Jackson Travel Forum

Miamian decided that the children need to see snow. Have arranged for a condo to stay at from New Years through Jan 7. Do not know what else we are doing.
Kids 6(boy) & 15(girl)
None of us have skiied or visited western mountains in winter before...All advice you want to through our way is welcome:
1. New years eve suggestions?
2. Resteraunts?
3. Can you rent (or purchase cheaply) old fashoned sleds? -- And where can you use them best?
4. Daughter wants to try snowboarding -- Where should we get lessons? where should we rent?
5. We own no real winter clothes -- should we pick up stuff in Miami or on line or is there a cheap source in Jackson?
6. Sleigh ride -- recommended or not?
7. Same question -- dog sled?
8. Am I correct that a side trip to Yellowstone is not recommended this time of year (since we only have a week)
9. Any other thoughts? What should we do with our time?

I don't have too many answers about Jackson Hole that you can't find on their website. I am sure you can sign your daughter up for lessons (with rentals) at the ski resort. Watch for combo packages to get the best deal.

What I would strongly encourage you to do is to go to Yellowstone. We visited in Winter from West Yellowstone so I'm not sure what the arrangements are from Jackson Hole, but there were some folks who had entered through that direction so I know it can be done. If you can, take a snowmobile excursion. The park is rigid about how you do that. You must go with a guide and only a specific number of snowmobiles are allowed in the park each day. But you will see AMAZING wild life. You'll see Elk and Bison and Bald Eagles. It's so very special in winter. Alternatively, you can take a snow coach tour where you just ride in a specially equipped van. I don't know if those go in from Jackson. If you take a look at my Yellowstone pages you'll see photos of my trip this past winter.

Have a blast!

Hello Dirk, I'm from Miami as well and have been visiting Jackson Hole since '93.
Absolutely love it there and have been over 20 times.
To answer some of your questions:
Pick up snow clothes - DEFINETELY! Very cold at that time of the year.
You can go to Peter Glenn on US1 by the Falls and pick up (from 2nd floor) last year's discontinued items at a great discount.
Remember to dress in Layers.
Gros Ventre area is the best area for sledding, as well as offering great scenery.
Elk Refuge, make sure and take a sleigh ride through it amongst the hundreds of Elk which winter in the Jackson area each year.
Go to Yellowstone, arrange a snowmobile tour which will pick you up at your hotel, include breakfast and lunch and take you out all day.
They provide snow suits and gear with the rental of the snowmobile and you are led to Old Faithful, stopping off along the way.
Restaurants: Many to choose from in Jackson but make sure and stop at the Million Dollar Cowboy bar and just below, the steak house.
We love Jackson Steaks as well.
Any other questions, please feel free to ask, either on here or to my external Email: HOMANDED@aol.com

Good answers, I second everything. If you can pick up winter clothes in FLorida that would be better, you'd get some great clothes in Jackson, not sure they'd be cheap. The new plastic sleds are cheap ($10?) and can be found in odd places- gas stations, walgrens, grocery stores. Ask around, the locals should be able to give you good places to use them. If they offer sleigh rides on the Elk Refuge that would be number one on my list. Haven't done it in Jackson, but have elsewhere and loved it. And last, Yellowstone in the winter is becoming a great vacation destination. You could get snowcoach tours from Jackson and it would be a great expensive one day trip.

Thank you for all the advice. I have picked up some gear and am planning activities. I thought the snowmobile trip might be much for my 6 year old, but it sounds like you disagree.

There is a difference between a snowmobile trip --in which case you are driving and in control and exposed to the weather/wind etc. - and a snowcoach trip which is in an enclosed and heated vehicle which somebody else drives. Some of the ones I saw were just vans, or Explorers which had been refitted with snow tracks. One day trips are too expensive for me, but if that isn't a problem your six year old would love seeing the wildlife and Old faithful.

Agree with Sego's advice. Yes, we almost froze our butts off on the snowmobile, plus, if you're not used to it, your arms will ache for a good couple days afterwards trying to control the thing. Take her advice and go by snowcoach. Again, pricey but, if you've never been to Old Faithful, the wintertime is particularly impressive. Beautiful scenery, incredible wildlife with rich coats and fattened up for winter.
Old Faithful and surrounding geysers seem much larger as the steam produced against the cold winter air seems to multiply the effect!

Don't miss goint on the Elk refuge's hay ride to feed the hundreds of Elk!

How's the snow and skiing conditions around New Years?

You should have wonderful conditions around New Years.
Also, nearby Grand Targhee should be up and in full swing!
I don't think snow will be a problem.

I'm headed there for the 2nd time in less than 2 months in about 3 weeks.
Temps are already dropping down into the 20's at night and plenty of frost on the ground.
It's only a short matter of time before the snow arrives.