Caldera House isn’t your traditional hotel – partly because traditional hotels don’t have framed Ansel Adams photographs and Lindsey Adelman lighting fixtures, and also because they only offer two- or four-bedroom suites. Impeccably designed and right at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain, it is luxurious and conveniently located. Plus, with its low-key après ski lounge complete with fire pits, plunge pool, and locker room, Caldera House feels a bit like a private club, too, if Soho House went into the snow. And, if this kind of thing matters to you: Gigi Hadid and the Kardashians stayed here!
The anvil
Perfect for: the millennial adventurer
Located in the city of Jackson, the Anvil Hotel is a modern take on the rustic rancher getaway – there are cast iron bed frames and wool blankets, yes, but also stylish bath products and Justin’s peanut butter cups at the minibar. (The design is by Studio Tack, now known as the Post Company. They were asked to live in Jackson for a full year before embarking on the project.) For those looking for an inexpensive option, The Anvil also has a simple, yet elegant hostel option called Cache House on their property. Cousin? The Glorietta restaurant is also on-site (but more on that later).
Four Seasons Jackson Hole
Perfect for: families
With a heated pool open all year, a children’s club complete with table football and X-box, direct access to the ski slopes and a very Near Jackson Hole’s famous bungee jumping board, Four Seasons Jackson Hole is the preeminent place to say if you have little ones. Adults will have a lot of fun too: the rooms are spacious and warm, the food is excellent, and there’s a spa perfect for a hike or a ski massage. An additional bonus? Its open-air winter bar, Fahrenheit Forty-Seven (named for the ideal temperature for serving champagne), is the perfect place for a civilized post-ski cocktail.
Jackson Home Company
Perfect for: long-term rental
Do you want to stay in Jackson for a while? The Jackson Home Company offers impeccably designed homes, adorned in a neo-western style, right at the base of Snow King Mountain. The minimum rental period is one month.
Airbnb Luxe
Perfect for: self-sufficient vacations
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some travelers are opting for homes over a luxury hotel stay as it gives them more privacy and more control over their surroundings. In Jackson, Airbnb offers dozens of homes that qualify for its Airbnb Luxe level – this home in Teton Village is the perfect place for gunpowder lovers, while this charming lodge is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. And if you want to go all out, this cabin, nestled between a rocky ridge, has stunning views of Jackson’s sprawling wilderness.
Things to do
Go crazy in Grand Teton National Park
This entry is almost too wide, but no trip to Jackson is complete without a journey through this miraculous wonder. Stand up paddle boarding on String Lake, a calm body of water with spectacular mountain views, or hike the Solitude Lake Trail. Rent an electric bike and head to Lake Jenny. Hell, if I couldn’t tell, any activity that involves a lake is a wonderful idea. Soak up the splendor of the mountain tops, especially at Sleeping Indian. And keep an eye out for animals along the way – it’s almost statistically impossible to see a moose, elk, or buffalo while you’re there. (Although, if you are hiking in the countryside: be sure to pack some bear spray.)
Ski Jackson Hole
The Jackson Hole Mountain resort is one of the harshest mountains in North America, with only 10 percent of its terrain set aside for beginners. But for intermediate to advanced skiers, it’s a challenging and adventurous dream. If you are a risk taker (skilled and experienced), descend the Couloir de Corbet, which, with its steep and rocky drop, is known as “America’s scariest ski slope.”
Climb the Via Ferrata
In summer, skiing is off the table, but adrenaline junkies can still be in a hurry climbing Jackson’s Via Ferrata. (For the uninitiated, the Via Ferrata is a route that allows you to scale rocky walls with cables and steel steps.) There are beginner, immediate, and advanced routes with challenging man-made obstacles for fun – think suspension bridges or a 35-foot vertical “sky ladder.”
Visit Mormon Row
Tucked off Antelope Flats Rd is Mormon Row, a collection of abandoned structures dating back to the 1890s. Not only is it a pre-eminent example of classic western farmhouse architecture, it’s also one of the best views you can get. see without hiking: its plains flow smoothly into the Tetons.
Will hit the stores
Jackson’s main town is filled with charming boutiques, art galleries, and outdoor gear vendors. Two of this writer’s favorites? Mountain Dandy, a quaint shop on Pearl Street that specializes in vintage and artisan goods that exude a masculine aesthetic, and Womenfolk, which offers a delightful assortment of Western vintage.
