Jackson, Wyoming

The early morning sunlight beamed through the clouds and bounced off the mountain as we made our ascent up the mountain pass. Grant you, my hands were tense and clammy as I held the steering wheel tightly, for my nerves about driving through a steep mountain pass were high, but my excitement helped push through the worry. As we reached the top, we had to pull over onto an overlook, for there was a slight that no man should ever let pass. The cool mountain air breezed past my face and the sunlight made every leave on the pine trees glisten. The wildflowers swayed in the breeze and there below in the deep valley at the base of the Grand Tetons laid a little town that seemed so still and quiet from so far high up. The clouds which seemed so close slowly shaded the valley and river below, and there in what was left of the morning mist and the stillness of the Tetons, I realized this would surely be one of the most beautiful places my eyes ever saw.

If that isn’t enough to entice you to go visit then keep reading, for this popular Wyoming destination is one that should be on your travel list. Jackson is known as a luxurious destination for many, offering fine skiing and winter sports during the cold months of the year and the perfect summer getaway for those outdoor enthusiasts looking for escapes into nature's majestic mountain ranges or some recreational fun in the valley. This town is one that offers much to both the outdoor enthusiast and the city dweller. On top of being a destination that offers much, it is a town that not only holds the natural beauty from its exquisite scenery and surrounding mountains, but the town itself is designed to embrace the rugged nature it lives in while adding a few modern architectural touches.

As you drive through town you certainly get the sensation you’re in a mountain town, but it feels much more unique than that. You feel like you have been transported to something that almost feels unreal. The thing is, I have driven through many towns in my life and many of them being mountain towns. Some of been like an abandoned western film set and others have been quaint gems that are tucked away in between some of God’s most beautiful creations. This is one of those gems that is bustling with life while remembering the roots from which it grew. Some may argue that this isn’t an authentic western mountain town, and to a degree they are correct. If you are looking for something much more off the beaten path and far less of an attraction, then this isn’t for you. But this town does encompass what it means to be an old western town that looks to the future while honoring its past. In a way, you could say they are still a genuine mountain town because quite honestly the mountain towns that we see in movies are a thing of the past. To survive they must embrace the future. Perhaps not embrace it fully, and still preserve many of the traditions of customs of the past, but moving forward can be a good thing. Anyways, if that is something you are looking for in a destination, then Jackson is worth the travel.

The downtown is one that has preserved the traditional western buildings while bringing them new life and purpose as boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, and countless offices. We had heard Jackson was beautiful, but actually being there is what confirmed that reputation. The day we visited was actually a pretty busy day as there was a festival and farmers market going on. But I’ll be honest, considering it was summer and a peak day out of the week, dealing with the crowd was actually very manageable. I was surprised that with so many people there, we actually were able to get around pretty easily and even find a good parking spot. Now that just goes to show that the development of the town has been very well thought out and executed, which every tourist hotspot should be. From the parking to the sidewalks, while there was a crowd, the layout of the town square allowed for plenty of room for our little family to get around. And the crowds really only lasted half the morning, by noon the bustle had reduced to nearly half of when we arrived.

One thing we didn’t realize until we were there was how much of an art destination Jackson is. There were so many art galleries located in the town square that it was incredible to see. We didn’t have the chance to go to each one but were able to go to four different galleries and it was such a beautiful experience. Both my husband and I are artists and so naturally strolling through the art galleries was such a treat for us. What was beautiful was how each of the galleries paid tribute to the iconic landscape and creatures of the region. Offering countless mediums, even ones we had not seen before, this was perhaps one of our favorite experiences. My personal favorite was the Gallery Wild. This gallery held some of the most beautiful wildlife artwork that I have seen. The artist really captured the beauty of each creature on the canvases with smooth brushstrokes and colors that emphasized each majestic animal's character. This collection was one we could have stayed and looked at for hours. I was personally captivated by the majestic elks. One painting, in particular, took my breath away as the eyes of this amazing creature were so captivating, as if the artist was able to make them look like the elk was staring straight into my soul.

