This Holiday Season, my fiancee and our children all met for
skiing and a family Christmas in Jackson Hole. The six of us, all adults,
stayed in a cabin at Mad Dog Ranch near Wilson, Wyoming. I recommend these
cabins. The price was reasonable, the cabins well-appointed (not luxurious,
just very comfortable), and it has an outdoor hot tub. It was a terrific
six days. Niki and I cross-country skied along the Snake River while the
kids skied Snow King, and then we all spent two days skiing at Targhee. The
downhillers and telemarkers loved the slopes. I stick with Nordic and
backcountry snowshoeing. The Nordic trails were beautifully groomed, but
you can do some backcountry skiing if you have the right equipment. The
Nordic trails are not extensive (you can do the entire length in less than a
day), but there is a variety of skill level trails, and even Quakie Ridge,
the black diamond trail, is manageable for those with a fair amount of
experience. I also saw no more than a dozen people on the trails in two
days of skiing -- a real plus for those of us that like cross country skiing
because it gets you away from the crowds on the slopes. With snowshoes you
are able to climb the rises to the west and north, get a great workout, and
experience the solitude and immense beauty of the area.
Targhee is also more reasonably priced (lift tickets and Nordic area user
fees) than Teton Village.
The weather was wonderful -- sunny, near 30 degrees in the afternoon, and
fresh snow just the day before.
I also recommend taking the sleigh ride into the National Elk Refuge outside
of Jackson. We did it on Christmas Eve and saw elk, bald eagles, and a
spectacular sunset. You start and end at the National Museum of Wildlife
Art. It is a great museum, so I recommend arriving early and purchasing a
combo ticket to view the galleries and take the sleigh ride. It also has
one of the finest gift shops in the area.