Jackson Hole in the Summer

Old Mar 14th, 2013, 07:42 PM
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Jackson Hole in the Summer

My family (my wife, me and two boys 20 and 21 years old) is considering going to Jackson Hole in July for a week. Do you suggest that we stay in one place as a base camp for the entire time are should stay at more than one place? Also, where do you suggest we stay: in Jackson town, in Teton Village or some other place?

Thank you!
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Old Mar 14th, 2013, 08:02 PM
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Have you looked at all about staying in the National Park that is so close by?

The Grand Teton Lodge Company has a virtual monopoly on all stays in the park, but it's very beautiful to stay at one of their lodgings.

I believe their website is www.gtlc.com Colter Bay will probably be the least expensive of the bunch.
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Old Mar 16th, 2013, 05:44 PM
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We may stay closer to the parks for a couple of days. My main question is, is it better to stay in the town of Jackson in the summer for a week or is it better to stay outside of the town (e.g. in Teton Village or other area)? Thank you!!
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Old Mar 17th, 2013, 05:27 PM
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What are your interests? For me, a day would be enough in Jackson(the town). I would spend the rest of your week in Yellowstone and Tetons. In winter, that might be a different story if you were wanting to snow ski. But most of the action is not in the town in the summer, IMOP.
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Old Mar 18th, 2013, 07:17 AM
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We spent a week a few years back and split the stay four days at Jenny Lake Lodge and three days in Jackson at the Four Seasons in Teton Village. We mostly hiked and rode horses on our days at Jenny Lake and from Jackson we did white water rafting, shopping and dining. I don't recall where our base was for our day in Yellowstone but I think it was one of the Jenny Lake days. You could do 3 or 4 at Jenny Lake, 1 or 2 in the Park (like Old Faithful Inn) and 2 or 3 in Jackson or Teton Village
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Old Mar 18th, 2013, 09:50 AM
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I would suggest, as others have, to move around. There is so much to see concentrated in such a relatively small area and having 2-3 nights in several spots minimalizes the amount of back-tracking you might end up doing. Also, as mentioned, it does depend a bit on what you are planning to do while there.
That said, I would pick the town over Teton Village, simply because the town is easily walkable so it is very possible to pick accomodations that allow you to walk to dinner, shopping, etc. There are also many more options for meals in town than at the village - Teton Village is, after all, primarily a winter area.
My first choice, for us, is always the park facilities, tho - it is hard to beat being immersed in nature!
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Old Mar 18th, 2013, 10:45 AM
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We prefer to stay in Jackson Hole (ski area Teton Village). Our lodging preference is the Snake River Lodge.

Jackson Hole (ski area Teton Village)is about 20 minute drive from Jackson (the town), toward GTNP. We find we can see a lot of the GTNP from here and we prefer it to Yellowstone for the open spaces, scenery, quiet, more roads to travel with less traffic/jams. We've found quiet places that no one else is at and it is nice to get away from "people".

Jackson Hole is very small, not much except hotels and a few restaurants, some horseback riding. At the base of the Gondola they can book any kind of adventure. We think of it as the "Gateway" to GTNP.

Jackson (the small town) has the small airport w/limited rental cars, grocery stores, gas stations, some western galleries, urgent care and a couple of great small cafes. We find it noisy so we visit it for a 1/2 day to p/u supplies and maybe have lunch.

Would suggest to book another lodging in central Yellowstone if you have not seen otherwise (and I know others will comment) we just get up early and do either the Yellowstone Loop from GTNP. (We've seem Yellowstone a million times and prefer the open expanse of GTNP.)

Also if you like to mountain hike Jackson Hole has a great Gondola lift that takes you to the top of the ski area with some great mountain scenic hiking trails from there.
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Old Mar 19th, 2013, 06:48 AM
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Thank you!!

Do you think two college boys (i.e.: my sons) will prefer hanging out (in particular at night) in the town over one of the park lodges? Or, is the town something that they will get bored with quickly?
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Old Mar 19th, 2013, 03:08 PM
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There really isn't any nightlife at national parks. There is some ranger talks, but thats about it. That said, my daughter is age 19 and has been to the area. She would far prefer to be in the parks than in a town like Jackson. Now, in the winter that would be totally opposite. As a matter of fact, I asked her where she wanted to go next year(2014-I think it's already to late to be planning a trip this year to the area-things are already booked-I plan 12 months in advance for National Parks), she said she really wants to return to Yellowstone.

In my opinion, if you have never been to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, there is nothing like it. Totally amazing places!
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Old Mar 19th, 2013, 06:14 PM
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Thank you!! I am now leaning towards staying in Teton Village. I feel like I will be a tad closer to the beauty and still able to get some night life by either going out in the village or taking the 20 mile drive to Jackson. If I book a cabin, I may need to book it for 7 days so that will need to be my base camp. There are minuses to this as I will need to make Yellowstone a day trip. The plus is we will be on the door step to the Teton NP.
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Old Mar 19th, 2013, 06:46 PM
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It depends on what you want to do. I wouldn't think there would be much nightlife in Jackson either. Maybe a tad, but not much. For me, I would spend at least 4 nights in Yellowstone at a min.
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Old Mar 19th, 2013, 06:49 PM
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Teton Village is close to the Mangy Moose if I recall correctly--arguably the best bar in the Jackson area!!
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 11:51 AM
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The park and Teton Village are quiet and more remote. If it were my 20 year old grandkids they would prefer the town of Jackson Hole. Teton village requires a bus to get to town and the park locations are usually just lodging.

There are a lot of tourists in Jackson but that can just add to the charm. You will find white water rafting, horseback riding, a theater, hiking, shopping and more.
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 12:00 PM
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"There are minuses to this as I will need to make Yellowstone a day trip. The plus is we will be on the door step to the Teton NP."

Teton Village is farther from Teton NP than Jackson (except if you take the very narrow dirt road from Teton Village to Dornans).

The trip from Teton village to Jackson takes 15 minutes. I think there are only 3 places to eat in Teton village. The 4 seasons, Mangie Moose and an Austrian restaurant. Mangie Moose bar would be fun for the 21 year old but the 20 year old is under age.
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 03:51 PM
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I must say I am very shocked at the number of responses suggesting Jackson over Yellowstone.
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 06:12 PM
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Well, the OP did say he wanted some night life.....
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 06:50 PM
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We will be in the Jackson Hole area for 5 full days (excluding a day of travel on the front and back ends of the trip). We plan to do the following activites on each of the 5 days:

1) Full day guided climb to Cody Peak.
2) White water rafting.
3) Fly fishing and visit Teton NP.
4) Mountian Biking and Paragliding.
5) Yellowstone.

We would visit the town of Jackson a few times for dinner and lunch as time permits.

In Teton Village we could stay in a very nice two bedroom condo vs. in the town we would have to stay in a much smaller room for the same price.

Does this make sense? Thanks?
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Old Mar 20th, 2013, 08:21 PM
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3Kubed you're fine. You are going to see quite a bit and do some of the best of activities in the area.

Don't let others detour you. Having a condo is best. Fix the meals when you want too and eat/drink out when you want too.

There are plenty more places to eat out in Teton Village.
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Old Mar 21st, 2013, 03:57 AM
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Thank you!!!
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Old Mar 27th, 2013, 07:22 PM
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Though I tend to prefer town over Teton Village, in your case, I agree with 1JAR. Stick with your condo, your boys can take the bus or cabs as needed to hit the bars in town, and you will all have a blast!

Just note that trying to do Yellowstone in one day is a brutal day of driving. Plenty of people do it; just want you to be sure that you know what you are getting into.
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