Where to eat: restaurants, bakeries and more
Old Yellowstone Garage
You can order high, you can order low, but you can’t ask wrong at the Old Yellowstone Garage in Teton Village, which serves fine dining such as pan-roasted pheasant. . . but also sausage pizza. (Hey, after a long day on the slopes, sometimes a slice just hits the spot.)
Coelette
Coelette offers “snowy cuisine”, or dishes composed of ingredients found, grown and raised in alpine environments cooked with techniques perfected by the mountain. It’s an innovative concept – most ski towns, after all, focus on hearty comfort food – and Coelette manages to embrace elevated cuisine literally and figuratively.
A yak ribeye is accented with long-fermented vegetable sauce, while a plate of browned oyster mushrooms is sprinkled with freshly cracked juniper. When this writer visited, a Japanese snow trout was on the menu. Located inside Coe’s historic log cabin, the interior is warm, western, inviting, and even a bit of fun – a crystal disco ball hangs from the dining room. Enjoy the refined yet rugged environment.
Kampai
Don’t be fooled by Jackson’s 1,000-mile distance from the ocean – this town serves good sushi. Stop by the recently opened Kampai, which serves both local fish and delicacies brought in overnight from Japan. You won’t forget you’re in Wyoming, though – some menu items are meant to blatantly embody a contrary spirit – do the “John Galt” roll, a nod to Ayn Rand’s libertarian manifesto. The rebellion of Atlas.
West Bank Grill
At the Four Seasons is the Westbank Grill, a sprawling dining room that overlooks the base of Jackson Hole. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it’s the first meal of the day that we highly recommend going to. Watch skiers go down to the gondola as they enjoy French toast drizzled with cranberry compote, or perhaps a Waygu beef breakfast burrito. (Don’t worry, it’ll burn it all up on the slopes afterward.)
Hand cooked pizza
Hand Fire Pizza offers a wide variety of, you guessed it, handmade pizzas within the historic Teton Theater building. It’s perfect for, well, everyone – the kids will go for the classic cheese pizza. Grown-ups, meanwhile, can opt for artisan cakes like the “crushed” one, made up of winter squash, dried cherries, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and local goat cheese. An additional bonus? Hand Fire Pizza is committed to using locally grown organic produce and sustainably sourced, fair-sourced meats.
Glorietta
Located in the Anvil Hotel, Glorietta can best be described as an Italian-western trattoria – what would you call a restaurant that serves moose bolognese, bone marrow with amaretto shots, and pomodoro mozzarella sticks? For drinks, order the “Perma Grin”, their version of a spicy margarita or a glass of buttered rum.
Thai teton
Do you need to warm up when it is below zero? A spicy plate of Teton Thai in Teton Village should be enough. Bonus: if you’re staying in a rental home, it’s perfect on the go.
Persephone Bakery
No trip to Jackson would be complete without a stop at Persephone, the charming bakery that was nominated for the 2020 James Beard Award for Best Pastry Chef. If you stop by for lunch, order the truffled prosciutto sandwich. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with a gingerbread latte and a packet of their double chocolate pecan cookies.
Picnic
Picnic is a cafe in West Jackson from the same team behind Persephone. The warm and airy design, by local firm E / YE Design, was inspired by what they describe as the “Jackson uniform” – used denim. It’s open for breakfast and lunch, and you can’t go wrong with anything on their health-focused menu. Especially the “Jackson Hippie” breakfast sandwich, which may or may not help with this writer’s serious hangover.
The Grill at Amangani
For a special occasion, go to the Grill in Amangani, which is located in a wide view of the Valley of the Serpents. Offers sustainable ranch meats and farm-to-table cuisine.
When to visit: Jackson weather and more
No matter when you visit, the experience here is always focused on the great outdoors. In the winter, the culture revolves around snow sports such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. In the summer, most are inclined towards activities such as hiking or water sports such as rafting or rowing. Jackson’s weather in the summer generally lands somewhere between the seventies and eighties, while in the winter, the temperature hovers between the twenties and twenties. Single digit days, especially at Jackson Hole Mountain, are not uncommon.
Summer is the peak season so expect more people and longer waits. Winter, especially during the holiday weeks, also sees a significant influx of visitors. Those looking for a quieter time to visit should opt for September or early to mid-October. However, those opting for November or April may find themselves in the mood to eat, as many restaurants and shops are temporarily closed to prepare for the upcoming peak seasons. Also, although Grand Teton National Park is open every day of the year, many facilities such as campgrounds and visitor centers are closed or have reduced hours from November to April.