No, I'm not talking about the films starring Nicholas Cage. I'm talking about our National Parks. If you have ever had the opportunity to visit any of them, you will understand how awe-inspiring this country can really be. The range of beauty the landscape holds is simply spectacular.

I had an amazing opportunity my first summer after college - I was the Audio/Visual intern for Yosemite National Park. I lived in the park that whole summer, fixing the wires to the A/V show when the field mice ate through them, spooling old movies about bears and fires for the Ranger Talks, etc. I didn't see one movie. I read a ton of books. And I hiked every chance I could get, with camera in hand. To say that time is one of the highlights of my life is a true understatement.

One of the coolest things about Jackson Hole is it's close proximity to not one, but two National Parks - Yellowstone and Grand Teton. (From nps.gov) Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife. The abrupt vertical rise of the jagged Teton Range contrasts with the horizontal sage-covered valley and glacial lakes at their base, creating world-renowned scenery that attracts nearly four million visitors per year.

Jackson Lake. ©2005 Kimberly Finch. Courtesy of NPS.gov

Crowd Watching Old Faithful Erupt - Courtesy of NPS.gov

In your plans to visit Jackson you MUST make time to drive to at least one of these amazing places. It's your civic duty!