Jackson Hole

After four straight nights in national parks we left the natural wonders, wildlife and disgusting food behind and headed for the ski resort town of Jackson, WY. Our four nights in Jackson were wonderful and relaxing. The area is classy but not pretentious, and outdoorsy, but not too intimidating to “indoor folks” like me.

Where To Stay

This is a tough one. There are two distinct areas where visitors stay in Jackson - both on and off ski season.

The city of Jackson is an adorable, cowboy town but still quite universally appealing and most definitely classy. The downtown area is filled with shops and restaurants and kitschy but cute looking motels. Stay in this area if you want to be close to the action. We found ourselves here almost every day to eat, shop or access some of the activities mentioned below.

Alternatively visitors can stay in Teton Village, about 20 minutes from Jackson city center. This is the location of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, so in the winter this area provides best access to the slopes. In the summer, it felt like we were staying in a quaint little village. More on this below.

We stayed at boutique Hotel Terra in Teton Village. It was right in the heart of Teton Village and it offered upscale rooms and a small but lovely outdoor pool that we used every afternoon. A hotel restaurant (skippable) and small spa are also on site.

What To Do

Beginning with Teton Village, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers a lot of the typical things you’d expect to see during summer months at a ski resort. There is mountain biking, a bungee trampoline, a rock climbing wall, hammocks to unwind in, a small playground and small water feature. It’s all compact but cozy and we found all this so nice to come home to after a day out and about. The girls would play while we sipped smoothies or tea from the General Store.

In downtown Jackson, Snow King Mountain Resort is another local ski resort. And this one is a MUST visit with kids in summer - we did a super fun alpine slide and alpine coaster here. There was also mini golf and a maze. We loved it.

If in Jackson during the summer, you must also visit the Jackson Hole Rodeo, also located right in downtown Jackson. It was so much fun and SO unlike anything we have on the East Coast.

Another popular summer activity in Jackson is a whitewater excursion or float. We did a 13.5 mile guided morning float with Teton Whitewater on the Snake River. It was so peaceful and beautiful and we saw some fantastic birds and hawks.

Definitely spend some time shopping in Jackson, too. There are shops for everyone here and it’s just super fun walking around the area.

What To Eat

Again beginning in Teton Village, a great activity for any summer visitor is to take the gondola up to Piste Mountain Bistro for drinks on the mountain. The ride is free after 5pm and it’s a nice 12 minute scenic ride up. The views at Piste are spectacular.

Also in Teton Village, we had an excellent meal at Teton Thai. It’s the one spot within Teton Village that is must do. Everywhere else you eat will probably be in downtown Jackson.

For breakfast we enjoyed bagels at Pearl Street Bagels and baked goods at Persephone, each in Jackson city center.

At lunchtime, don’t miss The Bird. It’s about 15 minutes outside city center but so worth it for yummy burgers, beers and wings eaten on a killer patio with mountain views. Snake River Brewing in city center also has great vibes for a beer and lunch (food was just okay, though).

We had two very nice dinners in Jackson. Gather is a casual but happening spot for American food. And Glorietta, a hip Italian trattoria is one of the top spots in town. I had also heard great things about Coelette but we didn’t make it there.

What Else

What a fun and diverse trip. We saw natural wonders, we spotted wildlife, we experienced the culture of the West and we relaxed.

There is nothing better than travel and this trip was one of our family’s best!