Our favorite places to stay

We visit Jackson Hole three or four times a year and absolutely love the town and surrounding area. We've been in the winter and the summer and there are plenty of activities during each season to keep everyone happy. Our choices for hotels are the 49'er Inn and Suites or the Virginian Lodge. They are older establishments but are clean and nice and reasonably priced. The 49'er does have a few suites with fireplaces and jacuzzi tubs and also has an outdoor hot tub ( it's small, but does have a privacy fence around it). They also allow pets, which is great for us since we have two yorkies who go everywhere we go. There is also a continental breakfast which is served in a separate building and is actually very good and has a good selection. The Virginian Lodge has a nice restaurant and bar and there is also a liquor store on the property which is nice so you don't have to drive anywhere.

When we have traveled to Jackson in our camper, we like to stay at the Jackson/Snake River KOA. It is about 10 miles outside of Jackson and is located right on the river. They have full hook-ups (minus cable) and there are lots of trees and grass. There is a nice convience store, gift store and small snack shop located in the main office building. They do have wi-fi at the store. There are two buildings with showers and restrooms and one of them also has a laundry.

The Virginian Lodge also has an RV park at the back of the property. It is large with trees and grass and there is also a shower and restroom building. They have full hook-ups and with them being right behind the Lodge you are just a few minutes from down town and the town square.

Great Places to Eat

Of course, we haven't been to every restaurant in town but of the one's we've tried these are our favorites. For a good home style breakfast that's pretty reasonable, you have to go to Bubba's. They have the largest homemade biscuits that are soft and wonderful to eat (try a little butter and honey on them, WOW). The service is fast and friendly. They start getting busy around 9:00 a.m. so you'll want to go early ( they open for breakfast at 6:30).

Lunch time calls for a trip to the town square and a little place called Billy's Burgers. It's easy to miss on the first pass but it's right next to the Cadillac Grill. Billy's is very small, it has a lunch counter only and a small menu but the hamburgers are the best in town and we've been there when there is a line out the front door. You can also take a table at the Cadillac Grill and order from Billy's, which is nice for extra room, but we've still had to wait.

For a place to rest your tired feet and have a drink or two, of course the only place to go is the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on the square. If you don't go in and sit at the bar on one of the saddle stools, you're missing out on one of the best known adventures in Jackson. The inside of the bar is a sight to behold. The knotty pine columns and ceiling beams are like being in a log cabin. There are etched mirrors behind the bar and all kinds of western items to see.

If you want a nice dinner with lots of atmosphere, go to The Gun Barrel. The steaks are some of the best we've ever eaten. You can also get game such as elk, buffalo and deer. It's a little expensive if you're not used to Wyoming prices, but definitely worth it. We always plan for one nice dinner out and this is where we splurg and go. Their bread pudding dessert is better than eating chocolate (and you can ask my husband that if I think it's better than chocolate, it's good).

Outdoor adventures

Jackson has something for everyone in every season. If you're a winter person, there is snow mobiling, dog sledding, tubing and skiing just to name a few of our favorites. I think my favorite is the dog sledding, hands down. It took me a while to talk my husband into it, but once we tried it, he's as hooked as I am. We like the Iditarod Dog Sled Tours which is located about 10 miles from Jackson at Granite Recreation Area. It's an experience you won't soon forget. I recommend the all day tour, which ends at the Granite Hot Springs Pool where you are given about an hour to swim in the heated pool while your dog sled guide prepares a hot lunch for you before beginning your trip back. The scenery is breathtaking and you may even see some wild life.

Jackson is located only a short drive from the entrance to the Teton National Park and from there on to Yellowstone. Just outside city limits is a national elk refuge and winter feeding grounds, where in the winter you can take a horse drawn sleigh ride out into the refuge to the view the elk and you get up close to them. It's not unusual to even see deer or elk that wander into town and even the occassional moose.

In the summer time, there are lots of businesses that offer rafting trips and guided fishing tours. We haven't tried any of these yet, this is on our list of things to do on our next trip to Jackson.

Of course this is plently of shopping with just about anything you might want or need.  T-shirt and souvenier shops are everywhere and the prices are usually pretty reasonable.

Jackson has something for everyone and is a great place to visit and is surrounded by beautiful mountains, streams and lakes. It definitely should be on your list of places to see if you are ever in Wyoming.