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and promotional photos.
Kids of all ages get to play in Jackson Hole. One
surefire pleaser is snow tubing at Snow King Mountain.
Families can rent tubes at King Tubes, a dedicated
snow tubing area.
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are other
fabulous options. Rangers at Grand Teton National
Park lead daily snowshoe tours in the winter. Commercially
guided snowshoe trips are also offered to
Teton Pass, a backcountry wilderness area. Many
shops rent snowshoes for daily use if you want to go
out on your own.
Cross-country ski tours are also a great way to enjoy
some fresh air and exercise while escaping the modern
day cowboys on the downhill slopes. Ultimately
there’s nothing like the silence and solitude of the
woods blanketed in a mantle of snow.
After all this activity, you’ll probably need to relax
in one of the many beautiful spas that have cropped
up in Jackson Hole. They offer every indulgence,
from massage and acupuncture to unique treatments
inspired by the region’s Native American population.
For example, the 11,684-square-foot spa at the Four
Seasons Resort boasts 16 treatment rooms, including
two private spa suites. Each has a Swiss shower, fireplace
and deep soaking tub.
For cowboy or city slicker, outdoor touring or
Alpine skiing enthusiast, few locations rival Jackson
Hole for diversity, sheer majestic beauty and rusticmeets
cosmopolitan mix of entertainment and recreational
options. It may not be the easiest or closest ski
resort to get to, but for certain it is one of the most
difficult to tear yourself away from once you sample
its many delights. n
Then, too, there’s Togwotee Pass, one of the best
snowmobile areas in the country, with 600 miles of
groomed trails and 2.5 million acres of mountain
terrain. A trip to Granite Hot Springs includes lunch,
hot soup and beverages. The Gros Ventre ride offers
an optional soothing soak in the natural hot springs,
so don’t forget to pack your bathing suit and towel.
Another less common adventurous option is dogsledding.
Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours offer
modern sleds led by experienced guides, but it certainly
ups the challenge if you drive your own sled. The
young dogs, a hybrid of Eskimo Sled and Northern
Huskies, are always eager to run and some are even
being trained for the iconic Alaskan Iditarod.
For a more relaxing ride, try a horse-drawn sleigh
through the National Elk Refuge. This 24,700-acre
sanctuary is home to the largest elk herds in the world
and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sleighs bring you within 20 to 30 feet of these majestic
animals. Guides explain migration patterns and
are capable of answering just about any elk-related
question. Double H Bar Inc. offers tours from mid-
December to early April. They run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
daily, with shuttles leaving the Greater Yellowstone
Visitors Center in Jackson Hole.
One interesting side note: The elk shed their antlers
every year. The Boy Scouts of America have been collecting
these antlers under a permit since the 1950s.
More than 10,000 pounds are auctioned off each year,
with three-quarters of the proceeds used to irrigate
the grasses at the refuge. This provides food for the
hungry herds. And be sure to look for the four huge
antler arches leading to Jackson Hole’s historic town
square, which have been featured in countless selfies
King Tubes
snow tubing
park is a sure
kid pleaser.
COURTESY OF JACKSON HOLE MOUNTAIN RESORT; RIGHT: NEW THOUGHT MEDIA