Howdy from Jackson, WY
This past June, we spent 10 days exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. When planning where we would stay, Jackson, WY, seemed like the logical choice. We planned to spend the first part of the trip exploring Grand Teton National Park, head to Yellowstone for a few days, and then back to Jackson for the 4th of July. Please note, while in Yellowstone, we stayed in different locations in Montana that I will write about at some other time.
Jackson, WY is a town within the Jackson Hole Valley in Teton County. It is a popular tourist destination due to its three major ski resorts, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. It also has an airport located approximately 10 minutes away, which was a huge factor when choosing places to stay for our visit to the National Parks.
Fun Fact: Jackson Hole Airport is the only airport located fully within a National Park.
Due to its popularity, Jackson has become the premier tourist destination. The town developed a large shopping and eating district with many art galleries, custom jewelers, and designer clothing retailers centered on the town square. One will find a variety of lodging options, from camping to high-end hotels and resorts.
Where to stay in Jackson?
We wanted to be within walking distance to downtown Jackson, close to the entrance of Grand Teton National Park and a short drive to the airport. I also wanted a wild west feel and theme, so we stayed away from traditional hotels. We chose to stay at Cowboy Village Resort right outside the downtown area.
Cowboy Village Resort
Cowboy Village Resort is made up of authentic log cabins, all with either a porch or patio, kitchenettes, indoor pool, laundry, fitness room, and breakfast offered in the main house. There are various size cabins. We booked a one-bedroom with a pull-out sofa for the boys. I had wanted something larger, but that was all that was available at the time. The cabins were clean and comfortable. I loved the front porch and could have sat there for hours, taking in the mountain air. We were 6 blocks from the center of town and walked everywhere. The kitchenette came in handy when there was not a dinner reservation to be found. (More on that later).
We stayed at Cowboy Village for 4 nights. We enjoyed our stay and would consider staying there again. Though it was a bit expensive, Jackson overall is pretty expensive. It is located in one of the richest counties in the United States. The other two negatives, the size of our cabin and the air conditioning. With two teenage boys, it was a bit cramped at times. Thankfully we were not in the cabin a lot, and we know for next time, there are larger cabins available. The cabins are equipped with wall air conditioner units. Wyoming was experiencing a heatwave, so this may not be an issue at any other time, but I felt they did not work that well.
Spring Creek Ranch
We spent two nights at the Spring Creek Ranch and Resort at the back end of our trip. This is a 4-star resort that boasted all sorts of activities, a spa, and a world-class restaurant. Spring Creek sits on top of a mountain and has breathtaking views of the Teton mountain range. It is located 3 miles from town, a bit further than I wanted to be, but since it had a restaurant, not a problem, except it was a problem. The restaurant was not open due to a lack of help or COVID. It was not clear why it was not open. Many of the activities were not available, nor was the spa. I had also read that the rooms had been refurbished. However, not all the rooms had been, and it was clear ours was not.
We had rented a one-bedroom suite. The room was plenty big, but it needed some serious updating and no AC! The best part of the resort was our balcony and the views.
Where to eat in Jackson?
The town of Jackson has something for everyone. From delicious coffee and pastries to pizza, international cuisine, breweries, and world-class steak and game restaurants, you will not go hungry. Unless, of course, you do not have a reservation. The wait times were long, and many places stopped taking names. Thankfully there was a grocery store nearby, and we grabbed some sandwiches and other items to heat up.
However, we were able to eat in a few places; for the most part, they were excellent. Upon our arrival to Jackson, we had a late lunch, early dinner at Roadhouse Brewing Company. The Roadhouse is Jackson’s only outdoor patio overlooking the square, complete with 30 different beers and elevated pub food. I tried a bison burger, and it was delicious.
One night we ate at The Gun Barrel. This came highly recommended, and rightfully so. The Gun Barrel serves fine steaks, wild game, fresh fish, and more. The decor was exactly what I expected to see in this part of the country. The food and drinks were amazing. The buffalo ribs were to die for. The kids had huge Caesar salads with grilled chicken that they loved. I would have eaten there every night.
For a quick meal, we stopped for pizza for one night at Pinky G’s Pizzeria. It was voted the best pizza in all of Jackson. My husband and kids love pizza and thought it was good. However, being from Boston, I was not impressed. Plus we had to wait two hours, FOR PIZZA!
