There’s a whole lot to love about Jackson Hole, Wyo., in the summer.
The area around the town of Jackson is known as Jackson Hole, a valley surrounded by mountains. Four-and five-star hotels and restaurants, as well as entertainment options, tempt visitors of the ski-resort utopia, but the best way to see the area is to go up, up and away from the “hole.”
Head to nearby Teton Village, on the west side of Jackson, to catch an unforgettable, 15-minute aerial tram ride. It may be the best $32 (or $17 for ages 6-17) ever spent.
The tram transports visitors 4,139 vertical feet from the base to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, where they encounter a breathtaking 360-degree view of Grand Teton National Park, the Snake River Valley, and the Gros Ventre Range (within the Bridger-Teton National Forest) in the distance.
Once on the summit, summer guests discover a brilliant mix of dense snow and lush greens. Higher elevation now makes the Grand Tetons seem within arm’s reach —approachable rather than menacing.
The picturesque scenery includes a long hill that slopes steadily down and seems to suddenly drop off in front of a curvy, wild glacial valley of the Tetons. The graceful bend of the snowy Teton mountain is aesthetically pleasing from all angles and is difficult to take your eyes off … until you hear the squeaks.
The sound of a nearby marmot, a type of large ground squirrel that lives in rock piles in alpine areas, commands attention. This particular marmot was born to be photographed, seemingly posing to the backdrop of stunning topographic landscapes. Between the clicks of cameras, the marmot burrows between rocks, likely in search of grass or moss to devour.
Or, maybe the marmot is digging for waffles.
A few hundred feet away, Corbet’s Cabin greets visitors with top-of-the-world waffles. Not regular waffles, mind you, but melt-in-the-mouth waffles topped with brown sugar butter. Other varieties include Nutella, peanut butter and bacon. The cabin offers hot and cold drinks, snow cones, snacks and tram souvenirs.
Upon taking the tram back to the base of the mountain, one may partake in children’s activities at Grand Adventure Park, such as a bungee jumping, climbing ropes, pedaling around a bike park, or scaling a climbing wall area.
Teton Village is composed of first-rate lodging at the base of Mount Rendezvous, including Four Seasons Resort, Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, and Snake River Lodge & Spa. The area is known as Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and includes a myriad of enviable dining options. An excellent, approachable restaurant is Nick Wilson’s Cowboy Cafe, which features a huge pulled pork nachos appetizer, pizza and sandwiches.
But the real star in is the scenery up above; it’s a whole new world.