Adventures Abound Year-Round in Jackson Hole

Like many ski destinations, Jackson Hole has lots of activities that appeal to summer and winter visitors. Teton Village offers lots of ski-in, ski-out venues for food, lodging and entertainment, and the hiking and biking culture is perfect for summer. But a press trip in September (on the first day of fall, in fact) proved that the village’s shoulder season provides an equal amount of adventure for groups of all size and purpose.

Check out all there is to do in beautiful Jackson Hole, as we follow a press trip to Hotel Terra and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, neighboring hotels owned and managed by Noble House.

Talk about making a first impression — this was the view stepping off the plane at Jackson Hole Airport (the only airport in the country located in a National Park).

First stop was the eco-boutique Chill Spa at Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, featuring a rooftop hot tub, infinity pool, eucalyptus steam rooms and a quaint relaxation lounge.

Next, a site tour of Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa showed off the property’s spacious, lodge-like guest rooms and 5,000 sq. ft of meeting spaces.

The site tour of Hotel Terra illustrated the distinct difference between the two properties. While similar in design, Hotel Terra has a more modern concept, while the Lodge & Spa appeals more to families. Hotel Terra is also LEED Silver certified, and its green efforts are reflected throughout the hotel.

Energy Star-approved windows are highly efficient for the drastic temperature changes of summer and winter, and low-flow water fixtures conserve water in the sinks, tubs and toilets. Many of the items in guest rooms are created from sustainable materials and the mattresses are comprised of recycled steel springs and green cotton.

Each meeting room at the boutique hotel is connected by a foyer and pre-event space, creating a continuous meeting space that can accommodate any type of meeting or event–inside and out. The 2,885-square-foot Murie Ballroom boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, stylish design, AV systems and views of Teton Village and Rendezvous Mountain. French doors lead to a patio that overlooks the Teton Village Commons and is perfect for outdoor receptions.

The Albright room offers an additional 644 sq. ft. with lots of natural light and mountain views, and the 300-square-foot Craighead room serves as an airy boardroom or smaller breakout meeting space.

Just minutes down the road from Hotel Terra and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, Snake River Ranch is a quaint barn repurposed for truly authentic Wyoming events. A lush, gated lawn creates an off-the-beaten-path event space with spectacular views.

Can you imagine hosting an event or cocktail reception in an aerial tram? Take your group to the top of the mountain via tram for 100 to enjoy world famous Top of the World Waffles at Corbet’s Cabin. Or take the Bridger Gondola up 9,095 feet to Piste Mountain Bistro, which offers locally sourced sit down meals as well as a grab-and-go counter perfect for hungry skiers anxious to get back on the slopes. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a patio and the Wyoming skyline, and the restaurant can be bought out for events for up to 144 people.

For challenging summertime team-building, there’s the Ropes Course and Drop Tower at the base of the mountain. Three different rope obstacles are color coded per level of difficulty. The drop tower sends participants plunging 35 and 60 feet from two different platforms.

Barker Ewing raft tours took our group on a 2 1/2 hour floating wilderness tour down calm and serene Snake River, where we got an even closer look at the wilderness than we expected.

Simply named Jackson Hole Winery, the town’s premiere winery has a tasting room located in a rustic wood barn. The lawn accommodates picturesque outdoor events with incredible views of the Teton Mountains. The winery, which grows and picks its grapes in Sonoma, has a unique advantage in making the wine: the area’s elevation speeds up the fermentation process, where as in other climates wineries must find ways to slow it down.

One of the greatest advantages to visiting Jackson Hole in the shoulder season, other than the lack of crowds, is the incredible fall weather, perfect for scoping out wildlife. Our group took a safari tour with Wild Things of Wyoming owner Kurt Johnson, where we saw trumpet swans, redtail hawks, mule deer, bald eagles, bison, elk and more while touring  beautiful Grand Teton National Park.

The company also offers guided photography tours and star gazing tours, both at Teton and Yellowstone National parks, and can accommodate groups of all sizes.

Located in Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Il Villaggio Osteria is a hidden slice of Italy, offering handmade pastas and pizzas among other delectable Italian offerings, and seasonal scratch-made ice cream sandwiches.

Just steps from the meeting rooms at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa is the No. 1 restaurant in Teton Village, according to TripAdvisor: Spur Restaurant & Bar, offering lots of elevated small plates and family-style dining. Executive Chef Kevin Humphries has been voted Best Chef in Jackson for eight consecutive years by the local poll, Planet JH. It was also named The Place to Apres by SKI Magazine.