By far, one of our favorite places was the JH Roasters Restaurant and Coffee House. We discovered their coffee on our second day in Jackson and loved it. The whole vibe of the coffee house was so cool. A lot of the photographers hang out there to edit and work on their photos. The coffee was delicious, as were the pastries. The other food looked just as good, but we did not have the opportunity to try it.
Finally, a Jandrue summer vacation is not complete without ice cream! Moo’s Gourmet is Jackson’s ONLY 100% all-natural gourmet ice cream with 32 flavors available daily. One of the most popular is the Huckleberry ice cream, and it did not disappoint.
What to do in Jackson?
The possibilities are endless! Summertime in Jackson is just as fun or, dare I say, even more fun than ski season in the winter. With Grand Teton National Park just minutes away, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy. There is hiking, horseback riding, white water rafting, scenic float trips, wildlife tours, water sports, etc. When exploring the great outdoors, Jackson has many shops to explore, from the typical souvenir shop to high-end retailers and art galleries. There truly is something for everyone.
So what did we do? Our main purpose of the trip was to visit the national parks. While staying in Jackson, we spent most of our time exploring Grand Teton National Park. We booked three tours, scoped out wildlife, saw the sunrise and set, floated down the Snake River, and hiked. More on each of these in a later blog post.
We also did quite a bit of shopping and exploring the downtown area of Jackson. There were so many cute stores. Oh, and make sure to take a photo in front of the elk antler archway. It is a famous spot for photos. On our last night, we had a fantastic experience at the Bar T -5 Covered Wagon, Cookout, and Show.
The Bar T-5 Covered Wagon, Cookout, and Show is Jackson Hole’s original chuckwagon dinner. Upon arrival at their ranch, we were given the history of the ranch and the town of Jackson. The ranch is family-owned and run. It was all so interesting. Once the show was over, we were loaded into these beautiful covered wagons. We traveled by horse-drawn covered wagons into the beautiful Cache Creek Canyon located in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. There were a dozen or so wagons in all that traveled two miles into the forest. They were lead by wranglers who provided a wealth of information about the area, the horses, and more.
Once at the camp, we were welcomed by one of the owners, and my husband Bill was asked to come up on stage and kick things off! His job was to go ring the dinner bell, and the kids and I were to yell, “Come and get it.” It was a lot of fun.
Dinner was delicious. It consisted of all-you-can-eat brisket, chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob, rolls, salad, cookies, blondies, water, coffee, lemonade, and hot chocolate. After dinner, we were treated to a spectacular show, complete with music, singing, laughing, and a visit from the friendly mountain man, Buckskin. We were so impressed with the talent of these musicians, in particular this young lady. Take a listen.
After the show, we hopped back on the wagons and traveled back down into the valley, watching the sunset as we went. It was the perfect way to end our time in Jackson. For more information, check out their website.
Final Thoughts on Jackson, WY
We found Jackson to be the perfect home base as we explored Grand Teton National Park. Though a bit pricey and crowded at times, we would not hesitate to stay here again. Grand Teton blew me away, and it will not be my only time visiting this park. I would love to come out and explore Wyoming in the wintertime. Be sure to check back as I continue posting about our time in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
A couple of years ago, if you would have asked if a winter destination was on my bucket list, I would have thought you were crazy. I am not a fan of cold temperatures, nor do we ski, snowboard, or enjoy playing in the snow. However, a couple of friends went to Wyoming with Adventures by Disney during the winter, and it looked amazing. The scenery was breathtaking. There were other things to do besides skiing and snowboarding. With the right clothes, we could brave it! It is not like the snow is foreign to us. We are New Englanders! Now that we have decided to go, the question became when. I was hoping for the week between Christmas and the New Year. Well, then 2020 became a horror movie, and that got put on hold. We have quite a few things scheduled for 2021, so it looks like it maybe 2022 before we go. In the meantime, here is destination number 8 of the Travel Bucket List Series- Winter in Wyoming.
How to get there? – From Boston, we will fly into Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jackson Hole is made up of Grand Teton National Park and the town of Jackson. The majority of our time will be spent in Jackson Hole, but the first stop, Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone National Park
An hour away, Yellowstone is part of the National Parks system and was the first National Park in the United States. Yellowstone is made up of 3,500 square miles and spreads into three states, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. It has enormous canyons, forests, alpine rivers and geysers, the most famous of all, Old Faithful. It is home to plenty of wildlife, such as bears, coyotes, wolves, bison, elk, antelope, and more. Here are a few fun facts about Yellowstone.
