Cosmopolitan meets cowboys
In Jackson Hole, you're as likely to see celebrities on the slopes as cowboys on a cattle drive. The cosmopolitan air that lures people from around the world to visit this rugged corner of Wyoming means anything goes, from blue jeans to black ties. That these styles work in its four-star restaurants, art gallery openings, even its annual county fair, portrays the real heart of Jackson Hole. It's a place where people enjoy life, neighbors lend a hand, and the word "community" takes on a special meaning.

Community, history lives on
In the old days, having fun meant riding miles to the nearest ranch for dancing, feasting, and sharing tall tales. That Old West essence is continued today with old-fashioned parades and picnics, July Fourth fireworks, holiday galas, art fairs, the JH Rodeo, Town Sqaure shoot-outs and wildlife and landscape projects. It's easier to get around now, though, with commercial and private flights in and out of the Jackson Hole Airport, rental car companies, and public transportation available. Now, social events still evoke the old days when time spent with family and friends was treasured. [back to the top]

Wildlife and Landscape
The first glimpse of Jackson Hole settles on breathtaking mountains and green valleys where Indians and trappers camped and traded. The magnificent Tetons, Gros Ventres, and Absaroka and Hoback ranges encircle the sagebrush-dotted "hole" or valley, home to buffalo, moose, elk, grizzly and black bears, mule deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, coyotes and even gray wolves, now living in Yellowstone. Bald eagles and hawks soar high in blue skies, keeping a sharp watch on the landscape below.[back to the top]

Arts, dining, culture
Jackson Hole is an important element of the Western arts world, with 32 galleries, museums and countless specialty shops and boutiques at hand. Summer dance and music festivals bring in international performers and audiences. As for food, don't assume people eat cowboy beans three times a day! Restaurants here are regularly featured in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Wine Spectator, and Travel and Leisure, to name a few. Savvy chefs blend international flavors with classic American cuisine to reflect their widely-traveled and well-educated palates. [back to the top]

Grand Teton and Yellowstone
Set aside to enhance life for humans and wildlife, Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks are northern neighbors. Hiking, rock climbing, biking, camping, horseback riding, fly fishing, and backcountry skiing are but a few recreational choices enjoyed in these national park jewels. Sparkling lakes, breathtaking vistas, and wildflower-filled meadows invite unforgettable experiences. Both national parks are accessible year-round, offering historic lodgings and unique tours for all ages. [back to the top]

Summer fun
During sunny summers, people head outside to pursue their passions like wandering through art fairs, sipping lattes on a patio, or listening to strains of classical music on the mountain breeze. One day might bring a guided scenic float trip, fly-fishing river trip, or horseback ride to a mountain overlook. Another day is set aside for hiking new trails,flower and bird guidebooks in hand. Yet another day calls for a new adventure, like rafting whitewater waves or climbing the Grand Teton. [back to the top]

Winter fun
The key to enjoying winter is to enjoy every inch of snow. Horse-drawn sleighs pull visitors through the National Elk Refuge's winter herd of 10,000 elk; cross-country skiers follow miles of groomed trails or break their own into the backcountry. Traveling through GrandTeton National Park to Yellowstone brings many wildlife viewing opportunities and gives the word "solitude" a new meaning. And counting three major ski resorts within minutes of Jackson Hole certainly adds to the season's allure! [back to the top]

The Big Three ski areas
Having three ski resorts so close at hand makes winter fun easy to find. Some savvy skiers visit all three, having learned that each ski mountain has its own pleasures and treasures. Besides world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, these resorts offer dogsled rides, concerts, celebrity galas, races, winter rodeos, and many more winter family events. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, only 12 miles from downtown Jackson, offers up 2,500 acres of skiable terrain accessed by an aerial tram, new high-speed lifts and its latest addition, the 8-passenger Bridger Gondola. With a vertical rise of 4,139 feet, there's plenty of room for everyone. Now owned by Wyoming's Kemmerer family, the resort's focus is on providing a quality winter experience for the entire family. Downtown Jackson boasts Snow King Resort, with three chairlifts offering speedy access to the mountain top, rising 1,571 vertical feet above town. Tickets are conveniently sold by the hour, day, and season. The newest thrill is an immensely popular tubing park, where kids of all ages get a fast ride to the bottom. Over the hill and an hour away at Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyoming, snowfalls are the stuff of dreams, with an average 43 feet of powder a year. (A local tip - wear your snorkel! ) The Targhee Express makes the trip over and back from Jackson daily.