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Perhaps best known for its skiing, Jackson Hole is also home to two mountain towns with a surprisingly rich off-piste scene, from the town’s bustling (albeit somewhat small) nightlife to the majesty of one of America’s greatest national parks.
Friday
4 p.m. | Cowboy-Cool in Downtown Jackson
Anchored by the famous Town Square that is framed by four iconic elk antler arches, downtown Jackson is punctuated by dozens of boardwalk-facing art and photo galleries and saloon-fronted boutiques. A couple to check out? For the men: MADE Boutique and Mountain Dandy, two “brother” shops located next door to each other in Gaslight Alley offering a masculine hand-curated collection of home goods, antiques, linens, and contemporary and found art. For the ladies: Habits, a luxury women’s boutique boasting clothing and accessories from independent and niche designers such as Visvim, 6397, and Faliero Sarti.
8 p.m. | Creative Meets Classic
Located a stone’s throw from Town Square in classy digs that would have made Frank Lloyd Wright proud, Gather is a hip and bright restaurant that takes standard Wyoming dishes and serves them in new and interesting ways – think bolognese made with elk meat, bone marrow fried rice, and Korean-marinated ribeye.
10 p.m. | A Nightcap Almost Too Pretty to Sip
Tucked in the upstairs of the Pink Garter Theatre Plaza, The Rose is a craft cocktail lounge with a speakeasy-like vibe featuring velvet wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, and red-tufted booths. The menu plays on the vintage feel with updated versions of 1920s classics like the Half-a-Dashery, which mixes brandy and gin with chartreuse and two kinds of bitters.
Saturday
9 a.m. | Choose Your Outdoor Adventure
Jackson Hole is truly the ultimate gateway to year-round epic outdoor excursions. In the winter, the number-one to-do is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, one of the top-rated ski mountains in North America, just 12 miles from the town of Jackson. Come summer, Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks beckon with hundreds of hiking trails and natural wonders, from the towering Grand Tetons to volcanic hot springs. Whatever you desire, a morning spent among the photogenic peaks of this area, no matter the season, is a must.
3 p.m. | Swiss-Style Ski Town
Located right at the foot of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and just one mile from the southern entrance of Grand Teton National Park, Teton Village resembles a Swiss-inspired mountain community with all the accoutrements: espresso stands, restaurants, après-ski bars, live music, gift shops, and more. Grab a carnitas burrito or a slice of pizza (and maybe a bottle of red for later) at the specialty grocery store, Bodega, then take the famous 100-passenger Jackson Hole Aerial Tram that travels from the village to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain for an unbeatable 360-degree view of the village, the Tetons, and surrounding national park below.
8 p.m. | Elevated Mountain Cuisine
Offering a laid-back bar scene inside Teton Mountain Lodge, Spur Restaurant is full of southwestern charm, with a warm wooden bar top and chairs, leather couches, and booths upholstered with Navajo blankets. Their menu is equally rooted in the location, with offerings like elk ribeye, pan-seared steelhead, and burgers made with beef from Wyoming craft butcher Carter Country Meats.
Sunday
9 a.m. | Nature’s Hot Tub
Feeling a little sore after yesterday? Located some 30 miles south of Jackson, Granite Hot Springs is a tiny pocket of paradise encircled by rocky hillsides and soaring evergreens in the Gros Ventre Mountains. Made by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the 50-square-foot tub set into a wooden deck boasts crystal-clear Caribbean-turquoise waters that reach a toasty 104 degrees.
12 p.m. | A Temple Dedicated to Wildlife Art
From the outside, the National Museum of Wildlife Art looks like a natural rock outcropping (it’s set a few miles outside of Jackson on a cliff that overlooks the National Elk Refuge); inside, however, you’ll find some of the world’s finest examples of animals and wildlife in the form of 5,000 creative paintings, sculptures, and other works. Take a stroll on the adjacent Sculpture Trail, a three-quarter-mile outdoor path designed by landscape architect Walter Hood and dotted with some 30 three-dimensional works.
