How to spend a weekend in Jackson, WY

Weekend trips are what get me (and likely many others) through what can be cold, dark winters around Salt Lake City. Whether that be a staycation at one of the surrounding ski resorts, a quick flight to California for some time on the beach, or simply visiting family for a little social interaction, it seems many Utah dwellers have a knack for adventure.

There's something particularly special, however, about one particular destination around 4.5 hours from downtown Salt Lake. Beckoning snowy mountainscapes, a renowned national park, old time candy shops, stellar brews, and plenty of cowboy hat shopping, we're going to Jackson, Wyoming.

After all, Yellowstone was the world's first national park, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest is the largest national forest in the lower 48 states.

Whether you're the family member shredding the slopes all day, or the family member enjoying a hot toddy with a book in hand by the fire, read on for my tips to a weekend in Jackson, WY.

Friday night

Assuming you arrive in Jackson in the evening, first let's check into your hotel and get settled.

Staying as close to downtown Jackson as possible was a must for me, so I stayed at Miller Park Lodge. Conveniently, this was just a 5-7 minute walk from just about everything I wanted to see and do in Jackson.

Nab a family room which can sleep up to four, or enjoy a deluxe king room featuring cozy fireplaces and deep soaking bathtubs.

Next, I'd recommend strolling into town for an evening brew. By 9 p.m., the renowned and historic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar was already beckoning a line, so I instead hopped over to the Silver Dollar Grill (just a few minutes' walk from Cowboy Bar) for some live music.

Saturday morning

After a nice night's rest surrounded by Wyoming's snowy mountains, stroll over to Persephone Bakery -- a bustling French bistro and James Beard finalist dishing out small bites like stellar cheddar scones and crispy almond croissants. If you can nab a table, feel free to enjoy a breakfast of quiche lorraine and seeded avocado bowls.

For an extra pick me up, walk over to Cowboy Coffee Co, where I easily snagged a table to enjoy an iced matcha. This local cafe will serve you plenty of local roasts and gargantuan doughnuts.

Saturday afternoon

Don't underestimate Jackson's shopping scene. When I visited in March, the deals for home goods and clothing were absolutely unreal. If you're traveling with others, send the boys on up to Beaver Creek Hats and Leather where they can test out hundreds of western cowboy hats, and take the ladies over to Western Range Clothing Co, or simply stroll the rustic sidewalks for plenty of window shopping.

If you're in search of some cowboy boots to pair, and popular local pup grub, drive on over to Boot Barn to get fixed up. Then, head into Eleanor's for a basket of meaty buffalo wings and local brews.

To close out the evening (and before the nightlife really kicks off) head into the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and enjoy a few games of pool over afternoon live music.

If you're traveling with kids, skip out on the brews and head to the National Elk Refuge. This is the largest established elk preserve in North America, and not to mention, you can even take a sleigh ride December through April alongside nearly 9,000 elk.

Saturday evening

Brewed with a touch of the Tetons, Since 1994 Snake River Brewing has been the original brewpub of Jackson, Wyoming. The story? They bought an old cinder block building that was previously the base of operations for a Coca-Cola distributor, and converted it into a famed local brewpub. Play darts and enjoy some pre-dinner drinks like the locals do.

For dinner, I'd recommend checking out reservation groups like OpenTable and making your dinner reservation several days in advance. We headed over to Roadhouse Pub and Eatery, where we sipped on delicious huckleberry cocktails, and noshed on flatbreads showered with figs and pork belly while chatting the evening away.

Snake River Brewing

Sunday morning

Stroll on over to Pearl Street Bagels. Here, I nabbed a honey sunflower seed bagel smeared with honey walnut cream cheese. They also dish out sandwiches made with their everything bagels, which looked equally stellar.

Sunday afternoon

Take a quick but beautiful drive over to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and keep your eyes peeled for moose.

Skiers, take to the mountain. Famous for good reason since the 1960s, the resort beckons world-class athletes, especially to the famed Corbet's Couloir. According to the resort, "Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has the longest continuous vertical rise of any ski area in the U.S., rising 4,139 feet from the valley floor to the top of Rendezvous Mountain!"

Non-skiers? No worries. Head into Alpenhof Dining and enjoy snowy views, crackling fireplaces, steamy goulash, and bubbling glasses of rose.

Sunday evening

Time to head home. While pretty much every route to and from Jackson from Salt Lake City is notably photo-worthy, be sure to take Teton Pass if the road conditions are good for glimpses of backcountry skiers and some of the country's most beautiful peaks.

Alpenhof Dining