Mar 24, 2019 5 min read

JACKSON, Wyo. – I’d heard so much about the legendary skiing at Jackson Hole, Wyo., over the years that I was a bit intimidated when I committed to going on a ski trip there.

I decided to “cowboy up,” be brave and take on the terrain and it was incredible. What’s more is that I also fell in love with the town of Jackson, the gorgeous Wyoming scenery and all that there is to do in this amazing part of the country.

We had traveled through here in the summer once when I was young to explore nearby Yellowstone National Park. Summer is still the full-on tourist season here with so much to do – from horseback riding to wildlife tours to whitewater rafting – and that’s just the outdoor activities.

Jackson refers to the town, which serves as the county seat for Teton County. Jackson Hole, refers to the entire valley with the term “hole” being a trapper’s term for a low-lying valley surrounded by mountains. Davey Jackson is its namesake, a mountain man who frequently trapped in the region.

Our trip came in February and there was still plenty of hustle and bustle. It marked one of the snowiest Februaries on record there with nearly five feet of snow falling during our trip. The skiing was outstanding, to say the least, and the nightlife on the mountain and in town did not disappoint.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is home to one of skiing’s most iconic lifts, the bright red Aerial Tram. Even if you’re not skiing (or especially if you visit in summer), you can take the tram ride to the top and enjoy the spectacular scenery while noshing on a sumptuous fresh waffle from the waffle hut at the summit.

Jackson still retains its Old West aura and you’ll see plenty of folks sporting cowboy boots and hats. You just never know whether they’re a local ranch hand or a multi-millionaire. Teton County is the richest county in Wyoming and there’s a reason that Harrison Ford and Dick Cheney live here.

You can either stay right in Teton Village and walk to the lifts or stay in Jackson and take the 20-minute bus ride each morning. We lodged in Jackson, which was fun for nightlife, excellent dining and other non-skiing activities. The Parkway Inn at Jackson Hole was a charming spot to stay situated in the heart of downtown just a few blocks from the historic town square, site of that famous arch made of elk antlers and a small ice skating rink.

Town square is a good starting point for a stroll about town and any stay in Jackson isn’t complete without a visit to two local watering holes. First up, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar where you can literally saddle up to the bar, sitting on barstools fashioned by saddles and two-step the night away.

Take a stroll a few blocks down to The Wort Hotel and have a drink at the Silver Dollar Bar, which is named for the coins embedded in the historic bar. Live music, tasty food and a friendly atmosphere welcome visitors to this spot that dates from the early 1940s.

When you’re ready to eat, a can’t miss spot is Local Restaurant & Bar. It sits right in Jackson’s historic town square and lives up to its name serving locally-ranched meats and game and seasonally-inspired food. They offer both delicious upscale and casual dishes in the chic dining room or the cozy, laid back bar area. We sampled elk and pheasant sausages and local cheeses on a charcuterie plate along with a tasty salad of fresh greens topped with a lobster tail.

If local beer is more up your ally, head to Snake River Brewing where they serve up homemade breads and desserts baked in house, tasty bison burgers and more washed down with their award-winning signature beers brewed on site. You can’t go wrong with their Tram Jam Pale Ale or Rolling Thunder Dortmunder.

There are plenty of options for people who aren’t skiers, starting with bus, snowmobile and SnowCat tours to view the scenery and wildlife at Yellowstone National Park. Channel your inner musher by riding an authentic dogsled to Granite Hot Springs just 30 miles southeast of Jackson.

We opted for the faster mode of transport there via snowmobiles and it was magical. After a ten mile trek on the snowmobile path through feet of fluffy, freshly fallen snow, we arrived at the hot springs in the middle of the Gros Ventre Mountain Range in Bridger-Teton National Forest, just under 7,000 feet above sea level. This spot is a hidden gem with a hot spring pool enhanced by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in 1935. The water stays at a toasty 112 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and you’ll have the place to yourself since it’s only accessible by snowmobile and dogsled.

Winter also brings a taste of the Old West with horse-drawn sleigh rides out into Jackson Hole’s National Elk Refuge. This refuge was established in 1912 as a protected habitat and provides winter sanctuary to one of the world’s largest elk herds.

The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center on the edge of downtown sells tickets for a bus ride just down the road to the refuge. There, you’ll climb into sleighs pulled by teams of giant draft horses, bundle up in the provided blankets and get ready to be surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of elk as they graze in the refuge.

Come spring, they’ll head back up into the Tetons to deliver their young. Winter brings the herd down into the valley and close enough for us to appreciate their beauty, size and power.