It used to be that Jackson Hole closed up shop—and its restaurants, galleries, and entertainment—between summer and winter. These days, fall jumps with cultural and outdoor options.
Sights and Events
Center for the Arts: David Sedaris and Ani DiFranco have performed at the 525-seat theater. In October, it holds the Wild Fest, with films and speakers.
Mountain Dandy and Made: Neighboring shops sell a cutely curated collection—jewelry, cards, animal mounts fashioned from Pendleton blankets—handcrafted by artists from across the country.
National Museum of Wildlife Art: From its free outdoor Sculpture Trail to its permanent collection of 5,000-plus pieces, including works by Picasso and Western painter John Clymer, the place defines wildlife broadly.
Jackson is a biking haven, whether you want to downhill mountain bike or cruise paved trails.
Outdoor Fun
Granite Hotsprings Pool: You should be able to drive the 10 miles from U.S. Route 191 to this naturally fed pool through October. But during the winter season, starting Dec. 6, the pool is accessible only by dogsled, snowmobile, snow bike, or skis.
Jackson Pathways: Starting in downtown Jackson, follow a 20-mile stretch of the valley's paved pathway system. It travels through the National Elk Refuge and over the Gros Ventre and Snake Rivers before heading to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park.
Gather's pork buns.
Where to Eat in Jackson
Gather: Try for a reservation at the intimate Tuesday Tastings at noon, where guests play food critic while sampling potential specials for the following week's dinner menu.
King Sushi: A historic log cabin that began life as a blacksmith shop now houses a kitchen that serves playful Japanese dishes such as a scallop shooter: scallops with uzura (quail egg), negi (a kind of onion), tobiko (flying fish roe), and ponzu.