Hello, I am Julie Calder, the Marketing Director for Jackson Hole Resort Lodging. I have two girls, Avery and Hannah, who are 9 and 6 years old. This is the time of year many families plan their ski vacations and Jackson Hole should be on the top of every family's list. As someone who lives who lives here with my family, I would like to share some of the things that I love family ski trips to Jackson Hole, WY.
The first step to planning any vacation is deciding where to go. Well, of course Jackson Hole is my recommendation. The Jackson Hole airport provides some of the best ski access in the USA with non-stop flights from 12 cities and easy connections for the rest of the country and world. I grew up in Boston and we frequently take flights to visit family and even with a connection, it is still quicker and easier to get to Jackson Hole than many other western destinations. Once you have landed at the Jackson Hole airport, you have truly arrived and the trip from the airport is only 30-40 minutes to Teton Village. This short commute is an important detail when you are traveling with kids.
After arriving in Jackson Hole the best option for family lodging is a vacation rental that includes a kitchen, fireplace/woodstove, washer/dryer, storage and did I mention lots of space. Space for the family to spread out is great for kids and even better for parents! Another great feature is the local grocery delivery service, Mountains of Groceries that offers grocery delivery to ensure the smoothest and most efficient arrival possible. Arriving to a fully stocked kitchen is awesome! We even have a new, special arrival procedure that allows your family to go straight to your rental property when it is ready to go! This saves more time to relax on your travel day!
To top this off, this winter, Jackson Hole Resort Lodging is offering Kids Ski and Rent Free in conjunctions with discounted accommodations. Not only are the lift tickets and ski rentals for kids complimentary for kids 14 and under, JHRL offers this promotion exclusively in Jackson Hole. Getting the family to the slopes could not be easier with lift ticket and rental packages allowing you to avoid the lift ticket offices (we give you the tickets when you arrive). JH Mountain Direct also offers a great service where they bring the rental skis to you. You can be sitting in your living room relaxing and try on the gear without leaving home. This is great with kids!
The ski experience for families in Jackson Hole keeps getting better and better. Last winter Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) opened the Sweetwater gondola opening access from the base to some of the best beginner terrain around. The intermediate and expert terrain is also fantastic for families and kids love skiing and riding through the aptly named runs: Animal Way, Princess Woods, Wookie Wiggle, Rooler Coaster, Monkey House and Bronco Terrain Park. The terrain and experience of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is unparalleled and once you visit this place, it may be difficult to go anywhere else!
In addition to skiing, there are some great apres-ski activities and places for the whole family. I recommend ice skating in Teton Village, a visit to the western town of Jackson with the elk refuge tours and there is even a children’s museum for the younger kids. All restaurants in Jackson Hole are family friendly, but we love going to Piste for an on-mountain lunch with panoramic views of the valley. For dinner, the Mangy Moose is a must for a memorable experience the family will love. Just down the road is the Calico with great, kid friendly options. We also love the Rendezvous Bistro located downtown Jackson- the perfect option for grown-ups and kids alike. Another in popular town option is Hole Bowl for a fun evening including a delicious meal! You will run out of time before options!
As you can see, a trip to Jackson is a fantastic way to spend a winter vacation. Who knows, you may even love it so much that you will move here like us!