Don’t hesitate to bring your entire family to Jackson Hole; in fact, you’ll probably find yourself entering a second childhood there! The valley is full of age appropriate activities that won’t make adults feel like they’re sacrificing their fun for the kids.
Start the day off with a pun and some fun at Amaze’n Jackson Hole – yes, it's a giant maze. Located on Snow King Avenue, the maze is suited for leisurely explorers and those of a more competitive nature: there's a timed race with prizes at the end.
During the winter, you’ll want to visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art, on Rungius Road. It looks like a castle, and contains a huge auditorium and over ten permanent exhibits featuring artists such as John Audobon.
Pick up tickets for a sleigh ride from the Jackson Hole Greater Yellowstone Visitors Center at 532 North Cache St. for the National Elk Refuge, and you and your family can zip across snowy landscapes and see some wildlife in person. Call 307-733-0277; the sleigh runs from mid- December through March and costs about $18 for adults.
Another museum unique to Jackson is Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Concept Attractions. Inspired by Robert Ripley (the man who produced the TV show), the Jackson museum houses unbelievable artifacts like Annie Oakley’s gun, dinosaur fossils and bones, human skulls, an “upside down room,” and a climbing wall. Let your kids loose here – it’s probably the only museum they’ll want to stay at longer than you will.
If you're traveling with older children or teenagers with grown-up appetites, don’t miss Billy’s Giant Hamburgers, a burger joint that boasts epic-sized cuts of meat and extra-thick milkshakes. One TripAdvisor reviewer claims she and her family “ate at Billy's Burgers 17 times in 5 days.” It’s on the town square next to the Cadillac Grille, another family-friendly restaurant with slightly smaller portions. Two restaurants located along the Teton Village Road share a common green space between them complete with lawn games. Adults can sit on the patios of either the Calico Pizza & Pasta Restaurant or "Q", a BBQ Roadhouse, while watching their kids safely at play. In nearby Wilson Picas Mexican Restaurant is situated right next to a sandlot with net for volleyball (and digging).
If you have skateboarders in your family and they don't want to leave their skateboards at home, there is an excellent free outdoor skate park in Jackson. It is located off High School Rd, in between the high school athletic fields, behind the baseball field. With two bowls, a multitute of ramps and rails, it has plenty to do for beginning and advanced skateboarders. Helmets are required.
In the summer, Teton Village has art festivals, shopping, horseback riding, and adventure sports. You can take a balloon ride or even paraglide off the top of the ski mountain after traveling up the tram on a tandem glider, with an experienced guide of course! Anyone from 40 to 220 lbs can do this for a once in a lifetime experience. You can also go bungee trampolining for a small fee and there is a FREE disc golf course.
Additional fun activities for families include both an alpine slide and a miniature golf course located at the Snow King Resort in the town of Jackson. You can hike up the hillside as well and take the lift down for FREE. Or you can purchase a ride up for you and your bike and ride down.
There are various places to rent bikes in Jackson, Wilson, Teton Village and Moose, and many beautiful bike trails and newly developed pathways from which to choose for riding, skating and walking. Helmets are encouraged for bikers and skaters.
You get the picture...there're activities and fun for all ages in the valley of Jackson Hole!