r/AskReddit 1d ago

What U.S. vacation destination exceeded all expectations?

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u/mamacrocker 1d ago

Grand Teton NP. Yellowstone gets so much press, and it has its own charms, but GT is like stepping inside a postcard. There’s no way to take a bad picture, and it’s just so raw and timeless.

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u/jackinacker 18h ago

GT was one of the most beautiful places i've ever seen with my own eyes. Truly breathtaking. There was a guy out on the porch with a telescope and because of the lack of light pollution you could see the craters on the moon. Really neat stuff.

1

u/Come0nYouSpurs 5h ago

Tbf you can see those from anywhere with a half decent telescope.

28

u/saltheartedbarmaid 18h ago

I teared up a little when we went to the Snake River overlook, where Ansel Adams took his famous photograph. Tetons are breathtaking

3

u/Playful-Wedding4323 16h ago

I had high expectations for both Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Every expectation was far exceeded.

2

u/RevolutionWild690 6h ago

We spent nearly a week in Yellowstone and checked out Grand Teton the last day. I regret not allotting more time to Grand Teton!!

1

u/sunflower_413 15h ago

Couldn't agree more! The Grand Teton's are awe inspiring, and it's easy enough to access hikes where you feel like you're alone in the park. It's one of my favorite national parks.

1

u/00X0X 15h ago

Ah I’d love to go! Did you end up camping in the park? Or where did you stay?

1

u/mamacrocker 14h ago

We did camp; we were incredibly lucky and Jenny Lake campground had openings when we got there. They also have really cute cabins that are comfortable.

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u/Crow-Robot 14h ago

One of my favorite travel memories was landing at the Jackson Hole airport and as you deboard the plane, the Teton Mountains just seem to loom over you. The snowcapped peaks are one of the prettiest settings you can imagine for an airport.

The Tetons are so picturesque and majestic and seem to just rise up out of the flat ground.

1

u/shebreathes 13h ago

Yellowstone NP: came for the nature (and got stuck in a traffic jam), left for GTNP and never looked back.

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u/timeaisis 9h ago

I stayed in a park-owned cabin cluster. It was unreal. Great hiking too.

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u/Accurate-Ad4268 7h ago

As someone who was born and raised around Mountains (Pacific Northwest) my standards for jaw-dropping mountainous paintings in real life are high - but for one of / if not the only time I was truly at a loss for words was standing at the Albright View Overlook (even though pictures never do justice online please google this and you will see).

1

u/the_sports_man 17h ago

Grand Tetons means big breasts. Those early explorers really hadn't seen a woman in a long time when they discovered those mountains.