At the end of the summer we spent a week in Jackson Hole. We stayed in a beautiful home above the Four Seasons in Teton Village. There was so much to do while we were there, but these are the top ten things I reccommend to do while visiting Jackson Hole.
HIKING is the top activity in Jackson Hole. During our time there my favorite two places we hiked were Jenny Lake and and Leigh Lake. These were both fairly easy hikes and mostly flat terrain around lakes. The scenery is beautiful and at Jenny Lake you can hike half way, and then take a boat ride back across the lake to where you park. However, if you are going to hike Jenny Lake you need to get there early because it gets packed very quickly and sometimes you could end up having to park two miles from the park entrance, making your hike even longer than planned for the day.
THE FOUR SEASONS is a great hang out spot in the Teton Village. Whether you want to unwind after a hike in the afternoon, or stop in for a beer and a late night snack, The Handle Bar has a new local beer special every day and they have the most delicious wings with a homemade buttermilk blue cheese dressing.
HORSEBACK RIDING is a fun activity to do with a group. You get to travel through the mountainside along a much more difficult trail than you would take hiking and the views are spectacular. The trail guides are very informative about the town and wildlife.
Jacket / T-Shirt / Jeans / Boots
A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE is best done in the morning. It may be an early day, but watching the sun rise over the mountains and having the crisp air as your cuddled into the basket is a wonderful experience. Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t scary at all. You simply feel like you are floating and it was very safe. The guides tell you all about the history of the ranches around and point out the mountains and wildlife. Then they end it with a champagne toast!!! I love my bubbly in the morning!
TWO STEP DANCING is something you will find at every bar with a dance floor in Jackson Hole. We decided to check out The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar because they give a dance lesson once a week and none of us knew how to two step. It was so much fun even if you don’t know what you’re doing, or just want to watch the other people dancing.
Photo Credit: The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Purse / Earrings / Necklace / Ring
WHITEWATER RAFTING is a great activity for the adventure seekers. There are different levels of difficulty for you to choose between, that way if you are a first timer you can start out with an easier ride. I will let you know that you will be working the majority of your trip in order to stay in your boat down the rapids. You row right through everything and your guide pretty much just talks you through it. It was very cold but such a laugh. Our photo was taken by Elevation Imaging.
Barker-Ewing Whitewater Rafting
Photo Credit: Float O Graphs
A BREWERY TOUR is a really fun afternoon experience so that you can not only taste different local brews, but they take you through the whole process of how they create the different beers and the type of ingredients they specifically use. We went to the Snake River Brewery which not only makes their own beers, but has some really amazing food as well. You can either give yourself a self guided tour there, or they have free guided tours on certain afternoons.
SNOW KING MOUNTAIN is a must if you are visiting with children. There are many different activities you can do there, hiking, a scenic chairlift, the bungee trampoline, paragliding, a treetop climbing adventure, the alpine slide, and the cowboy coaster. You can buy a day pass to get unlimited rides and uses of the different activities, but we just stayed for a couple hours a purchased tickets individually. My son really loved the bungee trampoline the most, which they also have one in Teton Village.
THE AERIAL TRAM gives you a great view of the valley and the mountainside. We rode it to the top of the mountain over Teton Village and then enjoyed a coffee with liquor and some of the best waffles I’ve ever had while taking some gorgeous photos and hunting for interesting rocks.
PERSEPHONE BAKERY is definitely my favorite place to eat at in Jackson Hole. The wait is always long and they are so busy you must bus your own table, but I am telling you it is worth it. They have an amazing Panzanella salad, Schnitzelwich sandwich, and a very creative Sparkling Rose Sangria. The desserts are to die for and they make their own fresh bread there every day. If a place can be quaint yet fancy, Persephone is.
I hope if you are taking a trip to Jackson Hole during the summer, or fall, that these suggestions help you make the most of your time there.
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