Classic Western Elegance at the Snow King Resort
and kayakers enjoying the rapids. The community, the valley and the lake were all named after mountain man, trapper and trader, David Jackson. After hearing people refer to this area as both Jackson and Jackson Hole, I fi nally fi gured out which was which. Jackson Hole refers to the entire valley which is approximately 60 miles long. Jackson refers to the Town of Jackson which sits on the southern end of the Jackson Hole valley. As the gateway to Grand Teton and Yel- lowstone National Parks, the home of three major ski areas and the National Elk Refuge, you will never run out of activities in Jackson Hole.
W I immediately fell in love with Jackson after walking around
the town which is lined with historic boardwalks, and anchored by the famous Town Square and elk antler arches. There are beautiful art galleries ranging from classic, western landscapes to stunning wildlife photography. The shopping here is endless and very exclu- sive with boutique shops for jewelry, furniture, and fi ne western clothing. We happened upon the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar which is no ordinary bar. It is famous for its western cowboy fl are motif, complete with a large collection of western memorabilia, unique knobbled pine architecture, cowboy murals, animal mounts, and genuine saddle barstools. A little further exploration took us past the Jackson Hole Playhouse, which you can’t help but notice the cool architecture. Originally constructed in 1916; the playhouse is the oldest framed building in Jackson Hole and is a family run profes- sional dinner theater.
After spending a little time downtown, it was time to head to our resort for the night. Nestled against pine forests, the Snow King Resort Hotel and Grand View Lodge is walking distance from town which is a great perk. As you walk into the lobby, the fi rst thing you see is a beautiful mural of wild horses, a true icon of the west. The resort offers hotel rooms, condos and the new Grand View Lodge, which are luxurious accommodations for the whole family. Log frame beds, desks and bureaus and an exposed brick wall in the rooms give you the feel of being in a rustic cabin. Fully renovated in 2013, the resort is one of the nicest that Jackson Hole has to offer. Even with all of the outdoor activities waiting, it was hard to get out of the crisp bedding with luxurious mattresses and New Generation pillows.
yoming and Montana are two places that have been on my list for years to visit. The drive into Jackson takes you along the pristine Snake River and we saw many rafters
There are a wide array of activities to choose from at the Snow King including a guided sunrise wildlife expedition in Grand Teton National Park which offers uninterrupted views of the Teton glaciers and sightings of elk, bear, marmot and moose. You can hike along the Snow King trails, horseback ride; take a dip in the pool, or a thrill-ride down the mountain on the Alpine Slide. The Snow King is also an Orvis endorsed fl y-fi shing lodge. And of course in the winter, skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing abound. With more annual snowfall than other resorts in the lower-48 Rocky Mountain region, these winter playgrounds offer lifts, gondolas, an aerial tram, and miles upon miles upon miles of ski trails to meet any ability.
We had dinner at the cozy Hayden’s Post, which offers cuisine in the spirit of mountain camping with a focus on local ingredients. We tried the Braised Bison Short Rib with melting leeks and stone ground polenta served in a cast iron skillet. The meat was incred- ibly tender and fl avorful. The Whiskey BBG Mahogany chicken with mashed potatoes and broccolini was delicious. Don’t leave without trying the signature S’mores dessert served in a skillet with home- made marshmallows lightly toasted, and you don’t even have to fi nd a stick or a fi re!
Also don’t miss a visit to the Snake River Brewery while in
Jackson. In a twenty year history, the brewery has amassed dozens of Great American Beer Fest and World Beer Cup Awards and it’s easy to see why. We stopped for lunch here to try some of their fantastic beers brewed on premises. We had a great tour with Krissy, their marketing director, and learned about their brewing process. We
34 Natural Nutmeg - December 2015
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48