So excited to share part one of our honeymoon – our trip to Jackson Hole, WY. You can see an overview of our itinerary here and stay tuned for more in depth posts for the rest of our trip coming soon!
Where we stayed:
Snow King Resort
I’m pretty sure it was the pictures on their website of the mountain views from the pool/hot tub that sucked me in. And after we booked, we got an email for two free drinks at their bar. All I had to do was post a tweet about it.
This place could be a vacation destination on its own. And I’m sure it is for a lot of people during the winter (it’s a ski resort with a ski lift, ski shop and roller coaster all right next to the hotel). But for our trip, I loved how close it was to town. Everything we wanted to do was a quick drive away. One morning we even walked to town for breakfast!
This hotel is super cozy, with multiple places to hang out by a fireplace. Also, the restaurant inside the hotel is great for a lazy breakfast (buffet or menu options) or a late night drink at the bar.
What we did:
Jackson Golf & Tennis Club
While planning our trip I just had lists of places to see and the only things actually booked and scheduled ahead of time were our hotels and Jon’s tee time. I originally planned on finding other ways to fill my time (shop) while he played, but I’m so glad I joined him. The weather was perfect, but the view of the mountains was even better. I swear they don’t look real! This was my first time out on the golf course with Jon and I took my job as his caddy very seriously. I filled up our cooler with beer (and waters) and got to drive the golf cart around. He played with another husband whose wife was also along for the ride. We shared itinerary plans for the area and took each other’s pictures. Way better than a ton of selfies. We even spotted our first wildlife of the trip – baby marmots and then a deer as we were pulling back in towards the clubhouse.
Jackson Town Square
Before we got there, I assumed everything was inside of the town square. I had seen a ton of pictures of the antler arches. But it wasn’t until we got there that I realized the square is like a small park in the middle and all of the shops and restaurants surround it. The antler arches are on each of the 4 corners of the square. So it gives you four chances to get a pic without waiting for a bunch of tourists to get out of your way. Or just go early, but then good luck finding a stranger to take a picture for you.
Surrounding the square is where you’ll find the restaurants and some very interesting stores. Never thought I needed to see a taxidermy squirrel in a canoe til this trip. I also made a second trip to High Country Outfitters to pick up a water bottle for hiking (after I realized the one I packed for the trip was spilling everywhere). Our cashier even pulled up a map on his register computer to show us the best route and stops on our way to Yellowstone.
What we didn’t do
- Elf refuge – We were warned ahead of time to skip this because there’s no elk this time of year.
- National Museum of Wildlife Art – They have sculptures on the side of the road of different animals. The first time we drove by I got way too excited thinking we had our first bison spotting. They are very obviously fake but I swear it was a quick glance.
- Ride the roller coaster at our hotel.
Where we ate:
We didn’t have high hopes for the food at Yellowstone, so we knew Jackson would be the place to be foodies. Every menu looked so good and we had so many recommendations that we took obviously didn’t have time to try them all.
Persephone Bakery
Every blog I read and person I asked while planning our trip, suggested Persephone bakery for breakfast. It’s a little off the main square but it’s no hidden gem. This place is busy and crowded but completely worth it. Jon got the avocado bowl, it came with smoked salmon, a poached egg, lentils and so many different veggies. And I ordered the shakshuka, it even had chickpeas and lentils in it. I’ve had shakshuka in Israel and loved this take on it. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality and quantity of the meals. Neither of us finished our food but we definitely wanted to because of how good it tasted. Our only regret was not having room to try one of their baked goods.
The Bunnery
I think my favorite part of Jackson was their breakfast foods. The Bunnery was suggested by a local and did not disappoint. We opted to sit outside so we wouldn’t have to wait for a table. The service and food were excellent. We split the steak and eggs so that we’d have room for the chocolate cheesecake muffin. And tried their OSM (oats, sunflower seeds, millet) toast.
The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
This is one of the most well known spots in Jackson. Its super touristy but definitely worth a stop for a drink – and a picture sitting on one of the saddle bar stools. The best part was the old guy at the bar trying to explain to Jon that he didn’t need to put his feet in the stirrups. There’s a waitress that comes around to take your drink order and you go up to a little window to order food. We sat close to the stage where they had a live band playing.
Hayden’s Post
Lucky for us, we had an amazing restaurant downstairs in our hotel. We came here for dinner our first night, breakfast the next morning, and a late night drink at the bar. Besides just being super convenient, we really liked the food here. I mean its hard not to like chocolate chip pancakes.
The Kitchen
Our new friends we met at the golf course told us The Kitchen is where they had dinner reservations one night. And when I looked it up, the restaurant’s reviews had a lot of mentions of their cookie skillet. We wanted to get a little dressed up and go somewhere nice for our last night in town, but we weren’t hungry enough for a full dinner. So we put on our best matching gingham, went to The Kitchen and shared a chocolate chip cookie skillet. It comes right out of the oven – the ice cream starts to bubble as soon as it hits the skillet when you take your first spoonful. (Also, maybe all foods should be served in a mini skillet?)
Where we didn’t eat
Like I said – so many good restaurants and so little time. But I figured I’d share some others that were recommended.
- Cafe Genevieve – If we had one more morning, this is where we would’ve gone for breakfast. Its a log cabin right next to Persephone Bakery.
- Silver Dollar Bar at the Wort Hotel – We were told its pricey but worth it. Someone also suggested going to a drink and to listen to the live bands.
- The Blue Lion
- Local
- The Merry Piglets (honestly just like this name)
Jackson Hole was such a great place to start our vacation and fill our bellies. Besides its close proximity to GTNP, Jackson is a perfect vacation destination all on its own.
Read more about our other stops:
