Island Park, ID (Yellowstone) - where would you go for a 2nd week?

[DeniseM]

We recently adopted a timeshare in Island Park, ID (near Yellowstone.) Where would your go for a 2nd week?

 

[Krteczech]

Jackson Hole ?

 

[HikerBiker]

This past summer we spent a week at Timbers at Island Park and then the next week in Ketchum at Habitat on Trail Creek. Really enjoyed both weeks doing a lot of hiking. Wild flowers were in full bloom especially in Ketchum.

 

[DeniseM]

We are going in September, and we like the outdoors and historical things. How far is Ketchum? Did you stay in a timeshare? I haven't heard of Ketchum or Habitat on Trail Creek, but I'd love to know more. It would be great if we can get an exchange for the 2nd week, if possible.

 

[sue1947]

We are going in September, and we like the outdoors and historical things. How far is Ketchum? Did you stay in a timeshare? I haven't heard of Ketchum or Habitat on Trail Creek, but I'd love to know more. It would be great if we can get an exchange for the 2nd week, if possible.

Ketchum is Sun valley. The timeshares tend to be older with lots of stairs. Habitat is frequently available, sometimes on an AC.
Vacation Internationale has some units at Elkhorn and Indian Springs at Sun Valley, but they are getting rid of them as of June 2023. I think the other units with different companies are in RCI.
Just up the hill is Galena Summit and then down to Stanley and the Sawtooth Mtns which are gorgeous when the aspens are turning; late Sept.

Park City is an easy trade for that time. I've been there via AC in late Sept.

 

[Passepartout]

We recently adopted a timeshare in Island Park, ID (near Yellowstone.) Where would your go for a 2nd week?

Kinda depends on how rustic you want to get. As mentioned at the high end is Jackson Hole, Wy. then there is Big Sky MT for more resort-y experience. Or you could do something completely different and head back through Idaho Falls and out to Arco and see the first nuclear breeder reactor (Navy power plants are built out there) on the way to SunValley/Ketchum World Class trout fishing at Silver Creek- Or more relaxed at Picabo- There's 'fishing'- and there's 'catching'. This is catching. This is Hemingway country. There are TSs in Sun Valley/Ketchum area. This is about 70 miles (a hop/skip & jump for us) from where we live on the Snake River canyon.

As said, Park City is about 4-5 hours from Island Park. You'll spend plenty of time in the car, but you'll see a lot.
Tell us what you want to do and there will be suggestions.

Jim

 

[DaveNV]

Or Glacier National Park. September is going to be cooler, and may have snow, but you said you don't mind snow.

Dave

 

[klpca]

We did a week at Meadow Lake in Columbia Falls just outside of Glacier followed by a week in Yellowstone (also staying at Island Park). It was the perfect trip for us. Columbia Falls is a nice town. We really enjoyed staying there. It was a six-ish hour drive to get to Island Park.

 

[DRIless]

Edelweiss Resort - Whitefish MT and Glacier Nat'l Park

We recently adopted a timeshare in Island Park, ID (near Yellowstone.) Where would your go for a 2nd week?

Or Glacier National Park. September is going to be cooler, and may have snow, but you said you don't mind snow.

View attachment 68732

Dave

 

[Laurie]

We've paired a week exchange to Yellowstone with exchanges to both Jackson Hole area - Teton Village actually, loved location almost at back entrance to Grand Teton NP, where we saw moose every day along our drive back and forth) - and something near Glacier NP. Both were excellent, and both parks offer outstanding hiking opportunities. Being near Grand Teton was perfect for our first trip to Yellowstone, because we used a couple of those days to double back into Yellowstone, which is so large and spectacular, IMO more than a week is more than justified. And you can see most of Grand Teton in under a week. But if you'll be using your own week at Timbers regularly (what I would do if I lived on your coast) with ample opportunities to see more of Yellowstone plus Grand Teton, then I'd pick something near Glacier. We've exchanged into both Glacier Wilderness Resort and Meadow Lake, would go back to both, and something in Whitefish could also work.

 

[rapmarks]

How about barefoot condominiums in Lead South Dakota? We visited Devils Tower, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood and Sturgis from there.

 

[rickandcindy23]

How about barefoot condominiums in Lead South Dakota? We visited Devils Tower, the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood and Sturgis from there.

How is the quality of that resort? I would love to stay there but we need something comfortable, but we don't need fancy. We loved The Rushes, and it was very reminiscent of our Val Chatelle in Frisco, CO.

 

[rapmarks]

How is the quality of that resort? I would love to stay there but we need something comfortable, but we don't need fancy. We loved The Rushes, and it was very reminiscent of our Val Chatelle in Frisco, CO.

Not high quality. I felt the furnishings were from goodwill, no amenities. Just a place to rest in between sight seeing

 

[HikerBiker]

We are going in September, and we like the outdoors and historical things. How far is Ketchum? Did you stay in a timeshare? I haven't heard of Ketchum or Habitat on Trail Creek, but I'd love to know more. It would be great if we can get an exchange for the 2nd week, if possible.

