We are moving swiftly through summer here in North Carolina, and as much as I am a warm-weather girl, the way my body melts into the pavement every time I walk outside has me thinking about what fun winter adventures we’re going to get into this year.

And honestly? Jackson Hole is going to be a tough one to top.

We spent a few days in Jackson, Wyoming, last winter, and between the skiing, the cozy restaurants, the wildlife, and all the things there are to do beyond the slopes, it was one of those trips that reminded me just how much I love a good winter getaway.

If you’re in the throes of planning your own winter travels, here’s a look at how we spent our time in Jackson Hole—with two little kids in tow!

Where We Stayed

This trip, we stayed at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Jackson Hole, and it ended up being a great fit for our family.

Three things made it particularly good for us:

1. The rooms were spacious. With two little kids and all of the stuff that comes along with traveling with them, having a little extra room to spread out makes a huge difference. Our room also had a trundle bed situation that was perfect for our littlest guy. The hotel’s suites do, in fact, offer trundle beds, mini-fridges, and microwaves.

2. There was a pool and hot tub. Were they the fanciest pool and hot tub we’ve ever seen? No. But after a long day outside, the kids thought a quick evening swim was basically the greatest thing ever, so that’s a win in my book.

3. Breakfast was right downstairs. The kids could absolutely crush breakfast in the morning, and then we’d head out for the day and not see the hotel again until nearly bedtime. Exactly what I want from a family ski trip.

And the location was fantastic. We could walk to pretty much everything we needed in downtown Jackson, which meant fewer car rides, fewer logistics, and more wandering around town, which is exactly how I like to experience Jackson.

The hotel also currently advertises a complimentary ski shuttle to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for qualifying guests, so that’s worth checking when you’re comparing downtown accommodations with staying in Teton Village.

Where We Ate & Got Coffee

We made plenty of stops for coffee, pastries, and meals throughout the trip, and Jackson has no shortage of good options.

One of my favorites was Persephone Bakery, a beautiful little bakery that is just as good as it looks.

I may or may not have brought a significant amount of baked goods home with me. (No regrets.)

We also spent plenty of mornings grabbing coffee at Picnic and Snake River Roasting Co.

Both were great options for a caffeine fix before heading out for the day. Picnic is particularly convenient if you’re looking for a quick breakfast or something to take on the road, with breakfast burritos, pastries, sandwiches, and coffee.

For dinner, we returned to Mangy Moose Jackson Hole a few times.

One of the best things about it for us? You can ski down after a day on the mountain, which is pretty hard to beat when you’re traveling with tired kids. It was also incredibly kid-friendly, with a huge menu and plenty of options for everyone.

We also had lovely meals at Bin22 and Local Restaurant & Bar.

Both were delicious, although I’d say they were better suited to a night when the littlest members of our family were feeling particularly cooperative.

Skiing Jackson Hole With Kids

Of course, the main event was skiing!

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is famous for its terrain, and while our boys were still very much in the learning-to-ski phase, we were excited to get them out on the mountain and see what they could handle.

Ski Passes & Lift Tickets

One of our biggest takeaways from skiing Jackson Hole with little kids? Go early in the season if you can!

We went during the preseason/early winter and were able to take advantage of early-bird lift ticket pricing, but the bigger win for us was the much quieter mountain. With two little kids learning to ski, fewer crowds made the whole experience so much easier and more enjoyable.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Lift Tickets

Jackson Hole uses dynamic pricing, so ticket costs vary by date and how far in advance you book. For the 2025–26 season, adult one-day tickets ranged roughly from $180–$285, while youth tickets ranged from about $108–$228, depending on the date and pricing tier. Booking early is your best bet for the lowest prices.

Our advice: If you have flexibility, look at the early-season dates first. You’ll likely save some money and get a much quieter mountain experience.

Ski Rentals

We rented our equipment rather than hauling skis across the country. Especially with two little kids, this was an easy choice for us!

We used JH Skis, where 2025–26 junior rental packages started around $40/day, including skis, boots, and poles. Adult packages started around $58/day. You can also rent directly through Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which offers a discount for booking online in advance.

