9 things to do on a family holiday to Jackson Hole, U.S

If you’re thinking about visiting the U.S for your next family holiday, a place that should without doubt be on your bucket list should be Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you’re looking for a holiday with seemingly never-ending fun, good times, and activities set against a backdrop of unbelievable beauty then you would, quite frankly, be hard pressed to find somewhere better than Jackson Hole.

Offering something for everyone, the “last of the Old West” as it’s often referred to is a playground for the young and old with so much to do, that it makes it the perfect place to stay for all the family. With a wide variety of accommodation from vacation rentals in Jackson Hole to family friendly hotels, it could well mean the family trip of a lifetime.  So without further ado, here’s my round up of 9 things to do on a family holiday to Jackson Hole.

Ski (& snowboard!)

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Park is a skier and snowboarder’s dream come true with some mind blowing snow, and if you’ve got some keen snow bunnies (or snow bunnies in the making!) then Jackson Hole should be on your bucket list of skiing holidays. The Kids Ski School has an excellent set up for children learning to ski and there’s also a great day care provision there if you’re thinking of hitting the slopes sans little ones.

Adventure to your heart’s content

Thrill seekers won’t be able to resist the lure of the Grand Adventure Park at Jackson Hole which includes a chance to get the adrenaline pumping with mountain biking, riding the tram, free falling from a drop tower (eek!), tackling rope courses and so much more. And if your family’s adrenaline urge hasn’t been sated by that, then it’s on to the Snow King Alpine Slide where you can zoom through the Snow King Mountain with the most jaw-dropping views of the Tetons and the town of Jackson on a spine-tingling ride down 350 feet over a half mile track at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour – wahooooooo!

Hit the river

Whether you’re looking for a more laid back scenic float or the crazy of white water rafting then either way is a once-in-a-lifetime way to experience the waters of the Snake River. For a more relaxed approach, a float along the calm water stretches is the perfect way to take in the wildlife and especially bird life that is so rich along the river, against the backdrop of the beautiful mountain scenery. Thrill-seekers, step up for some paddling action, big waves and serious thrills with some white water rafting!

Glide on a sleigh

If you’re visiting from mid-December to early April, then there is an amazing opportunity to take a horse drawn sleigh ride among an elk herd numbering in the thousands at the National Elk Refuge. It’s absolutely unreal to see thousands of elk grazing up close. An absolutely unmissable experience!

Have a relaxing soak

Ahhhh after all that thrill seeking it’s time to relax, and the perfect place to do just that is Granite Hot Springs, a natural hot spring nestled in the Gros Ventre Mountains. A beautiful place for some relaxation and comfort, where you can sink into the natural rejuvenating warm-water healing springs.

Eat

There are some fantastic places to eat in Jackson Hole and hurrah! – some really great family friendly option at that. Tuck into speciality barbecue dishes and homemade pies that draw a crowd at the old-school Bubba’s BBQ Restaurant or check out Sidewinders, a cabin-style hangout serving all American classics – p.s. the kids love the arcade there!

Make like a cowboy (or girl!)

If being pulled along on a sleigh by a horse isn’t your thing but being on one is, then it’s time for a flavour of the Old West with a spot of horseback riding. Whether you’re looking at a one, two or three hour horse ride through mountain trails against the breathtaking views of the Teton Mountain Range, or an introduction to Rodeo, Jackson Hole is THE place to go horseback with the fam.

Make it about the kids

This may not seem like an obvious choice, but Jackson Hole’s Children’s Museum is a good option for a break from the thrill-seeking. A fantastic place with lots of indoor activities and exhibits that change every month, an arts and crafts centre, indoor slide and dress up area. Overall a brilliant place for children to imagine to their heart’s content!

Wow at the National Parks

OK so Yellowstone National Park is a bit of a way out but just had to be mentioned. The first ever and oldest national park in the world, covering something close to a whopping 3,500 sq. miles of northwestern Wyoming as well as parts of Idaho and Montana. Yellowstone’s South Entrance is approximately 90 miles north of the town of Jackson. This is the place to see the famous geyser Old Faithful, take in the stunning Yellowstone Lake and go spotting for the park’s legendary bison as well as a whole host of other roaming wildlife. A must for nature lovers!

Although it takes a lot of driving for a day trip it can be done, and it’s well worth a visit from Jackson Hole but also worth considering an overnight stay for that very fact. Of course, if you’re not up for the mission, then you can suffice yourself with Grand Teton National Park which is where many of the adventure gems mentioned above are situated.

Have you ever visited Jackson Hole and have some tips to share on things to do on a family holiday there? Or perhaps your planning your next family holiday and feeling inspired be the above?  Do leave a comment below and share.

***Did you find this post useful? If so please do give it a Tweet on Twitter, a share on Facebook, or for more from me please like my Facebook page here.***

9 comments

  1. I have never heard of Jackson Hole before but it does look like an amazing place for a holiday. I think my girls would agree that the horse back riding is something we’d all love to do there.

  2. what a beautiful place, I’d love to visit! There are so many things to do in the nature x

  3. I love adventurous holidays. I wont be able to do them all as my daughter is too young, but bring on 6 years of age and we will be doing them all for sure.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.