Explore Jackson Hole, Wyoming
When I was 17 years old, I swore I’d be back to Jackson Hole, Wyoming again one day. The summer before my senior year of high school, I was one of 25 students chosen to go on a school sponsored three week trip out west. We visited Glacier National Park, The Arches, and the Tetons. The Tetons took my breath away. The only word to describe them is "majestic," and I think it's something you must experience at least once in your lifetime.
Getting to explore this beautiful area with my family 21 years later was incredible. I left with such a full heart. It was an amazing trip! Explore some of my favorite parts of Jackson Hole, below. From the tourist spots we hit, to the resources I relied on as I planned the trip, restaurants to visit, and more.
Your guide to all things jackson hole, wy:
tourists spots to see
01. During our trip, we spent an afternoon exploring downtown Jackson hole. I had already fallen in love with the mountains, but the town stole my heart, too. We sat in the middle of the Jackson Town Square, enjoying a live band, and it was one of the most vivid memories of the entire trip. It felt like magic. 21 years later, it was no different. There's just something about Jackson, Wyoming.
02. Definitely go horseback riding! The view was stunning, the wrangler was very knowledgeable and kind, and it was one of our favorite memories as a family. we did the two hour tour and lunch on the property, and photos just can’t capture how beautiful it was up there. it was a quick hour and 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 beautiful drive from Jackson.To book, contact Heart Six Ranch at info@heartsix.com or book through key.co.
03. Book a trip with Viator for a half day or full day tour of the Tetons. The tour guide was absolutely incredible, so knowledgeable and fun. The kids said this was the best part of the trip. we did pay extra for it to be a private tour, and I feel it was worth the money.
04. Drive to Teton Village to shop, eat, explore, and ride the Bridger gondola up to the top! restaurant and shopping and a view you can't beat. also PERFECT if you have younger kiddos!
05. If you're not up for hiking, drive into the Tetons, park at Jenny Lake, and explore. Bring your bathing suits! You won't regret it. And you'll be absolutely blown away at the views. The lake is absolutely beautiful. y’all, 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀…it’s only $80 for entrance into every park in the country for a year (and we know how hard the parks had it in 2020).
06. If you ARE up for hiking, I have the perfect short and most beautiful hike for you: park at the Jenny Lake visitor center. Buy a ticket to take the boat across, or you can opt to walk the 2 miles around the lake to start your hike to Inspiration Point. Taking the boat saves you around a 5 mile round trip hike, so it just depends on how ambitious you are! Tickets are available at the visitor center entrance, and they're $8-$18, depending on ages.
Once you get to the other side of the lake (whether on foot or by the boat), you'll start your short hike up to Inspiration Point. You'll visit Hidden Falls on your way to Inspiration Point, and the view is one that I can't describe. I took this hike 21 years ago this summer, but I still remember it like it was yesterday!
food & restaurants we loved
01. The Kitchen. It’s easy to make a reservation on Open Table there. definitely make reservations anywhere you go! Food was delicious, service was great. I recommend the Bao Buns, Tuna Tostada and the Luxury Shrimp.
02. Pinky G's Pizzeria. made famous by being featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It was SO GOOD. Favs? The Abe Froman and the Meatball Parm.
03. Moo's Ice Cream. trust me when I say WAIT IN LINE. It's worth it. Moves fast, and you won't want to miss out. I recommend one scoop of banana and one scoop of chocolate. The banana ice cream...no words.
04. The Bunnery. it’s a simple breakfast, and has a short wait. But the real star of the show is the bakery items. The croissants, coffee cake...shove as much in your pocket as you can.
05. Jackson Drug. delicious food, loved my Elk Burger! service wasn't great, but I'm definitely not blaming the server...we all know the service industry has had it rough this past year.
06. Cowboy coffee company. great atmosphere, good menu. Has a drive through option if you’re in a hurry that features muffins and beverages to grab-and-go.
07. Roadhouse Pub and Eatery. If you like breweries, it was a good one. Definitely make a reservation, always busy! really good service, and everything we ordered was really, really good.
accommodations & travel info
First things first, renting a car in jackson hole is a must! We chose to Rent a car from Turo. it was a much easier and all around better experience than a traditional car rental place.
Next, in terms of lodging specifics, i booked a private home through Luxury Properties, Jackson Hole. The reason I opted to do this was because it was a last minute trip, and most everything was already booked. This is not a budget friendly option and even though the experience was great, I'm not sure if we really needed all the space we had. Looking for another good option? check out this site for jackson hole lodging recs.
If you would like a more luxury experience, I can't recommend Amangani enough! ‘Evoking the pioneering spirit of the Old West in its redwood and sandstone architecture, the all-season retreat invites guests to discover outdoor adventure and extraordinary natural beauty.’
other things to note
I love these fun facts! If you’re looking for some cool info, check out this great jackson hole resource.
The Jackson Hole airport will be closed from April 11, 2022, until June 27, 2022 for runway repair. If you're planning to fly in, avoid those dates!
again, eating out is CRAZINESS. always book a reservation any way you can, I used opentable.com. if you can't or don't have time to book one, plan on waiting an hour or more for a table for lunch or dinner.
consider requesting an add to this facebook group, it was a great resource to me leading up to our trip!
my favorite souvenir shop was Lee's Tees. quality and really cute options for the whole family, and there's a great toy store on the lower level!
ok, that covers it! if you’re planning a trip to jackson hole, wy and end up using any of these recommendations, let me know which ones you loved! Thanks for joining along.