If you’re traveling with kids, I’d definitely reserve equipment ahead of time. One less thing to figure out when you arrive!

Kids’ Ski School

Going just before the official season opened ended up being a huge win for ski school, too. There were fewer kids enrolled, which meant smaller classes, more individual attention, and much more affordable pricing than we’d have paid during peak season.

Our oldest was four at the time, and on one of the days, there weren’t any other kids in his class, so he ended up getting full-day, 1:1 instruction! The instructors took fantastic care of him, and he had the absolute time of his life.

He finished ski school around 3 p.m. each day, and at pickup, he didn’t want to stop skiing. So, naturally, we kept him out on the mountain with us until the slopes closed. Watching your four-year-old beg to keep skiing after a full day of lessons is a pretty good sign that ski school was a success!

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Kids’ Ski School

For us, having the kids in ski school gave everyone a chance to enjoy the mountain at their own level, while also giving us some adult ski time. And going early in the season meant our kids got a much more personalized experience than they might have during a busy holiday week.

Beyond the Slopes

One of the things I love about Jackson Hole is that you don’t have to spend every minute skiing to have a fantastic winter trip.

We took some time to explore beyond the resort, including a drive through Grand Teton National Park and a visit to the National Elk Refuge. And if you’ve never experienced this part of Wyoming in winter, it is absolutely worth getting out of town for.

The landscape is spectacular; snow-covered mountains, wide-open valleys, and wildlife everywhere you look. The drive itself felt like an activity, and it was an easy way to give the kids a break from skiing without sacrificing the scenery that makes a trip to Jackson so special.

Driving Through Grand Teton National Park

We spent about four hours driving through Grand Teton National Park, going as far into the park as we could before turning around and heading back toward Jackson.

The kids actually loved the drive because we made a game out of stopping every so often to look for wildlife. And there was plenty to see! We spotted deer, bison, sheep, and more along the way, which kept everyone entertained and gave us plenty of reasons to pull over.

There were also lots of opportunities to get out of the car, stretch our legs, and take in the mountains and that crisp Wyoming winter air. Even with little kids, it was an easy way to spend an afternoon outside without committing to a full day of skiing.

National Elk Refuge

We also drove through the National Elk Refuge, which took us about an hour and was another fun little adventure with the kids.

We were a bit too early in the season to see the large wintering elk herds that the refuge is known for, but the kids still loved keeping their eyes peeled for wildlife as we drove through. The refuge is home to elk, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, coyotes, and more, so there is always something to look for!

If you’re visiting in the heart of winter, definitely put the National Elk Refuge sleigh ride on your list. Horse-drawn sleigh rides take visitors onto the refuge for an up-close wildlife viewing experience and are the refuge’s most popular winter activity. The sleigh ride season typically runs from mid-December through early April, when the elk are wintering on the refuge.

We didn’t get to do the sleigh ride on this trip, but it is definitely on our list for a future visit!

Snow King Mountain

We also spent some time at Snow King Mountain, Jackson’s in-town mountain. We didn’t ski here, but there was still plenty to do!

The kids were big fans of the Cowboy Coaster, Snow King’s mountain coaster, which winds its way down the mountain and is a pretty thrilling little adventure. We also took the scenic gondola up to the summit, which takes just a few minutes and offers beautiful views over Jackson Hole and the surrounding mountains.

At the top, we were excited to check out the new Snow King Observatory & Planetarium, but unfortunately, it wasn’t open yet during our visit. It’s now a full observatory and planetarium experience with immersive shows, interactive exhibits, telescopes, and panoramic views, so it’s definitely on our list for next time.

Even without skiing, we thought Snow King was a fun way to spend a few hours, and a great option for families looking to mix things up between ski days.

Jackson Hole was such a fun winter getaway for our family, and honestly, I think going early in the season made the trip even better. We had a quieter mountain, smaller ski school classes, more affordable pricing, and plenty of time to explore everything Jackson has to offer beyond skiing.

Between the skiing, wildlife spotting, mountain adventures, good food, and cozy little downtown, there was never a shortage of things to do, even with two little kids in tow.