Elevated Adventure

In a landscape packed with natural wonders, Jackson Hole is a wonderful place to be. The Snake River runs through it, the craggy Teton Range rises at its edge and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are neighbors. It’s a gorgeous Wyoming getaway for skiing, horseback riding, wildlife watching, rafting, fishing, climbing, biking, hiking or maybe even a dip in a hot spring. This is a place where Old West tradition meets New West innovation. Culinary offerings range from classic cowboy bars to chic eateries, the art scene is vibrant, shopping is fabulous and luxe accommodations are designed to dazzle. While its location is undeniably remote, Jackson Hole is also easy to reach via flights on major carriers including American, United and Delta Airlines.

The name “Jackson Hole” is actually used to describe the entire valley, and with 10,000 lucky inhabitants, Jackson is the largest community. Start your visit by strolling through the famous elk antler arches and into Jackson Town Square. After you snap the must-have Jackson selfie, stop by the (James Beard Foundation Semifinalist) Persephone Bakery (persephonebakery.com) and grab a French pastry and a cappuccino to savor while you plan your day. When you’re surrounded by this much mountain majesty there’s an avalanche of things to see and do. Here are a few tempting options to consider.

Where To Stay

One block from Town Square, the 55-room Hotel Jackson (hoteljackson.com) is perfectly placed for walking to shops, bars and restaurants. Guests are in for a treat at the hotel’s cozy Sacajawea Library — filled with Western books, art and artifacts — and the onsite Figs restaurant specializes in Lebanese-Mediterranean cuisine. The concierge can help you plan experiences ranging from horseback riding to a backcountry safari, and there’s also a complimentary Mercedes-Benz ski shuttle to the slopes. At day’s end, you can enjoy a soothing soak with a stellar view from the rooftop whirlpool.

The rustic-elegant Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole (fourseasons.com/jacksonhole) is a big Teton Village basecamp with ski-in/ski-out convenience beside Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. You can choose from a variety of rooms and suites, some with balconies and gas fireplaces, plus 11 private residences ranging in size from two to five bedrooms. Dining options include the Westbank Grill mountain steakhouse, the Pan-Asian-inspired Ascent Lounge and The Handle Bar pub and beer hall. Hit the fitness center, spruce up at the salon or unwind at the spa, where the new Wellness for Cancer Care Massage offers specialized therapy. There’s an in-house ski concierge to take care of gear rental and storage and the hotel can help organize other activities including horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sledding, snowmobiling, fly fishing and stargazing. Their “Day with the Wolves” adventure starts with a private flight to Yellowstone National Park, where guests hop into a luxury safari vehicle to search for gray wolves in the company of an expert naturalist guide and the “American Serengeti” excursion takes a sunrise flight to the north end of Yellowstone to join guides on the lookout for wildlife including bears, elk, moose and bison.

If a boutique hotel is more your style, Caldera House (calderahouse.com) is a mountain-chic inn located right beside the aerial tram at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Here, you’ll find eight spacious suites — four 1,500-square-foot units with two bathrooms and two bedrooms and four 5,000-square-foot units with four bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms and two patios. Don’t feel like cooking? Try the hotel’s Corsa restaurant for Italian flair, Shin Shin is great for sushi and the Southcable Café is a casual, all-day hangout. The Spa and Athletic Club offers soothing therapies, massages and facials, plus a sauna, outdoor plunge pool and fitness studio. Caldera also orchestrates Custom Experiences for guests. Try whitewater rafting, ride an ATV, climb the Tetons, fish for trout, visit a natural hot spring, heli-ski, take a horse-drawn sleigh to the National Elk Refuge and more.

From its elevated position atop the East Gros Ventre Butte, Amangani (aman.com/resorts/amangani) is a sophisticated retreat with sweeping views of the Tetons and Snake River, located just 10 minutes from Jackson. Guest accommodations include 40 elegant suites (each with a terrace or balcony) and three four-bedroom homes built on the hillside. The Wellness Centre boasts a spa, fitness facility, movement studio, heated outdoor pool and hot tub. Hungry for an elk T-bone or a bison short rib? The Grill restaurant serves new American dishes made with fresh, local ingredients. A resident ski concierge can put you on the slopes with ease, and the hotel can arrange special outings including hot air ballooning, scenic flights and National Park excursions, along with Amangani’s own Signature Wildlife Tours.

