amydial

Hello All,
I'm planning to surprise my husband with a ski trip in January. I don't love skiing myself so I'm trying to decide between Jackson Hole and Banff for all-around winter fun, but with skiing as the focus. Neither of us has been to either place so I'm looking for the clincher to decide which place is the best choice. Beyond skiing, we like to have a cool little town to hang out in and good food. Any strong feelings on one town over the other?

juliae_mei

Hi!

Frankly, I don't think that you will go wrong either way.

Jackson Hole is a luxury Old West town, kind of remote, smaller than Banff, and it doesn't have the amenities that you find in Banff. There are several great spas and luxury resorts, but there are some amazing ranches. It has a rugged, outdoorsy, cowboy boots and hat feel and Idaho and Wyoming have this beautiful golden sunlight that is hard to describe.

Banff is classic, historic, old Canada with a fairy tale Scottish castle meets the Wild West feel. It feels European, but is outdoorsy and laid-back. It has more of a small city with blocks and blocks of shopping, restaurants, art museums. It is surrounded by gorgeous sharp Rockies with horizontal ridges, snow rests on these ridges and it is spectacular. The spa at the Banff Springs Hotel is a great treat - highly recommend it! We always eat a Alberta beef burger at Melissa's MisSteak in downtown Banff.

I live close to Jackson Hole and was in Banff about a month ago and you really can't go wrong with either place.

amydial

Thank you so much for your reply! I'm leaning towards Jackson Hole so if they are a pretty even split, I think that's where we'll end up.

qwovadis

www.otel.com

Rimrock nice or Fairmont Banff Springs if budget is good.

Skiing is WAY better and closer in Banff if that matters.

Jackson is a touristy flat westernized town with nice

view of the Tetons but no skiers Mecca.

Park City Telluride Vail a tonne better in the US.

Happy Hunting!

qwovadis

allcrestedbutte.com a classic cute little ski town

also great my fav not ever too crowded close to Aspen.

SeamBoat Springs also nice wester vibe with great skiing near

tomfuller

Do you both have passports? How would you get to Banff?
There are probably 3 or 4 better ski resorts/towns in the US other than Jackson Hole.

biny

You can't go wrong in either location - two of the most scenic spots in North America.

But I would beg to differ on qwovadis' characterization of Jackson Hole's skiing though. The slopes are a mere 15 minutes from town, plus there is a nice base village if you prefer to be slopeside. And with the longest, steepest vertical in the US, it easily ranks among the top resorts in the world for serious skiers (but there is plenty of good terrain for intermediates too).

bmw732002

Been to both.
Jackson Hole is geared twoard serious skiers!
Town is nice but not near the slopes
Can do snowmobile adventure in Yellowstone for a diversion (I think they still allow snowmobiles??)

Banff is Classic Canadian Rocky beauty! Need to drive to the three ski areas. Lake Louse is the largest ski mountain and the "Chateau Lake Louise" is one awesome hotel property/setting!!

Town is a bundle of resturants hotels and trinket shops.

-john

AndrewDavid

banff townsite could be any generic upscale shopping neighbourhood in the world. it appears to be a sunday shopping walkabout for calgarians. didn't see anyone there (except the kids bussing tables) who looked as if they had any great interest in the outdoors.the surrounding lansdscape of course is spectacular if you are willing to eschew the lattes and louis vuitton for the trail

AndrewDavid