Pass through elk antler gates in Jackson, Wyoming

Jackson, WyomingIf you’re passing through beautiful Grand Teton National park, you’re sure to visit the quintessential western town of Jackson, Wyoming.

Jackson, established in 1829, was named after the famous trapper and mountain man, Davey Jackson. Jackson is at the edge of the Grand Teton National Park (See my earlier post around hiking around Phelps Lake) and east of the Snake River. It is 57 miles south of Yellowstone National Park.

Jackson, WyomingWhen we visited Grand Teton, we stayed at nearby Jackson Hole, site of fabulous skiing in the winter months (I’ll write a future post about this fabulous destination), but Jackson was a popular stop-off point for us after a day of hiking for its many shops and restaurants.

The town’s main drag is Broadway, where many of the restaurants, shops and bars are to be found. Our kids loved the main town square, with its four impressive gates built with antler horns.

Jackson, WyomingFor non-westerners like us who may not know, it seems that antlers shed their horns each spring. Scouting groups in the area gathered the antler horns, painted them, and built the impressive antler gateways. The square is site to an evening ‘shoot out’ on summer evenings. We caught the tail end of one one evening as we were heading out to dinner.

If you’re visiting the wonderful Grand Teton National Park, be sure to stop by this characteristic western town. Enjoy your time in Jackson, Wyoming.

For more Wyoming information, see my earlier posts about Wyoming rush hour and a hike around picturesque Phelps Lake.

4 Comments

  1. Catherine on December 9, 2014 at 8:34 am

    I had no idea elks lost their antlers either. Is that Jackson in the Johnny Cash song?

    • kimberlysullivan on December 9, 2014 at 9:20 am

      Travel and learn, right? As if we needed excuses. : ) Love that Johnny Cash song, too, but that one is Jackson, Alabama. You’d love this Jackson, otherwise known as Jackson Hole, because it’s famous for its amazing skiing. Can you be tempted away from your Dolomiti, Catherine?

  2. 4blogssake on December 10, 2014 at 4:35 pm

    when did you guys go? is there any way to see the photos up closer? when i click on them, i was kinda hoping they would pop out bigger
    but they don’t …. 🙁

    • kimberlysullivan on December 10, 2014 at 8:35 pm

      Thanks, Terianne. This summer out west, with lots of fabulous hiking. Oh, yikes. You’re not the first to ask me for photos that can get bigger. Uh, duh, no idea how to do that. Maybe I’ll have to explore how…

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