Jackson, WY
(Summer)
This location is really what started this entire blog. And this has lived in my notes on my phone for a very long time before it became what it is today. Every summer and winter I had friends, family, college roommates, and friends of old co-workers sisters reaching out to me asking for recommendations about what to do while they are in Jackson. From adventure junkies to bachelorettes I’d write out my top 10 Jackson Must Do’s and send it their way. Ultimately it ended up here.
Ah Jackson oh Jackson, one might compare it to New York City (except we pay more in cost of living). You can have a really good time where people are very nice and you eat good food and all goes well, or you can have a really horrible time where locals try to fight you and you pay $20 for a sandwich, so depending on what you’re looking for, you might find some help here. My general rule of thumb for Jackson is that if you just ask, 75% of the time people will be overly nice to you and you’ll probably end up on a boat, in a bar, or in front of a campfire. So be your genuine outgoing self and stay away from the cowboys!
First and foremost…. Where you’ll drink
When you arrive in Jackson, whether at the local airport or a drive in from elsewhere, you’ll want to promptly make your way to Bin 22 and order some wine and cheese, this is non negotiable. Bonus points if you walk down the street past Vertical Harvest and look in at all the magic lettuce.
Top 5 drinking spots
Buy a four pack of highpoint cider at Basecamp (especially if you are coming in from Idaho) and drink it while you walk on the Levee. Park on the right side of the bridge in Wilson on your way to town or at the Wilson boat ramp and walk across the walking bridge.
Thai me up - stick with the beer at this one
Coelette - if you’re really trying to impress your date, go early though they reserve the bar for dinner
King Sushi - but only if you show up at 4:20 and wait outside the door just to be turned away because they are full for 3 more decades (but on the off chance it works out you’ll thank me, and especially likely if you’re a solo traveler that can fill the seat void between an awkward first date and a troublesome three person party).
Mangy Moose - believe me when I say this is only on here for desperate times and because you are almost 100% likely to get a spot in the yard.
What you’ll do
Float the snake (dam to pacific or wilson to south park)
Hike Jackson Peak
Hike Ski Lake
Hike Sleeping Indian
Hike Table Mountain (Notice non of these are in the park? I am obsessed with my dog)
Go paragliding? (ill let you know if I ever do it)
I am not much of a biker but if you’re into that kinda thing you should do it!
And so much more! A reminder that adventure doesn’t have to mean 5k elevation gain with a technical sketchy section, it can also mean parking at the levee and walking between the islands with a beer in hand…. find your own pace and remember to slow down in the mountains!
What & Where you’ll eat
If you are not into treating yourself or waiting for a table, skip to the next section for a better option.
Yeah Buddy Pizza
Teton Thai - Duck Noodle Soup
Bin 22 - Wine & Cheese
Where to hangout before you sleep
Ok this is very important and I feel like frequent travelers/people in vans have figured this out. So, camping restrictions are a real thing and campsites can be hard to find or not always the “perfect” site. So, you need a spot where it is beautiful and you’ll cook dinner and organize all your gear and hangout for sunset and then either go back to town if that's your plan or go to your camp spot. This is also a great option if you are with people who don't want to or don't like to camp, you get all the camp experience and dinner scenes but then you go home and sleep in your bed.
Where you’ll sleep
Shadow Mnt
Curtis Canyon
Fall Creek Rd
Mosquito
Flat Creek Rd
Granite Creek
Gros Ventre / Red Hills - drive past slide lake for like 45 mins
A PSA to the people: Let’s quit the gatekeeping and just tell others how to have an incredible trip to Jackson which may ruin some “secret” spots that were never ours to claim in the first place.
