Things To Do In Jackson Hole

L ocated in a picturesque          Blessed with pristine forests,     valley in western Wyoming       sparkling lakes, and expansive     and surrounded by               meadows, the area is an absolute   spectacular mountain ranges,          haven for outdoor recreation and   Jackson Hole has been called "the     adventure. Though Jackson Hole is  last and best of the Old West."       better known for outdoor pursuits  The town of Jackson (at the end       such as fishing and skiing, the    of Jackson Hole) features a           town is blessed with one of the    charming square complete with         best eighteen holes in the         western boardwalks and elkhorn        country. The award-winning         arches, plus a number of designer     championship course at the         shops, cafés, restaurants, and       Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club    art galleries. This                   has attracted the likes of Bill    frontier-town-turned-ski-resort       Clinton and George Bush. Best of   has over two thousand hotel rooms     all, it's open to the public.      to accommodate the droves of                                             tourists that filter in               - One of the biggest draws in      throughout the year. With Grand       Jackson Hole is the wonderful      Teton National Park and               fishing that can be found in the   Yellowstone National Park nearby      nearby rivers, lakes and streams.  (which attract nearly 6 million       The 1038-mile Snake River boasts   people each year), visitors can       some of the best fly-fishing       enjoy terrific fishing, hiking,       anywhere and attracts thousands    camping, rafting, climbing and,       of eager anglers each year.        of course, skiing. Jackson Hole                                          also puts on several great            - The terrain of the Jackson Hole  festivals, including a Summer         Mountain Resort is generally       Music Festival and Fall Arts          regarded by skiing fanatics as     Festival.                             the most varied, challenging and                                         breathtaking of any ski resort in  the United States.                    Jackson Hole Aerial Tram Ride.                                           Located at Jackson Hole Ski        - The National Museum of Wildlife     Resort, the tram lets one scan     Art showcases perhaps the finest      the mountains and surrounding      wildlife art exhibit in the           area from a dizzying height of     country. Housed in a 50,000           10,000 feet. At that elevation,    square foot castle-like building,     it can get quite chilly - even in  the museum features 14 galleries      the summer months.                 and over 2,000 paintings by many                                         renowned artists, including John      - In Jackson Hole, the shoulder    J. Audubon, Charles Russell,          seasons of Spring and Fall are     Albrecht Durer, George Catlin,        hidden gems. In Spring, solitude   Albert Bierstadt and many others.     and wildlife abound. Great                                               activities include snowshoeing                                           and cross-country skiing. Viewing  - If one is visiting Jackson Hole     wildlife is more common as         during the winter months, one         animals come down to the           should take time to visit the         snow-free valley to feed.          National Elk Refuge, home to the                                         largest gathering of elk in North     - Jackson Hole has several old     America. Beginning in late            Wild West watering holes,          autumn, thousands of elk make the     including the Million Dollar       long trek from the high country       Cowboy Bar which was made famous   down to Jackson Hole.                 in the Clint Eastwood film, "Any                                         Which Way You Can." One can hop    - If one wants to get a bird's        on one of the saddle barstools     eye view of the magnificent           and order up one's favorite        expanse of land that comprises        whiskey or, if one prefers, a      the Great Valley, one must take a     soft drink                         About the Author: Jim Hartley recommends that you visit http://www.rustyparrot.com for more information on a Jackson Hole hotel. Source: www.isnare.com