A bit of a tradition for us when it comes to traveling and experiencing new places is getting coffee and baked goods from a local cafe or bakery. There was one place that I absolutely had to try before leaving and that was Persephone. This bakery was the perfect combination of traditional French bakery meets modern vintage cafe. With its cozy interior that held a few nooks for indoor dining and its small, yet versatile display case filled with decadent pastries, and shelves of croissants lined against the back wall, you could not help but feel like you had made it to a baker's dream shop. Quaint, warm, classy, and sophisticated, with a modern twist, Persephone is the place for all you bakers out there. The little white house had a line going out the front door but this was one line I was making us stand in. However, the line moved fairly quickly as the servers quickly collected your order at the counter. The perfect thing about being there in the summer was the outdoor seating area. Mind you this bake shop used to be a little white house, possibly from the early 1900s, that was brought back to its former glory, and with it a great patio and yard that has been filled with tables and chairs that compliment the interior of the shop. The yard opens up into a small park that sits in the center of several houses with a coffee house being one of the neighbors. What more perfection could you want? Well, perfection was sitting on a bench under the shade of two large pine trees sipping on a lavender-honey chai latte while slowly bitting into the flaky and sweet decadence of the warm almond croissant as the children play in the yard and a few birds search the gravel for any crumbs of the pastry that may be left. There are no other words to best describe the perfection that comes with enjoying the delicious creations that Persephone has to offer.

Like any tourist, you probably want to take a little souvenir home with you as a remembrance of your exciting travels. Jackson Mercantile provides many of the usual souvenirs like mugs, ornaments, key chains, and t-shirts. But it has a wide selection of local goods that have been made by local artists and jewelers. Aside from t-shirts, there were many local jams, artisan chocolates with some huckleberry, anything huckleberry actually, handmade jewelry by local Native American artists, toys, and wood-carved figurines. Actually picking something was hard, because there was just so much and things that were of good quality too. But we quickly fell in love with a wooden buffalo figurine that made for the perfect addition to our work desk. A small reminder of one of our favorite memories in a town that captivated our hearts.

Now, we’ve talked about sweet treats already but we each have a little kid inside of us that could never resist stepping into a candy shop, least of all this kid. Located right behind Jackson Mercantile, Yippy I-O Candy Company is every kid's dream shop. The second you walk in you feel like you’re in an old western mercantile. There are barrels and barrels filled with candy for you to choose from and glass jars filled with traditional sweets, all lines along the shelf. I never knew there were so many different candies. There were lemon drops, candy canes of every flavor, taffy in every color, chocolate turtles, licorice, and every piece of candy one can imagine. At the counter, there was a display case filled with chocolate truffles of various flavors and a selection of homemade fudge that made your mouth water. The chocolate truffles were our treat, and my personal favorite was the orange cream. Now, this girl right here had never had a canned apple. Yes, I know, how have a never had one? Well, I have now. Along with our chocolates, we splurged and ordered one caramel apple for this girl to finally try. Boy was that thing good! Juicy, crisp, and with an amazing chewy caramel that satisfied every sweet tastebud in my mouth, I almost didn’t share with my husband. On second thought, you might want to think twice before going into the candy shop, the sugar rush is a high possibility if you go in.

Jackson is a place where we created many sweet memories as a family, and many were literally sweet. It is a town that thrives on tourism but, it has managed to maintain much of its identity by honoring the past and the people of the area while striving to create a place that people of all ages and lifestyles can enjoy. Jackson is a place where you can go with your girlfriends for a girl's weekend or where you can take the whole family for some outdoor adventures and good eats. Filled with festivals and events throughout the year, endless outdoor adventures, delicious dining, and activities for all ages, there is always something to do in this mountain town. We truly enjoyed our time here and found ourselves eager to come back one day and enjoy much more of the splendor and heart of the Tetons.