Why you'll fall in love with Grand Teton National Park

Flat Creek Ranch is a little more luxurious, offering clawfoot bathtubs, four-course dinners, an outdoor sauna, and capacity to hold no more than 14 guests at a time. You'll still get as much of the dude ranch experience as you want though, with guided hikes, horseback rides, fly fishing trips, and more.

Tucked away in the mountains of Jackson, Wyoming, Granite Hot Springs comes with two pools (one man-made, the other natural) filled with warm, mineral-rich spring water, as well as a campsite. There's also hiking in the Gros Ventre Mountains and fishing in Granite Creek, and the stunning Grand Teton National Park is only about an hour's drive away. Imagine taking a soak in the healing springs after an intense day of hiking the Tetons! A soak will only set you back a few bucks, so take advantage.

Mormon Row is Grand Teton's very own ghost town, where many Mormons settled as they moved to form communities outside of their home base at Salt Lake City. The row of old homesteads, set against the majestic Tetons, and home to herds of bison, are a popular place for tourists to take some pictures.

This is a unique kind of museum that you'd only find in Wyoming. Dedicated to art depicting animals, the National Museum of Wildlife Art has over 5,000 pieces from "early Americans to contemporary masters." It's a unique look at the convergence of natural science and art, and it's all set in a lovely stone castle-like building on a cliff. Definitely check out the sculpture trail!

Mountaineering is one of the most popular activities in the park (the peaks are easily accessed by the roads, so an experienced climber can tackle a climb in under a day), but climbing isn't the only way to get a picture-perfect view of the park. If "physical activity" isn't your cup of tea (or even if it is) then consider a hot air balloon tour of Grand Teton National Park from the Wyoming Balloon Company. You'll see a totally different side of the park from so high up...and the pilots are total pros, offering all kinds of extra info on the balloon, covering the wildlife and the park itself!

The retro exterior and neon sign make The Antler Inn feel like a classic roadside hotel, but the inside is a perfect blend of modern and vintage Western vibes. Some of the rooms have stone fireplaces and wooden walls. Also, the location, right in the center of Jackson, can't be beat!

Jackson's Snake River Brewing prides itself on its organic and sustainably-made craft beer. From the mountain views on the patio to the menu of dishes like chorizo fig pizza to the outstanding beers (everything from classic lagers to fun nitro coffee milk stouts), you won't find a better place to spend an evening.

If you're looking for an iconic photo op in Jackson, head to George Washington Memorial Park to pose for a pic with the city's famed antler arches. They're made of elk antlers, since elk seem to be everywhere around here, and there are four of them at each corner of the park, and they're even bigger in real life.

Hiking, biking, hot air ballooning, fishing, skiing, whitewater rafting and more, are all right at the doorstep of Amangani, one of the country's swankiest getaways. The rooms in the hotel are luxurious to say the least, and some have sunken baths and redwood furniture and faux fur rugs, but why bother with the king-sized bed when you have a balcony with some of the best views in America? They've got an awesome bar and restaurant on site, a cozy library, a lounge with roaring fireplaces, even the fitness center is done in the outdoorsy hardwood theme. But the centerpiece of the experience has to be the pool. It offers the best views of the surrounding mountain scenery, and since it (like the whirlpool hot tub) is heated all year round, you can even enjoy it during the winter. Imagine warming up with a dip after a long day of skiing while watching the sunset.

One of the park's many lakes, Jenny Lake is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. Take a shuttle out here, and then rent a boat or hike the four mile loop around the water, it's a great place to spy wildlife and soak in the views.

Leigh Lake is undoubtedly one of the prettiest and most off-the-beaten-path spots in the Tetons...and it has a beach! Of course, instead of panoramic ocean views and rolling waves, you'll have to settle for the surrounding mountain scenery and crystal clear lake waters. It's a decent length hike, but it's level and relatively easy. Besides, there's no better reward for a brisk hike than enjoying a picnic and a swim on the sandy shore.

A hike from Jenny Lake through Cascade Canyon will take you past hidden waterfalls, lakeshore and mountain views, and up granite slopes, though dense pine forests, and into secluded canyons. It's a great sample of everything that Grand Teton National Park has to offer.

Jackson Lake is one of the park's biggest, and it's popular for a reason. The views of the mountains reflected in Jackson Lake's water are incredible, and there's great trout fishing here and plenty of places to rent a boat. There are even islands in the lake to explore! Of course, since the water is glacial melt, it's pretty chilly, but a great way to cool off after a hike.

The John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is the scenic road that connects Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park. The scenery between the two parks is vastly different, so a drive along here will take you from volcanic lava beds to soaring granite mountains...plus the wildlife you can see along the way is great, and the Snake River is absolutely stunning.

Grand Teton is home to some pretty incredible wildlife: wolves, elk, moose, big horn sheep, coyotes, and more have called the park home for centuries, but it's only recently that the park's population of grizzly bears has begun to boom. There are only about 1,500 grizzlies in the continental US right now, and 600 of them live in the Yellowstone-Teton area. If you're looking to see them in the wild, they can be best seen in June and July at Willow Flats. And, just in case you have an encounter with one, brush up on your bear safety! Don't make eye contact with it, act aggressively, or run; instead, back away slowly. And remember to bring bear spray and bear-proof containers for food.

The winding Snake River, which starts in Yellowstone, weaves for over 1,050 miles, a small portion of which is located in Grand Teton National Park. It's an incredible river to float or boat down, so book an excursion with an outfitter, and go in the morning if you can. However, if you still want to appreciate the river's beauty without the effort of getting on the water, head to Snake River Overlook and take it all in.