day—sunny and warm, as is the norm for Jackson in the summer. After shooting down a few ideas, we decided to borrow our friends’ canoe and head into Grand Teton National Park.

Our first thought was to go to Jenny Lake, a common stop on the must-see list for the Park. But we decided to drive a little further on and go to String Lake instead.

This lake is much quieter and less populated than Jenny Lake. However, it is just as beautiful, if not more so. It’s a great lake to go canoeing on because there are a lot of twists, turns, inlets and bays to explore but the water is calm enough for beginners and the views are beautiful.

While we borrowed our canoe, there are ways to take a canoe trip if you don’t have one readily available. Dornan’s is right on the way to the lakes, and they rent canoes and kayaks right out of their convenient location in Moose, WY.

We put our canoe in right by the parking lot of String Lake and took off. We paddled out for about 20 minutes before we stopped and set our oars down. The views of the Tetons are just amazing from the water—they’re even more huge and majestic than the view you get when you first drive into the park.

After resting and enjoying the sights for a few minutes, we paddled a little further down the lake. We came to an overgrown marshy patch and decided to ground the canoe and do some exploring. That didn’t last long, though—too many mosquitoes. If you’re planning on doing any walking around once you’re into the lake, make sure you bring your bug spray or risk becoming lunch for a lot of bugs. Luckily they won’t bother you when you’re on the water.

We canoed the whole length of the lake. When we floated around the final bend, one last larger-than-life Teton view greeted us. A small stream of water was running down the side of the mountain, finally entering the lake near a little bridge that ran over the length of the water.

The whole trip around String Lake took us about two and a half hours. We didn’t stop and rest much, but we passed several people who had obviously made a day of their trip to the lake. Many of them were floating in inner tubes in the calm water and had coolers of food and drinks waiting for them on the bank.

We saw people of all ages on the lake, from one girl who looked about five years old with her fishing pole to a couple who were probably in their sixties canoeing just like us. Everyone we encountered looked happy and relaxed, and the whole environment was exactly what we needed on our day off.

If you’re looking for an activity that the whole family will enjoy without the hustle and bustle of some of the more popular locations, consider spending a day on String Lake. It’s relaxing and beautiful—what more can you ask for?

Crazy orb rings, giant wildlife paintings, wooden children’s games, giant bronze sculptures of animals- can all be found at the Jackson Hole Art Fair and much more.

After I make my way through the hustle around Miller Park, I found an entrance and paid a mere two dollars to enter, which all benefits the growing Art Association of Jackson Hole. A volunteer for the Jackson Hole Art Fair informed me that all of the 170 artists have been hand picked from over 425 applicants, to ensure quality and an assortment of booths. Live music plays in the background all day with various acts ranging from West African beats to Chanman Roots Band, a popular local reggae band.

I began to meander along the booths which are organized very well, so you never have to backtrack or have that feeling that you have missed a prized picture of a buffalo somewhere behind a blind turn you passed. Melle Finelli’s booth caught my eye, with her perfectly crafted and unique jewelry. Some pieces almost have an outer space-like quality, yet they are all very charming and wearable. The booths are all so different and constantly kept me interested in what was to come. I stopped at a popular booth by artist, Skip Bellock, with large wooden art pieces that resemble a mix between a bowl and a lily pad. The pieces are so unique to not only get my attention, but the attention of tourists and other locals. A few booths down, I couldn’t help but see the giant sculptures of Guiseppe Palumbo. His life-size bronze sculpture of a cheetah is amazing and a must-have in every household.

I found myself thinking a few times throughout the Fair, “who would use that or where would someone put that or how can that fit on an airplane?” Then I would always see one person with that art piece in hand that had a ‘freshly purchased’ glow. I figured out then, that the Jackson Hole Art Fair is really for everyone and every different taste and artistic desire.

After finishing the maze of booths, I grabbed a drink and a bag of the highly addictive kettle corn. Settling into the grass, I began watching an excellent performance from the local dancers workshop in town. As I looked around, I noticed how diverse the audience is from young girls dancing in circles to grandmas and grandpas enjoying the shade and entertainment.

The festivities continued all weekend with various performers and artists; however, if you missed this art fair-please don’t cry. There is another, equally as promising fair, in the future. August 15-17th, the Art Fair will return to Miller Park with some of the same artists and also some new faces to keep it interesting. The music and dance performances will also change bringing in a whole new crew to keep you grooving. I will be there again, but probably with two bags of kettle corn this time.

For the Cowboy in all of us: Teton County Fair

I have heard before that once you have been to one state/county fair, you have been to them all; however, the Teton County Fair in Jackson Hole cannot be placed in that bracket.

Situated near the base of Snow King Mountain and about a mile away from Town Square on the Teton County Fairgrounds, the Teton County Fair is accessible by all forms of transportation-horses, bikes, cars, and on your feet. After locking my bike up, I headed straight for the rides and let my inner-child come out in full force. There is excitement for all ages- slides, twisty rides, mini-roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, mazes- the list could go on. Most are not for the faint of heart or stomach for that matter, but there is always the reliable merry-go-round. The nice thing about the fair is that it is quaint- you don’t need a walkie-talkie to find your family. It also won’t break the bank because unlimited rides around the fair only cost eighteen dollars.

Health food addicts pack a lunch because everyone including me looks forward to that greasy good cookin’ fair food, so save your appetite for an elephant ear or a deep-fried Twinkie.

The fair also boasts a petting zoo. I know what you are all thinking, “big deal- just goats ready to eat any piece of my shirt they can find.” OK, so there are a lot of goats, I am not going to lie; however, there are some amazing other additions to complete your western barnyard tour. My favorite was the Scottish Highlander, with its classically tan shaggy hair. There is also an array of pigs, ducks, cows, sheep, and long horned beasts to fill the classic petting zoo attendance.

In addition to the rides and the petting zoo, there are also different daily and nightly activities. The Teton County Fair Rodeo is a popular day at the Fair, where you can see the classic cowboy moves Jackson is all about and also an English horse show. Have your try at pig wrestling or barrel racing and don’t forget a change of clothes! There are also animal showcases and weigh-ins, a rodeo queen chosen for the year, and a live concert by The Yonder Mountain String Band. For more schedule information check out the Teton County Fair on your next Jackson Hole, WY vacation.