Vogue.com Ski Towns USA - Jackson Hole
Arguably the most challenging ski mountain in the U.S., if not the world, Jackson Hole has 2,500 acres of designated runs, including the death-defying, ultra-steep Corbet’s Couloir, plus endless fields of pristine back-country powder (though a guide is recommended for those who dare to explore it). In the last decade it has welcomed some ultra-posh accommodations,
but its unpretentious charm remains.
VIBE: Hard-core skiing, cowboy style.
STAY: The Four Seasons Resort brings five-star luxury to Teton Village at the base of the ski mountain, whereas the new Hotel Terra offers a fresh boutique-hotel aesthetic and eco-friendly amenities. A half hour from the ski mountain, Amangani is one of two mainland U.S. outposts of the world-class Aman group. Among the most beautiful hotels in the country, Amangani features 40 stunning suites finished in wood and stone.
EAT: At mid-mountain, Couloir offers fine dining, based on local ingredients; try the Snake River Farms Kobe beef. For a hearty pre-ski breakfast, go for the waffles at Corbet’s Cabin at the top of the gondola. At the base of the mountain in Teton Village, Il Villaggio Osteria has excellent Tuscan cuisine, and Teton Thai is a casual bistro that serves authentic Thai dishes and is big with the après-snowboard crowd.
HANG: Saloon-hop the nearby town of Jackson—from the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, with Western-saddle barstools and country western dancing to live music, to the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill at the Wort Hotel, where the winding bar is inlaid with more than 2,000 silver dollars; wear your boots. On the mountain, the Mangy Moose Saloon has the hottest après-ski scene.
CELEBRITY FACTOR: Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Harrison Ford, Uma Thurman, and Matthew McConaughey.
DON’T MISS: Shopping in Teton Village at the base of the ski mountain, where a bevy of independent boutiques await. Check out: Rodeo, for Moncler, Elizabeth and James, Gryphon, and Lemlem; MADE, for handmade, repurposed, and found gifts; and the brand-new Wool & Whiskey, for rugged menswear. Also consider taking a day off from the downhill runs to visit Yellowstone National Park, which is sublime in winter—cross-country ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile tours are all options.