- It is the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
- It has more than half the world’s geysers (Over 500).
- There are 67 species of mammals in Yellowstone.
- There are 290 waterfalls.
- It has roughly 1,000-3,000 earthquakes a year.
We will stay at the Mammoth Hot Springs and Cabins for the first few nights of our trip. The hotel underwent an extensive renovation in 2019. It consists of premium rooms, suites, and cabins. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, and a deli.
As I mentioned above, we do not go skiing or snowboarding. So what exactly is there for us to do in Yellowstone in the winter? I found several activities.
Old Faithful Winter Day Tour- with Snowshoeing
From the hotel, board a snow coach and make your way toward the magnificent geyser. Old Faithful was the first geyser in the park to be named back in 1870. It is highly predictable and erupts every 44 mins to two hours since 2000. It is a must-see. Along the way, the coach stops for wildlife viewing and at such sights like the Fountain Paint Pots. Once at Old Faithful, you have a couple of hours to explore and take in the magnificent wonder. There are several ways to explore the basin. You may walk or grab a pair of cross country skis or snowshoes and have some fun. I am excited to snowshoe.
Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. Very few visit this area in the winter, and it is touted as one of Yellowstone’s best-kept secrets. The only way to see this area in the winter is by snowmobiles or snow coach. The trees are covered in snow, the snow is deep, and from everything I read, it is all so very magical. There are several things to see here, such as
- Steamboat Geyser: The world’s tallest active geyser, In the Back Basin, you’ll find the world’s tallest active geyser. Eruptions are rare and unpredictable, so I hope we time it just right.
- Porcelain Basin: This is home to Ledge Geyser, which erupts at an angle, and the ever steaming Black Growler Vent.
- Back Basin: a forested version of the Porcelain Basin and home to the Steamboat Geyser.
Winter Wildlife Tour
As a family of animal lovers, how could we not put this tour on our list? This tour explores the Northern Range, where there are wide open grassy valleys that, in the winter, are covered with less snow than other locations in the park, making it a bit easier to get to that food source. It is home to bison, elk, coyote, wolves, eagles, bighorn, and many more.
Another must go for me while in Yellowstone is a photography tour. Using a handpicked itinerary, it takes you through Yellowstone and shows you how to capture the best photographs.
Jackson Hole
After a few action-packed days, it will be time to head back to Jackson Hole. We plan to stay at The Wort Hotel. The Wort Hotel is Jackson Hole’s finest boutique hotel. It has 55 rooms, including five sophisticated western-themed suites.
Located in the center of town, the hotel is on the list of National Registry of Historic Places. It is within walking distance of numerous shops and bars.
Things to do in Jackson Hole
Oh, what to do first? With the Grand Teton National Park and the Snake River right there, the outdoor activities are endless.
Sunset Sleigh Ride– Take a sleigh ride along the Snake River as the sun sets over the Teton Mountains. The ride includes a stop at a Tipi Camp where a roaring fire and appetizers and drinks are served.
Sleigh Ride through the National Elk Refuge– thousands of elk migrate to the refuge each year, and the sleigh ride gives plenty of opportunities to see these animals up close and personal.
Snow King Mountain– Known as the in-town playground for adults and kids alike, this mountain resort offers skiing, tubing, snowboarding, and its winter cowboy coaster. There is something to do for everyone.
Jackson Hole Playhouse – The dinner shows here are not to be missed. I hear the food and entertainment are excellent.
Iditarod-Style Dog Sled Excursion– When we were in the Yukon, we experienced summer dog sledding. Since then, I have wanted to try it in the winter. This is a must-do for my family and me.
Granite Hot Springs– Relax in the steaming, rejuvenating waters of the Granite Hot Springs. Take in the beautiful Gros Ventre Mountains and the towering pines that surround you as you float, swim, and soak in these natural hot springs.
Snowshoeing at Grand Teton National Park– The park offers a two-hour guided snowshoe hike that meets at Taggart Lake Trailhead. Listen as a range talks about winter ecology and snow science.
After seeing all that Wyoming has to offer in the winter, I know we will be inspired to come back in the summer. I guess that means the travel bucket list continues to grow. Not a bad thing, right?
Are you interested in my other bucket list trips? Check them out and leave a comment as to which one you would like to experience first.
