This December we visited Jackson Hole, Wyoming with the kids. It’s a place I have wanted to visit for many years and it was even more wonderful than I imagined. I think a winter vacation in Jackson Hole Wyoming is perfect for all ages. We traveled with kids ages 3-13 and all of them had the best time. From skiing to a winter safari, there are so many great activities for families. Here’s more about why we loved Jackson Hole:

For many years now, we have loved doing a family getaway in December. It’s fun to see a new place that’s all decorated for Christmas. It also helps us have a really special family weekend during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. We left for Jackson Hole on Dec 1st. We landed in a snowstorm, which was really exciting and made us even more happy for a trip out West to kick off December.

Winter Vacation in Jackson Hole Wyoming

How to Get There: We flew into Jackson Hole Airport. We wanted to get as close to the hotel as possible in case of having to drive in snow, which was the case when we landed so I am glad we didn’t fly somewhere else and drive in. It’s a great little airport. Renting a car took about 5 minutes and both arriving and departing from JAC was a breeze.

Downtown Jackson: Our hotel was 30 minutes from the airport and right in between was Downtown Jackson. We stopped for lunch and to walk around a bit before continuing on to the hotel. We did the same thing on the way out too – a stop in Downtown Jackson before the airport.

Lunch: Jackson Drug and Original Soda Fountain 

Jackson Drug and Original Soda Fountain has been around for almost 100 years. It’s the cutest little spot and the food was excellent. There are big booths for families or you can sit at the counter.

Yippy I-O Candy: We walked in a few shops but Yippy I-O Candy was definitely the kids favorite store. It’s a cool old fashioned candy shop. They stocked up on all the essentials for the hotel….

Where to Stay in Jackson Hotel with Kids

We stayed at  Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Jackson Hole. It’s perfectly located in Teton Village and is an incredible resort for families. Hotels can be tricky for a family of 7 but  Four Seasons Jackson Hole has residences to rent as well. So we had a spot with 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room etc, all with the amenities of being at a resort.

Four Seasons Jackson Hole was beautifully decorated for the holidays and had lots of fun holiday activities for the kids like s’mores and Christmas cookie making in the room. If you’ll be at the resort around the holidays, click here for all their festive offerings.

Another resort amenity my kids loved was the outdoor pool. Right on the side of the mountain Four Seasons Spa has an outdoor pool and a number of outdoor hot tubs. There’s not much cooler for kids than getting to swim OUTDOORS in the snow! The pool and hot tubs are nice and warm and when you get out there are heated towels waiting for you.

Where to Eat in Jackson Hole

Breakfast at Westbank Grill: We loved starting our day with breakfast at Westbank Grill. In addition to delicious breakfast foods to kick off a day of skiing, the views are incredible. At Westbank Grill you get panoramic views of Teton Village and Rendezvous Peak from your table. Westbank Grill is also open for dinner and is a steakhouse.

In Room Dining for Breakfast: We like to get in room dining on vacation. Getting everyone dressed and out the door in the morning isn’t always easy on vacation, so having mornings where we can sleep a bit and eat breakfast in pajamas is my favorite. The in room dining at Four Seasons Jackson Hole was excellent. From banana sourdough pancakes to smoothies, everything was top notch.

Lunch at The Handle Bar: Everyone loves a great meal mid-day when skiing. The Handle Bar is the best slopeside dining we’ve ever had. It was so fun we went back the next day. The Handle Bar is an American pub and beer hall, that has a wide selection of American and international beers, whiskeys and amazing food. My kids favorite: the rootbeer float!

Dinner at Ascent Lounge: We loved the laid back, relaxed feel at Ascent Lounge. It’s the perfect spot while on a winter getaway: cozy, fireplace, comfy seats and delicious food. There’s also an outdoor heated patio with views of the mountain. Ascent Lounge has a great kids menu too. We ate dinner there twice and both times were excellent. One night they gave my two oldest their own table by the fire and a puzzle to do while they waited for their food to arrive. They said it was the best vacation meal ever!

Skiing in Jackson Hole with Kids

A major plus about staying at Four Seasons Jackson Hole is that it’s ski in ski out. Also, they have their own rentals right at the hotel. The second floor of the hotel has a ski shop where they fit all of us for skis, boots, helmets, etc. The team there was awesome and got everyone all geared up to ski. They also dry your boots over night which is fabulous and have hot chocolate for the kids to enjoy on their way out.

You can exit the door of the Four Seasons ski shop and you are right at the base of the mountain, a stones throw from the lift up the mountain. If you have skied with kids, you know what it’s like to get them all ready, on skis and onto the lift. A slopeside resort made the day 100% easier and more enjoyable.

The mountain is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and is the best spot we have ever skied as a family. So many of you messaged me during the stay to say you’d love to ski there when your kids “get better at skiing”. None of my kids were good skiers before we went. The last 2 times we took them they actually had a really tough time and we had to really encourage them to try again in Jackson Hole.

They skied better than they ever have and finally had an experience that “hooked them” on skiing. Part of this had to do with excellent snowy conditions that are different than we have skied on the east coast, low crowds and big beautiful mountains to enjoy. The other part is the the staff on the mountain and in particular the instructor we had. He was fun, patient and an excellent teacher. If you want your kids to learn to ski and to love to ski, try Jackson Hole Mountain if you can.

Other Winter Activities in Jackson Hole

A Winter Safari: If you are heading to Jackson Hole in the Winter, be sure to set aside time for a winter safari. We booked a tour through Four Seasons concierge. We boarded our safari vehicle right before sunrise and drove into Teton National Park in search of wildlife.

It was a Monday that the kids should have been in school and at the end of the safari I said “I don’t feel bad they missed school because we all learned SO much!”. It was such a cool experience. We tracked moose and found them in the woods in the snow. We spotted coyotes and pulled over and watched them with our binoculars and got up close to see the longhorn sheep. Our kids are big animal lovers so this winter safari was a really special experience.

Dog Sledding: One afternoon we were lucky enough to stumble upon Call of the Wyld sled dog tours. Their spot is about a 2 minute walk from Four Seasons Jackson Hole and they’re the coolest people we’ve met in a long time. Like I mentioned above, we travel with a crew of animal lovers… they are also a crew of 5 kids asking for a dog for Christmas (they are not getting a dog for Christmas). So when I heard there were sled dogs you could meet I gathered everyone and we walked over.

The team at Call of the Wyld was so kind and patient with the kids and let them all meet, pet and interact with the sled dogs. They taught them all about the dogs too. Call of the Wyld provides private one hour dogsled tours right at the base of the Teton Mountains. We got to take a few practice rides with them and it was definitely a highlight of the trip!

Ice Skating: we were just a bit too early for ice skating but saw them setting up in Teton Village. It’s a great little spot to enjoy some winter skating!

Wolf Experience: If you are feeling extra adventurous, Four Seasons offers an exclusive Day with the Wolves experience that looks super cool. Details here: Day with the Wolves.

If you are looking for a great family vacation in the winter, I’d highly recommend Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It put us all in the Christmas spirit and has us all hoping to go back again someday soon. Our kids all loved the snow, the skiing, the food and activities at ages 3, 7, 9, 12 13. There was plenty to do for each age and gave us a wonderful pre-holiday reset as a family.