Hi Denise,
You said you like historical things so thought you might like to check out this place in Island Park: Johnny Sack Cabin Big Springs. From the brochure: “ The cabin is open to the public from mid-June through mid September…One of Johnny’s trademarks is the split bark decoration used in the cabin’s furniture and interior…One ceiling lamp, still hanging in its original location, contains seventy-two individual handcrafted pieces of wood.” Across the road, was a beautiful hiking/walking trail to Big Springs where more trails were available. We were excited to see Sand Hill Cranes. Off road vehicles with many, many trails is huge there. We’re hikers but if we return, we may give it a try. We, also, hiked/walked in Harriman State Park with several historical buildings there and lots of people fishing. We were there in June during the severe flooding and Yellowstone was closed where we had planned to spend at least two days. We still had a great trip and are keeping watch for an exchange there again.
Ketchum was about 3 1/2 to 4 hours from Island Park. We enjoyed the ride as we had not been in that area previously. You do go by Craters of the Moon National Park; we did not stop as we had spent time there on a previous trip to Ketchum. Habitat is an II timeshare. You can walk to town ; we live in a rural area in ME so enjoy being able to go for coffee or to the restaurants. We love that area for hiking…not hiking/walking there. In June, the mountains are covered with wild flowers. We are in our late 70’s but still managed to do several hikes there, but Island Park was wonderful to be outside and on the trails walking.
If you want more information, just let me know.
Loraine

 

[DeniseM]

WOW! Thanks for all the great ideas! We have some research to do now!

 

[chellej]

If you have access to WorldMark, there is a resort on Lake Couer De Lane. There is Pend Orielle Shores resort in Hope. Driving the Selkirk loop is on my bucket list, it goes through the Idaho panhandle and eastern Washington and into Canada. there is also lots of hiking, fishing, and boating in the area. South of Idaho falls is a small resort at Lava Hot springs.. you could venture out to craters of the moon and the INEL site from there.

Glacier and flathead lake have a variety of resorts and are a good addon to Yellowstone. I have a list of things to do while in Island Park that don't go into the park at all. You could easily spend 2 weeks in the yellostone area, maybe one in island park and the other in jackson.

 

[sfwilshire]

We flew the family into Denver several years ago. Spent a week at Island Park, a week near Glacier, then went down to Breckenridge for a week. My kids still say it was one of their best vacations ever.

Sheila

 

[Laurie]

One more idea: one of our trips to Yellowstone was actually 3 consecutive weeks. We started with a week in Park City, using SLC as our airport which had lots of cheap flights and rental cars, and enjoyed lots of excellent hiking and sightseeing in summer. On the way from Park City to Yellowstone, we detoured to visit Craters of the Moon, surprisingly beautiful. I recalled this when Craters of the Moon was mentioned above.

 

[Passepartout]

One more idea: one of our trips to Yellowstone was actually 3 consecutive weeks. We started with a week in Park City, using SLC as our airport which had lots of cheap flights and rental cars, and enjoyed lots of excellent hiking and sightseeing in summer. On the way from Park City to Yellowstone, we detoured to visit Craters of the Moon, surprisingly beautiful. I recalled this when Craters of the Moon was mentioned above.

That's kind of a l-o-n-g round-about detour, but if it's your only trip to the area, that's one way to see the variety. If SLC is your gateway airport, another route to the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area is on hwy 89 through the Cache Valley and Bear Lake area possibly TSing at Lava Hot Springs. Then after getting your fill of wildlife in the Nat'l Parks heading to Ketchum via the INL 'site' & Craters of the Moon.

I can easily see more than two weeks to do this much area justice, and still it leaves more stuff undone.

Life's just too short.

Jim

 

[Laurie]

That's kind of a l-o-n-g round-about detour, but if it's your only trip to the area, that's one way to see the variety. If SLC is your gateway airport, another route to the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area is on hwy 89 through the Cache Valley and Bear Lake area possibly TSing at Lava Hot Springs. Then after getting your fill of wildlife in the Nat'l Parks heading to Ketchum via the INL 'site' & Craters of the Moon.

I can easily see more than two weeks to do this much area justice, and still it leaves more stuff undone.

Life's just too short.

Yes, agreed, way too short! It was a long drive that day. We made a spontaneous decision that day to detour, since it had been recommended by a friend, and didn't regret it. But if we lived closer, we'd probably own a week at Island Park by now, and use it ourselves most years. I love that area so much. It's like the ocean, with gravitational pull.

 

[Passepartout]

Yes, agreed, way too short! It was a long drive that day. We made a spontaneous decision that day to detour, since it had been recommended by a friend, and didn't regret it. But if we lived closer, we'd probably own a week at Island Park by now, and use it ourselves most years. I love that area so much. It's like the ocean, with gravitational pull.

Indeed. We live about 4 hours away and enjoy our forays every which way around the intermountain West.

 

[Passepartout]

WOW! Thanks for all the great ideas! We have some research to do now!

While you're at Island Park, be sure to visit Mesa Falls along the 'back road' to Ashton. There is much to see/do outside Yellowstone. (Shhh, don't tell)