If you've got some extra time in your schedule, there are a few side trips in the area worth your time.

* The National Museum of Wildlife Art just north of downtown Jackson, Wyoming. The incredible collections inside this building read like a who's who of Western masters, with artworks of George Catlin, Albert Bierstadt, Peter Moran (Thomas Moran's youngest brother), James Browning Wyeth, and John James Audubon among the more than 300 artists represented.

* The National Bighorn Sheep Center is southwest of the park, in Dubois, Wyoming. The biggest wintering herd of bighorn sheep can be found in Whiskey Mountain just southeast of Dubois, and the center leads guided eco tours and photographers retreats.

* Right next door to Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge and its 24,700+ acres of grasslands, wetlands, and forests is another great venue for wildlife viewing and photography of some 5,000 herd of elk. There's also hunting, fishing, and educational opportunities offered at the refuge.