There is so much to see and do here, it’s hard to know where to start. To help you along, we’ve created some day-long Jackson Hole summer itineraries for you to choose from depending on your personality, or on how you might be feeling on any given summer day.
Wildlife Lover
Choose lodging at
Dornans Spur Cabins in Moose, right near the entrance to Grand Teton National Park. Moose love to hang out around there! Begin your day with a
sunrise wildlife expedition tour, led by one of the valley’s knowledgeable outfitters. Do this first so you can know where to look for wildlife during the rest of your visit. Breakfast snacks, hot coffee and hot cocoa will be included. If perhaps sunrise isn't your cup of tea, take your time and fuel up like a local at
Picnic Cafe and coffee before enjoying a noon scenic float trip while discovering abundant wildlife sightings from the river. Since the midday sun has the animals bedded down out of the heat, head up to
Palate restaurant at the
National Museum of Wildlife Art, overlooking the
National Elk Refuge. And don’t forget to stroll the
Sculpture Trail!
Now that your wildlife tour has oriented you to the valley, take a drive back through Grand Teton National Park and see what comes out to graze and feed in the late afternoon. Drive toward Signal Mountain and look for bears as you take the road to its summit and don't forget to stop at Schwabachers Landing to see moose, beavers, eagles or possibly, a fox!
For dinner, try the North Grille at Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club. The restaurant offers fine dining with views of the Tetons, the greens and the occasional moose lumbering by or a spirited fox playing nearby.
Adventurer
The newly renovated
Virginian Lodge is the perfect place to stay. To begin your day of adventuring, fuel up with coffee at Snake River Roasting Co. Café. Try the Provisions huckleberry donut or bison breakfast sandwich before grabbing a boxed lunch at the popular
Creekside Market and Deli on your way to
Grand Teton National Park. That lunch will be the perfect reward and replenishment after you hike to
Amphitheater and Surprise lakes in Grand Teton National Park (10.2 miles round trip; rated strenuous). The views of the Tetons and the clear, glacial lakes will knock your hiking socks off. Plan on enjoying your picnic lunch at one of the lakes.
If you have any steam left in your tank, tackle the Treetop Adventure ropes course or the new zipline at
Snow King. Stay close to wind down from your busy day and celebrate your achievements with a local craft beer and dinner at
Stillwest Brewery which overlooks
Snow King Mountain Resort. Afterward, see the stars at the Snow King Observatory and Planetarium at the summit.
Foodie
Stay at the historic
Wort Hotel. Have breakfast al fresco at
Café Genevieve—and buy a bag of “Pig Candy” to snack on or bring back home to enjoy after your trip. Or, if you're wanting to try a more local hangout, grab a delicious breakfast burrito at DOG (Down on Glenwood). Then, take a morning drive north to
Dornans, located in Moose. Dornans has one of the finest wine shops in the Rockies, with the largest selection around—nearly 2,000 fine and rare wines. Get a gourmet picnic lunch from Dornans Deli. While in Moose, tour the
Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center before entering Grand Teton National Park. Have your boxed lunch under the Cathedral Group on the shores of Jenny Lake.
Spend the afternoon on a tasting tour of some Teton- grown libations at
Snake River Brewery,
Roadhouse Brewery and/or
Jackson Hole Winery. If coffee or tea is more your afternoon speed,
Persephone Bakery, located steps off Town Square, offers rustic yet elegant delights complemented with Intelligentsia coffee, teas, wine, or champagne—on the sunbathed deck of course! You should also stop in at Pearl Street Market, a locally-owned and operated grocery store and deli located near Town Square. It has a curated assortment of organic items and grab-and-go yummies. Lastly, check out
Vertical Harvest, a three-story hydroponic farm that grows and sells vegetables year-round to the Jackson area. For dinner, choose from the
Snake River Grille,
Kampai or
The Bistro.
Whole Family
Make your lodging plans for the
Snow King Resort Hotel. Enjoy breakfast
* inside the hotel at Haydens Post before spending the day at
Snow King Mountain Resort where you will find an assortment of endless family fun: the alpine slide, bungee trampoline, the new observatory at the summit, Treetop Adventure Course, Cowboy Coaster—reachable via the Scenic Gondola—mini-golf and much more. Grab lunch and snacks in between thrills at the King's Grill.
*Traveler Tip: Instead of Haydens Post, you could always walk over to
Pearl Street Bagels ; the kids will thank you!
The Honeymooner
Plan to stay at the charming
Alpenhof lodge in Teton Village. Start your day with an
Aerial Tram ride at
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and a breakfast of Corbet’s Cabin’s famous waffles, made to order with delicious toppings like brown sugar and butter, Nutella, peanut butter, bacon and more. While at the “top of the world,” take the first of many happy honeymooning couple selfies with the Tetons as the backdrop. When you get back to the bottom of the tram, take a quick walk over to
Bodega and pick up gourmet snacks and lunch items to enjoy poolside after a romantic couples massage at
Snake River Lodge and Spa.
The High Roller
For lodging, choose the newly built Rusty Parrott, which is a short walk from Town Square. Start your day with Jackson Hole Shooting Experience's private Multi-Gun Rifle and Pistol instruction. At lunchtime, savor Parisian brasserie-style eating at The Bistro café on the rooftop inside the Cloudveil hotel.
After lunch, relax and unwind with a massage at the Rusty Parrott’s Body Sage Spa. For dinner, indulge in a truly unique and artful downtown private dining experience at Ringholz Dusk Art Gallery off Town Square. To end your day, enjoy a private tour of the galaxy (so to speak!) and Jackson Hole's night sky with Wyoming Stargazing.