Mountain Adventure Resorts

Snow King Mountain (snowkingmountain.com) is a year-round alpine playground on the edge of Jackson, offering 500 family-friendly acres of skiing and snowboarding, plus tubing, ziplining, mini-golf, a treetop adventure course, Amaze’n Maze, a bungee trampoline and a Cowboy Coaster.

With 2,500 acres of terrain (and 3,000 more acres of backcountry access), Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (jacksonhole.com) is an exciting destination for skiers and snowboarders in winter, with loads of activities after the snow melts, too. Enjoy mountain biking, hiking, disc golf, fly fishing, paragliding or take the aerial tram up to Corbet’s Cabin for tasty Top of the World Waffles at 10,450 feet above sea level.

Outfitters And Tour Operators

Expert guides at Jackson Hole Eco Tour Adventures (jhecotouradventures.com) take visitors on bucket list journeys to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Guests ride in customized 4x4 safari vehicles for trips focusing on wildlife spotting (you might glimpse bison, wolves, grizzly bears, elk or pronghorn antelope), geology, bird-watching, photography and more. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also available on winter tours.

Want to hone your nature or wildlife photography skills? Join Pangea Expeditions (pangeaexpeditions.com) for a half-day, full-day or multi-day photo workshop in the Tetons or Yellowstone that includes an image critique and editing lesson along the way.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing glide or a splashy thrill, Dave Hansen Whitewater & Scenic River Trips (davehansenwhitewater.com) offer a range of Snake River options to entertain the whole family. Ambitious anglers can sign up with Grand Teton Fly Fishing (grandtetonflyfishing.com) for a guided wading or float trip on rivers, lakes and streams in the National Parks and beyond.

Dining

After all that fresh air, you’ll need a hearty meal. And you’re in luck because Jackson Hole’s restaurant scene is hopping. Glorietta Trattoria (gloriettajackson.com) offers elevated Italian classics with a Western twist, including Rye Cavatelli pasta with elk Bolognese sauce and Bison Teres Major steak. Coelette (coelette.com) serves a sophisticated menu of globally inspired “snowline cuisine” along with an impressive selection of wines and inventive cocktails in the historic Coe cabin. Dishes at The Snake River Grill (snakerivergrill.com) include The SRG Steak Tartare Pizza, Roasted Moulard Duck Breast and Smoked Yellowstone Crumpets. For a Western night on the town, follow the famous neon sign and mosey on over to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (milliondollarcowboybar.com) and its companion eatery, the Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse (milliondollarcowboysteakhouse.com). Founded in 1937, the bar features a row of saddles instead of stools, and its stage has hosted music legends including Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.

Art

It’s no surprise that artists flock to Jackson, and galleries abound. Check out the latest exhibit at Tayloe Piggott Gallery (tayloepiggottgallery.com) or Turner Fine Art (turnerfineart.com), and then head out to the National Museum of Wildlife Art (wildlifeart.org) — a treasure trove of 5,000-plus artworks, including a three-quarter-mile outdoor sculpture trail that overlooks the National Elk Refuge. If that’s not enough, Jackson Hole’s Fall Arts Festival (jacksonholechamber.com/events) brings a harvest of beauty to town in September and The Jackson Hole Center for the Arts (jhcenterforthearts.org) hosts a lively calendar of events and performances.

Shopping

It’s tempting to spend an afternoon wandering through Jackson’s eclectic shops. Browse Made (madejacksonhole.com) for a delightful mix of artisan goods, and don’t miss its sister store Mountain Dandy (same website) for cool housewares and vintage furniture. Kemo Sabe (kemosabe.com) is heaven for Western hat and boot lovers, and JC Jewelers (jcjewelers.com) has a sparkling log cabin filled with Teton-inspired pieces, some including elk ivory. Stop by New West KnifeWorks (newwestknifeworks.com) for exquisite, handcrafted knives that are functional works of art.

Rodeo

From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day each summer, the Jackson Hole Rodeo (jhrodeo.com)

kicks up the dust for a rollicking good time on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Here’s your chance to watch barrel racing, bronc riding, bull riding, team roping and more.

When you arrive in Jackson Hole you might feel like you’ve landed in the middle of nowhere, but, once you fall under the spell of this awe-inspiring valley, it’s easy to see that it’s the center of a fascinating world of adventure.