Visit Here: Jackson Hole in the Summer

 Happy Friday, friends!  Today I’m so excited to recap our recent summer trip to Jackson, Wyoming.  (You can check out the first half of the trip here.)  Eric and I visited Jackson Hole back in December with a couple of friends and absolutely fell in love with the town.  We had a blast in the winter but knew we wanted to see Jackson in the summer…and spring and fall.

And so we went.  This time it was just the two of us, and we got to town with no real plans, no reservations, and no speed but slow.  It was warm out, so the days were perfect for roaming around town, moseying into local shops, swinging through Grand Teton National Park, and grabbing a magazine to read outside in the town square.  By nighttime, we were nursing our second or third food coma of the day and having zero regrets about it.

People have asked which season we preferred there, and it’s really hard to say.  It’s just two entirely opposite ends of the spectrum, but we loved both.  During the summer, there are definitely A LOT more people in Jackson, but it didn’t stop us from getting into anywhere we wanted to go.  A pro of the summer though is definitely ease of moving around.  When you don’t have to bundle up in ALL of the layers, walking a few blocks here, there, and everywhere seems like no big deal.

And so, here goes – a few favorite spots that we hit this time around.  And we will definitely be back in any season – so let me know if we’ve missed any of your favorites in town!

Hotel Jackson – Y’all, I really cannot say enough good things about this hotel.  I can’t decide what I loved most – the cozy room, the prime location, the beyond-friendly staff, or the restaurant.  The room was pretty perfect for us – nothing crazy big, but nice and new with an in-room Nespresso machine and L’Occitane goodies in the shower.  The location really can’t be beat either.  It’s right in town so you can walk to pretty much everything, but it’s about a block or so off of the main street so it’s really quiet.  The valet, doormen, and front desk staff were super friendly and helpful, and a bartender there introduced me to Bear Root Bitters, a new favorite of mine.  (Highly recommend a few drops of the Habanero Ginger for spicy margaritas.)  The restaurant and outside bar were both great, and I’m recapping those below.

Happy Hour at Bin 22 – This place is the cutest little combination of a small restaurant and bar with a market full of great beer and wines.  We stopped in during our last trip just to grab a couple of bottles of wine, but this time we stumbled upon their happy hour at the bar.  Glasses were around $5 (I think), and I got to try a couple of new-to-me wines that I loved.

Dinner at Snake River Grill – When we visited in December, we regretted not having dinner at Snake River Grill, so this time we made up for it by eating here twice.  I’m pretty sure their Steak Tartare Pizza is one of Eric’s favorite meals of life, and we had a crispy fish taco appetizer special that really rocked my socks.  This place is seriously delicious, and whether you go with steak, fish, or anything else on the menu, you really can’t go wrong.

Drinks at Smokin’ Iron at Hotel Jackson – The back patio bar at Hotel Jackson is serving up live music, super comfy adirondack seating, and SO MANY flights.  Flights of beer, mimosas, bloody Mary’s, margaritas or sangria – pick your poison and then choose your flavors.  Eric says I’m a sucker for miniature things, and he’s right because I totally love this concept.

Brunch at The Bird – We met a local (who BTW has this awesome company – seriously yummy bars) during happy hour at Bin 22 who suggested we check out brunch at The Bird.  And he was so, so right.  The burgers were delicious and served on English muffins, which may sound a little odd, but it totally works for brunch.  Overall, the cabin-meets-bar atmosphere was super fun, the deck is dog-friendly, and the mimosas just keep flowing.  The Bird is a few minutes out of town, but there’s a shuttle van that will pick you up and then bring you back to town afterwards.

Snake River Sporting Club – The last time we were in Jackson, we met a local couple at dinner one night and have kept in touch ever since.  For this trip, they asked if we’d like to do pool time and dinner at Snake River Sporting Club, and after looking into it, we knew we’d be crazy to pass up the offer.  Y’all, this place is something to see.  The food was delicious, we had the entire patio deck to ourselves, and the views from both dinner and the drive in were incredible. It’s members-only, but if you happen to know someone in town who’s a member, ask them, beg them, force them to take you here.  It’s bananas.

Sloshies at Creekside Market & Deli – Those same friends introduced us to Sloshies, and our lives may never be the same.  They’re only sold during the summer months (hence why we never heard about them during our frigid December trip) and consist of fresh-squeezed juice and vodka that’s been swirling around in a slushie machine for hours.  They’re like a frozen greyhound and are basically what summertime cocktail dreams are made of.  I’m told there are a few places around that sell them, but we got ours (on multiple occasions, including on the way to the airport) from Creekside Market.

Lunch or Dinner at FIGS at Hotel Jackson – Lebanese food may not come to mind first when you think of restaurants in Jackson, but I’m telling you, this lunch was bomb.  It’s located in the lobby of Hotel Jackson, so Eric and I grabbed one last feast here before heading home.  The falafel sliders, kofta kabobs, and spicy hummus with homemade pita bread did not disappoint, and I legit thought about shoving the rest of the pitas in my bag for the plane ride home.  I don’t eat Lebanese food often, but this is definitely the best that I’ve had.

xoxo

 The lobby at Hotel Jackson Lunch at FIGS in Hotel Jackson Sharing flights at Smokin’ Iron Bar in Hotel Jackson Brunch at The Bird View from dinner at The Snake River Sporting Club