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Have a go-to place that you love returning to year after year? Jackson, Wyoming is one town we never get tired of.
Jackson retains its Wild West roots in grand style, and offers shopping and entertainment for every budget and season. We’ve visited in both spring and summer, but there’s also plenty of skiing and winter sports in the area.
Downtown Jackson is built around the town square, with a park in the center famous for its arches of elk antlers. My father remembers the early 70’s when that’s all there was to the town – antler arches and a valley full of elk. Times have changed, and now there’s stores, restaurants, and hotels aplenty.
The Alaskan Fur Company will sell you a pricey beaver coat, or next door you can buy a cheesy souvenir t-shirt for $12. Over at the historic Wort Hotel, the Silver Dollar Saloon has a long bar with real Morgans encased in the top. Or sit on a saddle and sip a sarsaparilla at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Then hop on a stagecoach for a lively tour around town.
Our band of intrepid travelers scattered about one afternoon. Some drove 50 miles north to fly fish the Salt River. A couple of adventurers rented mountain bikes and trekked around Jackson’s fabled trails. And the tamest of our group spent the day shopping downtown.
We lunched at The Granary, which sits atop a high mesa a short distance from downtown, and is part of the Spring Creek Ranch complex. The views of the Tetons are excellent from the dining room, and the food is terrific. Horseback riding is available at Spring Creek Ranch, and we spotted folks of all ages enjoying a great ride.
Several of us took a float trip down the Snake River with Dave Hansen Whitewater tours. Buses leave from downtown, and there are several tours a day to choose from. We floated a tame section, not white water, but small rapids were present throughout. Depending on the season, the Snake River can be fairly shallow and very clear, and you can see large round river rocks on the bottom. Bald eagle spotting a sure thing on the Snake River.
Across the street from Dave Hansen’s is Bubba’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant and we usually end up there for breakfast or lunch. They serve homemade biscuits the size of your head, and the dining is casual and fun.
The Jackson Hole area has many campgrounds to choose from, and some offer shuttle service to downtown. There’s limited RV parking downtown, and the side streets can be narrow, so it’s best to leave your rig parked at camp.
Get jacked up and visit Jackson, Wyoming. You’re likely to return again!
Websites:
http://www.springcreekranch.com
http://www.davehansenwhitewater.com
http://www.milliondollarcowboybar.com
July 10, 2023
