Russell
D4L is correct the town is not what it use to be, my Dad brought my Brother and I here when we were 12 and I was 10 I know my age because he brought us here to show us the reason for hunting. We went to the lake where hundreds and hundreds of Elk were out starving to death because of the lack of food, they didn't supplement the feed source like they do like now. Then it was a more western town that people gained access to some of the most beautiful mountains on the continent, now the mountains are the reason to come (FOR ME) but the town is far more like a high dollar shopping mall saying a mall is giving it some more like a strip mall with super high price's for things that one has to wonder who would buy enough of this stuff to support the store selling it.
We are staying in the Colter Bay RV section of the campground, the only reason is the RV we are staying in. If you are into the side by side corner to corner camping that this provides then THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!!! Upon looking there are some near by campsites that are for tent and wouldn't be QUITE as bad but with the town as near as it is the camping experience is lost. There are National Forest campgrounds near and would be thought to be a better choice, if you have young campers these would be the ONLY CHOICE. IMO
People are still going to be People last night I was out after the rain stopped (it rains here when Yellowstone is sunny and its only like 60miles away) a lady came RUNNING by me screaming GRIZZLY, GRIZZLY my first thought was WOW!!!! SHE CAN MOVE, second one was that she forgot to put her trash in the dumpster she still had the bag in her hand. The BLACK bear was a small one and although it could still tear you a new A** a near by rock put an end the GRIZZLY BEAR ATTACK FROM HELL in Colter Bay Campground. The campground host said thanks for helping put smokey in his place, can you help us out with some MANEATING SQUIRRLS that we have around. :-laf Sure let me get my rope
We are going on a hike as soon as one of the members in the Band that we played as a group with comes to pick us up to go. The night life here is good to great. We had a Great time playing and singing with a band at a local Cowboy bar (that's what they called it) but its true nature was a biker bar for WANT-TO-BE BIKERS, the owner said that with the change of the town so has the type of Cowboy that visits his saloon, two wheels and a seat vs 4 legs and a saddle. On the other hand it gives a WANT-TO-BE Singer a chance to sing off key and forget the lyrics of the song AND NO ONE KNEW!!!!! Because it was so loud that you couldn't think straight. Tonight promises to be a better suited night for the WANT-TO-BE singer and his Side Kick BIL guitarist cause they were invited back to play the songs that the OLDER COWBOYS and COWGIRLS want to hear. So the Bar tab will be smaller (cause I have to remember the lyrics) and I wont have had 5 or 6 to many Beers.
Russell I don't know how much hiking or what it is you and your guests are looking for but the hikes in the Tetons are for the most part STRENOUS and are pretty much on the side of the mountain. The hikes in Yellowstone are a better experience of the ones that aren't exactly in shape or have a fear of shear drops (I don't know how Penny is going to make it) but have fun in what ever your choice is. We will be here for the remainder of the week and then head back North thru Yellowstone to home in MT. If I should see something of interest I will be sure to let you know.
BIG