Jackson Hole Anniversary Trip
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We celebrated our 33rd anniversary in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and loved every bit of it. The beautiful scenery, the vast system of bike pathways, our sweet Airbnb, the cool weather, amazing food and drinks, and the quiet moments together.
Jackson Hole
According to Jacksonhole.com – Jackson Hole was originally named after Davey Jackson, a mountain man who trapped in the area during the late 1800s. “Hole” was a term used in that day to describe a high mountain valley.
The world’s longest-running shootout is held six nights a week from May to September on the Jackson town square. It began in 1955 and while we heard the guns blazing while we were there, we never took the time to view the shootout.
Since the Jackson airport was closed for remodeling, we flew into Salt Lake City and drove four hours to our destination. It was a gorgeous drive and we enjoyed seeing this beautiful part of the United States.
Our Airbnb
Mike rented a sweet one-bedroom Airbnb in the area between Wilson and Teton Village. We had beautiful views of the mountains and were super close to the biking paths which was perfect for our trip. We took advantage of the bike paths being so close and hopped on them each day.
The weather was perfect during our stay and we were super happy to escape the Texas heatwave. Lows in the high 30s and highs averaging in the 70s made it extra enjoyable. We left our windows wide open and enjoyed sitting each morning with extra blankets and hot coffee until the day warmed a bit for our bike rides.
Bike Riding
Thankfully, my foot behaved enough to get out on our bikes every single day. We averaged about 20-25 miles per day with plenty of stops along the way to take in all the beauty. What in the world would we do without our iPhone cameras and the handy dandy belt I stored it in?
We stuck primarily to the beautiful bikeways and rode to Wilson, Teton Village, Jackson (via the main road and then through the countryside on another day), and from Moose to Jenny Lake on two occasions.
The ride to Jenny Lake was our absolute favorite which is why we rode it on two different days. Everywhere we looked was unbelievably scenic and we stopped often to snap photos and view wildlife. We saw moose, deer, foxes, a baby bear, horses, and plenty of cattle. It was truly amazing to see these beautiful creatures among the snow-capped mountains.
The multi-use pathways in Jackson Hole have expanded the range of enjoyable experiences for visitors at Grand Teton National Park. You have the option to pedal your bike all the way from the town of Jackson, or you can choose from two loops that are completely within the park. One loop is an 8-mile adventure connecting Moose to the South Jenny Lake area, while the other is a shorter 4-mile trip from the Taggart Lake trailhead to the shores of Jenny Lake.
Thanks to these pathways, Grand Teton National Park now offers the largest expanse of bike-friendly terrain in the country. As a bonus, biking to Jenny Lake allows you to skip parking on the road and avoid the crowds!
We couldn’t help stopping to watch the beautiful horses outside Wilson and Teton Village. They were so playful!
Mike has an eagle eye when it comes to wildlife and we loved stopping to watch foxes roaming around the area. BTW, foxes jump high to surprise their prey from above, a hunting technique called “mousing.”
During the appropriate season, the enchantment of Wyoming’s wildflowers rivals that of its wildlife. Each June, these blossoms adorn the valley floor with a stunning palette of vibrant reds, blues, yellows, and purples.
Pure beauty everywhere we looked!
The Food
Food and beverages are always a priority when we travel, and our tummies were very happy during our time in Jackson.
After a long ride to Jenny Lake, we stopped at Dornan’s at the base of the Tetons. It was difficult to decide which was best – the food and beer or the amazing view!
We really enjoyed taking the gondola to the top of the mountain at Teton Village one evening. We explored for a while before eating dinner at Piste Mountain Bistro. We highly recommend the feta garlic focaccia and grilled ribeye!
Our favorite evening out was at Blue Lion for our 33rd Anniversary dinner! We enjoyed outstanding lamb chops and halibut (plus live music). Our dessert was mud pie and an espresso martini!
Huckleberries are a real thing and we enjoyed everything huckleberry during our week in JH! Ice cream at Moo’s and milkshakes at Jackson Drug.
Other Restaurants
The food was particularly delicious on this trip. Here’s a list of some of our favorites.
- Persephone – For coffee and brunch (the quiche was YUM) and it was close to our Airbnb.
- Cowboy Coffee – Great for coffee and breakfast sandwiches.
- Jackson Drug – We sat at the bar and ate elk burgers and huckleberry milkshakes after a long bike ride.
- Palate – We stopped here on another ride and it overlooked an elk refuge. There was also a museum on site and it was quite scenic.
- Gather – We enjoyed a delicious burrata appetizer, arugula salad, and bison.
- Bin 22 – Dinner included tapas with the best shrimp croquettes and paella.
- Trio – We loved the truffle fries with buffalo sauce, a burger, and grilled pizza.
- Snake Brewery – Our first night included a stop at Snake Brewery.
- Dornan’s – The gorgeous stop mentioned above.
- Piste – The mountaintop bistro (also mentioned above).
- Blue Lion – Our anniversary dinner.
Awesome recap! I am ready to go back, but first -Ireland!