More Than a Destination
When you come to the Rocky Mountain West there’s a moment. Perhaps it hits you standing in an alpine meadow, with the early sun just gilding the peaks of the Tetons. Or maybe it happens looking out over Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin, watching the steam curl skyward from ancient earth. In that moment, you become fully, deeply aware of the humbling scale and fragile beauty of this unique place.
These parks are experiences as much as destinations. While the beauty still shines from behind a windshield or through the viewfinder of a camera, but the lasting impact of these places comes through presence, purpose, and respect.
A New Way to Explore
At the Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa, we want to offer our guests the chance to forge a connection to Wyoming’s national parks, not just see them. We created the National Parks: Explore and Support package in order to do just that: deepen the experience while supporting and protecting the parks themselves.
With a four-night minimum stay, the package includes a $150 food and beverage credit at the Wild Sage Restaurant & Bar, a $100 spa services credit at the Body Sage Spa, a complimentary annual National Parks Pass, and a donation in your name to both the Grand Teton National Park Foundation and Yellowstone Forever. These organizations do essential work to protect wildlife, maintain trails, and preserve the park’s natural and cultural legacy.
Basecamp: The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa
Every great adventure begins at basecamp. The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa, newly reimagined in a recent restoration, offers a blend of rustic elegance and heartfelt hospitality. As a family-owned, boutique retreat in the heart of Jackson, it sets the tone for a trip focused on authentic experience and connection.
Into the Parks
Grand Teton and Yellowstone are two of the country’s most iconic natural spaces, and both are stunning in wildly different ways.
Some guests start grand, charting a scenic road trip loop that touches every major highlight. Our 3 Day Summer Itinerary is perfect for those who want to experience a lot during a short stay while still having time to soak in the natural beauty of northwestern Wyoming. Beginning with a restful first day getting acquainted with the town of Jackson, guests then head north into Grand Teton National Park.
You’ll come right to the base of the Cathedral Group, which will seem to jump straight out of the waters of String and Jenny Lakes. You’ll visit the old homesteads of Mormon Row and walk amongst the iconic weathered barns framed by the mountains. Wildlife lovers and photographers chasing the perfect sighting will love Oxbow Bend, where the Snake River coils gently under Mount Moran, moose feed in the shallows, and the occasional bear can be seen amongst the willows.
Day two takes you into Yellowstone, a landscape unlike any other. You’ll catch morning light pouring over the geyser basins as you move north through West Thumb, stopping to enjoy the rainbow of Grand Prismatic Spring. Old Faithful, the most famous geyser in the American West, is always worth a stop, as it sprays superheated water over 100 feet in the air.
Your final day is for you to do what calls to you most. Browse the art galleries and stores of Jackson, or head into the park for one more sunrise. Bike around the quiet outer edges of town, or simply rest in a secluded spot. The beauty here is never far; it finds you when you’re paying attention.
Throughout, the thrill of wildlife sightings adds an electric, unpredictable excitement to the journey. Witness an impossibly huge herd of elk covering the National Elk Refuge, hear the eerie yip of coyotes in the twilight, and watch redtail hawks circle overhead.
For those with more time, our 5 Day Summer Itinerary includes a few more ways to experience the valley. A horseback riding tour lets you move through Jackson Hole as the trappers and cowboys did, and a hot air balloon ride gives you a bird’s-eye view. Get up close and personal with the aquatic wildlife in a half-day float trip down the Snake River.
Travel with Meaning
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, with their geysers, peaks, canyons, and sweeping alpine basins, draw millions of visitors every year. In the high season, even landscapes as vast as these can feel fragile beneath the weight of their own popularity.
We had this in mind when we created the National Parks: Explore and Support package. Guests can take pride in making their visit part of the preservation effort. When you book, you help fund trail maintenance and wildlife protection that ensure these places endure. This is how tourism becomes stewardship.
This summer, let your vacation be something deeper. Connect meaningfully with some of the most stunning natural spaces in the country, and be part of its preservation for travelers yet to come.
Born and raised in Jackson Hole, Wilden McIntosh-Round brings a deep-rooted love for the area into his work as a writer. In his versatile career as a content creator and copywriter, he has worked with brands like Samsung and Rolling Stone, but the best part of his job is partnering with local businesses to share their unique stories.
