There are many places to choose from
when you plan a trip to the United
States. Whether it is the white beaches
of Florida, or the flowers of Central Park in New York City, or the glitz
and glamour of Hollywood in California, there are certainly enough to see and
do from sea to shining sea. Far from Bourbon Street in New Orleans, is the wild
side to the United States. Places like Montana and Wyoming offer extraordinary
rustic experiences for tourists and residents (complete with daily shootouts).
One such place is Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
And if you have never been to Jackson Hole, then you are truly missing out.
Work trips have brought me to Jackson
Hole on two different occasions. Every time I leave, I always make it a goal to
come back. The town is literally at the doorstep to the Grand Teton National
Park. In fact, the regional airport here is within the boundaries of the
National Park itself. A really quick history lesson about Jackson Hole - the
very first people to settle in the region were Native Americans. The town
became incorporated in 1914. Since then, the tourism industry has exploded as
visitors from around the world come to explore the Grand Tetons, ski the local
resorts, and raft the Snake River. The section of the Snake River that runs
near Jackson Hole is notorious for its Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna rapids. I’ve
rafted these rapids and I can say they are not for the faint of heart. You will
get wet and you will scream and you will have a great time.
There are two seasons in Jackson Hole:
summer and winter. In the heart of the town is the famous Town Square that
features local eateries and shops. More on the Town Square in just a second. Just
outside of town is the National Elk Refuge. According to its website, the
National Elk Refuge, “provides, preserves, restores, and manages winter habitat
for the nationally significant Jackson Elk Herd, as well as habitat for
endangered species, birds, fish, and other big game animals.” A walking and
biking trail runs parallel to the National Elk Refuge and you usually will see
some wildlife from this trail. While driving to the airport, I spotted several
bison and a herd of elk inside the National Elk Refuge. So be sure to bring
your camera or some binoculars. I should mention you can book a tour through
the refuge. I would strongly recommend booking a tour well in advance.
Jackson Hole is well known for its
biking trails. The valley has more than 56 miles of paved bike trails that link
the town of Jackson to Teton Village and Grand Teton National Park. There are
also more than 100 miles of mountain biking trails. Don’t have a bike? No problem.
There are several shops in town that rent bikes to visitors. After a bike ride
in the shadows of the Grand Tetons, you can enjoy a number of après bike
activities in town.
The pace in Jackson Hole is slow. There
is really no rush to be anywhere. This is the perfect place to turn off your
phone and unwind. You can take a stroll through the historic Town Square and
shop. The Town Square has been the backdrop to a number of Hollywood western
movies. The square’s distinctive arches (all made from elk antlers) is arguably
the town’s main attraction. The Square itself is surrounded by dozens of
galleries, bars, restaurants, factory outlets, and gift shops. The shops are
set up as if you are walking along a boardwalk. During the summer months, you
can hitch a ride through town in a stagecoach. I mentioned shootouts earlier.
Daily shootout reenactments bring Town Square to a standstill as everyone stops
to watch. It is an incredible and unique experience you won’t likely find in
Times Square in New York City.
Aside from shopping, you can also walk
along the bike path and watch wildlife pass you by. Or you can drive to a river
or creek and try your hand at fly fishing. Local bands will often perform free
shows at local restaurants or bars. There are regular performances at the
historic Jackson Hole Theater. Phones are not required for any of the
abovementioned activities so leave your phone behind. You don’t want to miss a
single sight. This is a small town; if you blink, you will certainly miss a
piece of the town that many of the locals here cherish.
I mentioned earlier there are two
seasons: summer and winter. With that said, the population of the town tends to
swell with tourists during these two seasons. If you want a great deal on
flights and less tourist traffic, then I would recommend coming out during the
off-season. If you have your heart set on hitting the slopes at a local ski
resort, then book one of the International
Vacation Home Exchange properties in Jackson Hole during the winter season.
In fact, one of the vacation home
exchanges is near the base to Snow King Mountain Resort. If you want to
find your heart and soul in the Grand Tetons during summer, then now is a good
time to start planning your trip. Jackson Hole was once a secret. The secret is
now out as more and more people are adding the town to his or her travel bucket
list.
About 55 miles north of Jackson Hole, is
the south gate to Yellowstone National Park. You can certainly take a day trip
through the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone, depending on the time of year. The
road leading to Yellowstone National Park tends to close during the winter
months so if you want to trek into Yellowstone during your trip, you may want
to come out in the summer or fall.
American Airlines, Delta, and United all
have flights into Jackson Hole. However, not all airlines provide daily flights
into the town, so be sure to plan accordingly. And as always, safe travels!
Thank
you to guest travel writer Carla Pruitt. You can follow Carla on Twitter at
@crobscarla
