Why Jackson Hole is the Premier American West Destination

I have a confession: Until last fall, I wouldn’t have done that Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This came as a shock to friends who know how much I love this tricky combination of venture and exclusivity, and when I told them I was finally leaving for this beloved destination, they were just as excited as I was. And let me tell you, Jackson Hole did not disappoint.

I was completely blown away from the moment our plane touched down at the small (and recently modernized) airport in the middle of the night. Grand Teton National Park, with boundless landscapes stretching in every direction. Ongoing conservation efforts here are evident, which reflects Jackson Hole Land Fund Protecting about 55,000 acres across the Northwest Wyoming.

The best place to stay is without a doubt Four Seasons Resort and Residences. the Forbes Five starsAnd the AAA five diamond Hotel is one of the few luxury ski resorts in Americalocated at the base of the highest rating Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Having stood like a grand lady Teton Village A two-decade-old, the lavish six-acre estate underwent a complete makeover last year.

All 124 spacious Guest rooms and suites Updated, with updated interiors that reflect the serene surroundings and incorporate the latest technology. Several are privately owned housing Inside the property is also available for rent, including the Creme de la Creme penthouse, which features five bedrooms spread across 4,700 square feet. Although I was tempted to stay away in the secluded retreat of our suite (complete with a gas fireplace, private balcony, and vistas galore), the Four Seasons’ impressive array of amenities and activities was inviting.

The hotel’s public spaces are decorated with natural materials such as wood, stone and leather, which serve as a gallery backdrop for an impressive collection of some 2,000 artworks, including original works by Joan MiroAnd the Grant Wood And the Alberto Giacometti. All cravings are satisfied thanks to the site Culinary showsincluding a sophisticated steakhouse Westbank Grillraucous handle bar and rest Boarding hall. (I highly recommend the Wagyu beef tartare and the bison steak with grilled foie gras at Westbank, if you ask.)

As I quickly learned, relaxation is not difficult here. Recording time in approximately 12,000 square feet, and Spa It features a full-service salon, hot and cold hydrotherapy, steam rooms, and a wide range of massage treatments, facials, and other soothing treatments. the Après body ritual With a relaxing whirlpool soak, customized massage, invigorating foot scrub, and rich body wrap, it’ll set you up after a day of skiing, hiking, or otherwise enjoying mountain life. Free yoga classes are held in the well-equipped gymnasium, and the heated free-form pool is the perfect place to cool off year-round.

But let’s be real: Adventure is the name of the game at Jackson Hole, and Four Seasons is definitely what it offers. The hotel uses local experts to guide you in a large number of places Trips All year round, like fly fishing Or white water rafting Snake Riverhot air balloon tours, motorcycle and horseback riding excursions and, especially, meeting the new wild wolf nearby Yellowstone National Park. For our Grand Teton wildlife safaris, I raised the bar, telling our nature guide I hoped to see all the animals the 310,000-acre park is known for, including the elusive grizzly bear. In addition to educating us about the area’s notable conservation programs, she somehow pulled it off, complete with sightings of elk, moose, hornbills, bison, and yes, even a grizzly bear.

Of course, no trip to Jackson Hole is complete without a visit to downtown, where all the attractive shops, restaurants, and art galleries are centered around the idyllic town square. An upscale group of restaurants It sits behind the best restaurants here – including a wine and tapas bar Ben 22an Asian fusion restaurant the kitchen and a Parisian brasserie Bistro – all of which accentuate the destination’s signature casual elegance. I also thoroughly enjoyed strolling through National Museum of Wildlife Artfeaturing works from Georgia O’KeeffeAnd the Carl Rungius And the John James Audubon.

So to all the old Jackson Hole fans: I totally get it. I understand now why this small town in Wyoming attracted everyone from financier to philanthropist John D Rockefeller Jrwho in the 1920s helped found Grand Teton, according to a famous photographer Ansel Adamswhich captured the scenic landscape of the area, for modern-day enthusiasts such as Sandra BullockAnd the Harrison Ford And the Brad Pitt. And with our collective fascination with the farm lifestyle at an all-time high (thanks, Yellowstone), I’m ready for the prime minister’s jackson hole proclamation The American West destination.

Read this article as it appears in the journal.