Jackson, WY may not have a renowned international film festival that attracts the A-list movie stars like other mountain-town Meccas such as Aspen and Telluride in neighboring state Colorado or Park City, Utah, home of the revered Sundance Film Festival. However, the natural beauty surrounding Jackson, located in the Jackson Hole valley, not only surpasses that of Aspen, Telluride, and Park City but that of any star on the big screen as well. Because Jackson is the gateway to both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, it attracts more visitors than the aforementioned world-famous film festivals combined.
Enchanting and Historic
The log-cabin-style Jackson Hole Airport, ranked third in a 2011 PrivateFly survey of the world’s best airport approaches, is enchantingly located at the base of the Tetons and is the only commercial airport in America located inside a national park (Grand Teton).
Jackson might not be as tiny as Telluride, acclaimed as Aspen, or prominent as Park City but it is exceedingly rich in history. It attracted some of America’s most famous mountain men, whose names still echo throughout the valley at places such as the Jedediah Smith Wilderness and Jackson itself, named after legendary pioneer, explorer, trader, and fur trapper David Jackson.
Winter Wonderland and Top Ski Resorts
Jackson offers outdoor adventure and world-class skiing to match any of its mountain-resort contemporaries and its ski resorts are top-of-the-line. The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, one of the top small luxury hotels in the world and a AAA Four-Diamond award-winner for 19 consecutive years, is nestled in the mountains and within walking distance of downtown Jackson. Guest accommodations at the 30-room lodge include memory-foam mattresses and fireplaces, while its suites offer whirlpools and separate living rooms. The Rusty Parrot also offers a shuttle to the nearby ski slopes. Check out hotel deals with Hipmunk before heading to the slopes.
All-Season Outdoor Adventure and Affordable Accommodations
The outdoor fun in Jackson doesn’t just revolve around skiing in winter; it is an all-season outdoor-lover’s paradise and an angler’s dream. The aptly named Anglers Inn, just a few blocks from historic Jackson Town Square, offers affordable accommodations, whether for fishermen, those wanting to mountain bike, kayak or white-water raft on the nearby Snake River, or just play a leisurely round of golf at one of the area’s many courses. If sleeping in the outdoors is more to your liking, the Northern Pioneer camping adventure offers nine-day adventures to both the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.
The Last of the Old West
Jackson welcomes the new while preserving the old. It pays homage to its rough and tumble mountain-man past while touting modern luxuries such as art galleries, fine dining, European-style spas, and world-class skiing. From Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to the Snake River and Jedediah Smith Wilderness its natural beauty and outdoor recreation are unsurpassed. In summer, actors put on a free shootout re-enactment and stagecoaches transport visitors around the town, allowing visitors to Jackson and the Jackson Hole area to truly experience what locals refer to as “The last of the Old West.”