We visited Jackson Hole & Grand Teton National Park in August 2022 on a road trip through the North West. We stayed at an Airbnb in Teton Village, about a 20 minute drive from the Town Square. Teton Village is located within a ski resort, so there are a few amenities and lots of fun activities nearby.
Most of your shopping, food, and drinks will be in the Town Square/Downtown area of Jackson. In the center is a cute park, which includes 4 antler arches that are perfect for a photo op. In addition, the Jackson Playhouse puts on a daily (other than Sundays, from Memorial Day to Labor Day) 60-minute "Jackson Hole Shootout" play in the Town Square from 6:00 - 7:00 pm that is nice to see.
Although there is an airport in Jackson Hole, I highly recommend seeing it via road trip. This area of the country is so beautiful and really adds to the entire experience. We went in the summer and there was plenty to do, but I believe most people do go in the winter as it is definitely a ski town. We stayed for 3 days, and would recommend 2-3 days is a good amount of time to explore.
Keep in mind that the North Western states are full of huckleberries & huckleberry flavored EVERYTHING. It just tastes like a normal berry, but definitely part of the fun if you can get your hands on any of the huckleberry treats.
All experiences beginning with an *asterisks are the ones that I recommend the most.
Breakfast/Brunch:
*Persaphone Bakery: THE breakfast/bakery spot in Jackson Hole. This was super yummy and cute, we ended up going twice. You can take food/treats to-go or find a table inside or outside. I believe there are two locations but we went to the one downtown.
Egg sandwich: Gruyère, your choice of ham, bacon, OR heirloom tomato, dijon aioli, on croissant
Country Club: Smoked turkey, ham, bacon, gruyère, heirloom tomato, lettuce, garlic mayo, on levain
Ham & cheese croissant
Chocolate chip cookie
Cinnamon brioche
Chai latte
Healthy Being: Located right next to Persephone Bakery is Healthy Being - a completely healthy cafe. I got an acai bowl and it was okay.. honestly needed some sugar lol. Definitely a good spot if you need something fresh.
Sunshine superfood acai bowl: blended: {raspberries, blueberries, acai, almond milk, banana, date, tocos} topped with: {housemade honey granola, cacao nibs, chia, coconut, goji berries, fresh fruit}
Pearl Street Bagels: Your typical downtown bagel place, perfect for breakfast on-the-go.
D.O.G: Another Jackson Hole hot spot. Quick and easy spot for breakfast burrito's, as they already have them handmade and wrapped at a walk-up window - so you just pay and go. These were not very cheap but we really enjoyed it.
Lunch/Dinner:
Pinky G’s Pizzeria: Claimed to be one of the best pizza joints, if not the best, in downtown Jackson Hole but we honestly did not think it was anything special. We split a pizza and got some fries. They also have a location in Big Sky.
*Teton Tiger: Best described as high end Asian cuisine, this place had a unique selection of yummy appetizers, entrees, and drinks. I recommend making a reservation in advance.
Bangkok Street Noodles: (Essentially Pad Thai) rice noodles, egg, green onions, lime, bean sprouts, carrots, crushed peanuts and cilantro - wok seared in a homemade pad thai sauce.
Garlic Naan
Natsu Naughty: Roku Japanese gin, Momokawa Sake, muddled mint, pomegranate syrup, lemon, soda
Lost Cowboy: Wyoming whiskey, house tamarind palm syrup, lemon, dry curacao, regans no. 6 orange bitters
The Local: Located right next to Jacksons most famous bar, The Million Dollar Cowboy, this restaurant is a huge hit. I would classify this as a high-end American restaurant. I highly recommend making a reservation, or you will be waiting a while.
Wedge salad
French onion soup
Butternut Squash Risotto: I did not get this, but I needed to mention it as it looked delicious.
Wagyu burger & fries
Ursula: Grand teton vodka, strawberries, mint simple syrup
Denim Dan: Wyoming whiskey local private stock, ginger honey syrup, lemon juice
Hatch: We did not get to go here but it looks like they have a great selection of all-day meals and cocktails. Will definitely be stopping by in the future!
