The Town of Jackson
Things to do in Jackson/Jackson Hole, Wyoming (including Grand Teton)
Jackson is a cute, quaint town with a cowboy/western feel. There are many local restaurants, boutiques, western apparel and gift shops, art galleries, and major retailers all within walking distance of each other. (In the photo above, the backdrop is the Snow King Mountain Resort.)
Lodging in Jackson (near Jackson Hole)
I found a cute, reasonably-priced, centrally-located room at Miller’s Lodge from Hotels.com. It included a refrigerator and microwave and small den area. Easily walkable to most of the restaurants and stores in downtown and only a 15 minute drive from the airport. If you reserve ahead of time and, it’s not a holiday or school break, then you can find well-situated rooms for good prices.
Restaurants in Jackson
Many of the restaurants were a little more spendy than I had anticipated. It was a bit difficult to find a casual, hangout place. (*The brewery was closed.) However, The Merry Piglets proved to be a tasty Mexican restaurant with good prices and a friendly wait staff. The Bunnery Bakery seemed to always be busy for breakfast, so get in line before you’re hungry. I also ordered in pizza from Cutty’s Bar & Grill which made a decent pie. Bubba’s Bar-B-Que has a mean brisket and loads of bar-b-que delights.
Downhill Skiing in Jackson, Wyoming
If you are traveling to Jackson in the winter you can ski at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ($$$$) or Snow King Resort ($). I opted for Snow King as there were plenty of blue and green trails for a fun day with little to no lines. The food and drink prices at King’s Grill (at the base of the mountain) were good, and they weren’t shy with their liquor. Plus there were also a lot of activities for good rates right at the mountain including the Cowboy Coaster (super fun – like a single person roller coaster/alpine slide combo) and Snow Tubing. Renting skis was quick and easy at Hoback Sports – they have it down to a science. Rent online for a discount.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a 24 minute drive or 37 minute START Teton Village Express bus ride. It boasts 50% beginner/intermediate and 50% expert trails with gondolas, trams and speed chairs. However, it comes with a hefty price tag of ~$160/day, but it’s definitely a check on the bucket list. To lessen the blow on your wallet, RPK3, in the tram building, has a 1/2 price happy hour!
Snowshoeing near Jackson (at Grand Teton)
So many options for snowshoeing in this area! I opted for the Grand Teton National Park – just 25 easy driving minutes to the north. Park at the first lot and do the Taggart Lake Trail. Many pretty tree trails and slopes make for a beautiful, peaceful ~3 hours of traversing through the park. (Safety note: get the AllTrails app and make sure you stay on the trail. The first half is well-marked but can get confusing after the lake. Also, wear snowshoes. If you get off the trail, you will need them to move.) Skinny Skis shop and Hoback Sports both have reasonable rates to rent snowshoes.
Cross Country Skiing near Jackson (at Grand Teton)
I am a novice cross-country skier. This was my 3rd time on those skinny skis, and I need tracks to enjoy this adventure. A great location with awesome views for beginners and intermediate-ers is a short (25 minutes from downtown), flat, safe drive away at the majestic Grand Teton National Park. (Grand Teton entrance is $35 for the week for your car-load.) After you enter the park, drive to the 2nd parking area where the Teton Park Road ends to start your cross country adventure. If you are a more experienced cc skier and are into no-track skiing and up/downhills then the Taggart Lake Trailhead (the first parking lot on Teton Park Road) is your ticket. Another challenging cross country trail is the no-cost Hagen Trail which is barely 5 miles from downtown. Skinny Skis has got you covered for various types of cross country/Nordic skiing rental equipment. It’s a sporty shop in downtown with good rates and good service.
