“Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam and the skies are not cloudy all day.” I have never quite understood that song, but our recent trip to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and Cody, Wyoming gave me a new perspective and quite the view of buffalo! I’d love to share a few of the highlights and some travel tips in case you or a friend is headed that way. I’m not a skier, so I can’t speak for the winter visit, but all of these tips apply to summer trip.

Tip 1: The two essentials for our trip were a good pair of hiking boots and a car rental. You really can’t get around to the national parks, Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park without a car, and while you might get away with sneakers, a good pair of hiking boots will save your feet from blisters and ensure you can take on the longer hikes.

Jenny Lake in Tenton National Park is a not-to-miss area. There are several hikes and a boat ride across the lake available. There are plenty of short easier hikes, like up to Inspiration Falls (good for kids), or there are harder longer hikes like Amphitheater Lake. At Yellowstone National Park the best hike we took was up to Mt. Washburn, you walk a pretty steep, but moderate climb. There is a ranger station at the top of the mountain that is great for lunch, a bathroom break and stunning views.

Tip 2: Don’t miss the National Museum of Wildlife Art. A very manageable museum for a half-day trip and a good spot for kids too. The museum has two large galleries of wildlife art throughout the centuries and stunning patio and restaurant overlooking an elk wildlife refuge.

Tip 3: Where to stay? In Jackson Hole, you can either stay in town or up the way in Teton Village (which is the ski mountain area). We stayed up in Teton Village, which was very nice at the height of summer because it more secluded and a little less busy than the town. In Teton Village, we loved our condo at Teton Club there is also a Four Seasons and several other resort rentals. We did stay in town for one night, and loved The Alpine House. Great Scandinavian modern feel, delicious breakfast and comfortable rooms.

Tip 5: Shopping & eating in Jackson Hole. The shopping district in Jackson is full of cute shops and Western jewelry, art, blankets, photography, etc. A few of my favorite places included The Bunnery for great family style breakfast, Persphone Bakery for a trendy and delicious brunch (with some healthy options) and Twenty Two Home for the best modern / Western home decor. Also, Snake River Grill is famous for their dinner fare, but we skipped it after so much eating out!

Also, don’t miss the free Jackson Town Square “shoot-out” performance, every evening at 6pm in the summer local actors do a 20 minute show that reenacts the Wild West, and it was quite entertaining and even had a message of women’s empowerment. WY was the first state where women had the right to vote!

A few quick tips from our trip! Happy to answer any questions, so leave me a message if you’re planning a trip that direction. Happy trails.

XO – CLAIRE