Coffee/Desserts:
*Cowboy Coffee: A very popular coffee shop that gives off a very Western vibe. I really enjoyed my drink and wish I could have tried more!
Divinity Chai
*Moo Ice Cream: The top ice cream place, located in the heart of downtown. The ice cream was pretty good and there were many flavors to choose from. Definitely expect to wait in line.
Huckleberry: Their award winning signature ice cream - definitely at least need to get a sample!
Cocktails/Bars:
*Ascent Lounge: Located in the middle of the resort, this is a nice place to grab a drink or food. They had fire pits and an overall great ambiance, complete with complimentary snacks.
Never Ending Summer: Belvedere vodka, limoncello, lemon hibiscus, basil
Spirits & Spice: A liquor and wine store that gives you samples upon request, and they have many unique flavors to try! We ended up buying the Huckleberry Vodka since we were in the land of Huckleberries - plus the bottle was gorgeous and it was a good price.
*Million Dollar Cowboy: THE one and only - you literally cannot miss the giant light-up sign. The most popular bar in Town Square and pretty big, including 2 fully bars, many tables, and a live band with a dance floor. There was a $15 cover when we went, but the drinks were cheaper than usual. Overall, definitely a good experience and could be a really fun time with a group.
Stagecoach: Similar to Million Dollar Cowboy, this bar is apparently another fun time for a night out with friends. Not located in the Town Square, but still very busy and well-known.
Figs: A restaurant that apparently has some pretty good cocktails. We did not end up going but would have loved to if we had more time.
The Rose: A cocktail bar that we did not get to go to but heard great things about.
Silver Dollar: A bar and grill located at The Wort Hotel. Another spot that we were recommended to check out but never got around to experiencing.
Activities:
*Barker-Ewing Scenic River Float: We floated in a multi-person raft down Snake River. The view was absolutely stunning and we floated right along the Grand Tetons (which goes for about 40 miles!) We sat in the raft for about 2 hours as the employee did all the rafting. This was extremely relaxing as we never got wet & the water was calm. This was one of our favorite activities we did & it was the best way to start the morning and see the park.
*Scenic Gondolas: Located at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, there are 3 gondolas that take you to various heights. The highest (& biggest) gondola takes you about 10.5k feet high during a smooth 12 minute ride. At this height, you see Corbet's Couloir, which is known as a "Expert Ski Run" - or honestly just a completely vertical jump for dare devils. In addition there is a yummy waffle place & an unreal view.
Corbet's Cabin Top of the World Waffles: Nutella & strawberries, lemon sugar, & hot chocolate (you honestly can't go wrong with anything you order.)
One of the other gondola's takes you to a restaurant, with a view that you can even enjoy without ordering anything. This gondola also runs as an "evening ride" (I believe until 9:00 pm) where you can watch the sunset over the valley. We brought some drinks up and really enjoyed the beautiful sight.
Lastly, one other gondola takes you to a view and a lunch spot that was closed when we went up so it was really only just a beautiful view. I believe you a can also hike or mountain bike down from this location.
*Grand Teton National Park: One of the many popular national parks out West. We drove in from Jackson Hole and it was less than an hour Drive to the entrance. You are greeted with a massive sign entering into the park, followed by a sea of greenery. As we drove in, we drove by Elk Ridge Park which was also stunning. You can purchase an annual national park pass for $80 for 2 people, which allows you 1 year entry into any national parks in America - which is a way better deal than a single day pass.
Jenny Lake: We did not have time to go here but this is a VERY busy place (with limited parking) that is recommended by many. If you can fit this into your schedule, this small hike & stunning lake is very worth it.
Jackson Playhouse: Known as a rustic performing arts center located in the Town Square, they put on dinner & a show (About $100) a few times a week. We decided to only go see the show (about $50) and get dinner on our own and we were extremely happy with our experience! It was such a cute thing to do and we really loved it. They also put on the "Jackson Hole Shootout" play that I mentioned at the very beginning of this post.
We saw the show "Paint Your Wagon"
Outdoor Adventure Activities: Jackson Hole is known for its outdoor adventures in both the winter and summer. Take advantage of all of the great views by skiing/snowboarding, biking, and more!
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