Covington recommends spending the entire day at Snow King Mountain Resort. During the summer, this ​“town hill” will keep you busy, morning and night. Kids will love racing down the mountain’s Alpine Slide or Cowboy Coaster, enjoying banked turns and hairpin switchbacks at speeds up to 25 mph.

At the Treetop Adventure Course, families can test their American Ninja Warrior skills (all while being clipped in, of course) as they navigate a series of obstacles strung between trees, wood poles, and wooden platforms. Then, once the adrenaline settles, engage in a round of mini golf before taking a scenic gondola ride to the top of the mountain to enjoy stargazing at the Observatory and Planetarium. (The world’s only planetarium at the top of a ski resort.)

No trip to Jackson is complete without time spent watching wildlife in their native habitats. And if you want to do it right, you must hire the pros! Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris and Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures both offer half-day and full-day safaris in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.

“Safaris are a great way to see Jackson Hole’s abundant wildlife in its natural habitat,” says Covington. She also notes that hiring a guide (instead of going it alone) lends an educational perspective, as well as an insider’s scoop on being in the right place at the right time to view elk, moose, bison, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mule deer, even bear.

Afterwards, soak your tired bones at Astoria Hot Springs Park, located south of Hoback Junction, and nestled in an unforgettable setting along the Snake River. Five mineral-rich geothermal pools, including a children’s pool and a waterfall pool, are kept at different temperatures. So, you can play in the party pools or relax and reflect in the quiet pools located closer to the river.

For adventurous families looking to explore more of the area’s hiking opportunities, download the free AllTrails app. It’s a terrific tool for discovering Jackson Hole’s many scenic hikes, and trails can be filtered by difficulty, length, elevation, or user reviews — making it easy to choose age-appropriate outings for children and teens alike. Whether you’re looking for a flat riverside walk or a more ambitious alpine climb, AllTrails helps everyone get the most out of the valley’s stunning terrain.

Have teens who need more than a hike to burn off their energy? Jackson Hole Mountain Resort offers the thrilling Via Ferrata, a guided alpine climbing experience that winds across suspended bridges and rugged granite walls — with safety gear and pro instruction included. Active teens will also love the downhill bike park, where they can test their skills on flow trails, berms, and jumps. For more thrills, head to Snow King for a ride on America’s steepest zip line, or spend an afternoon whitewater rafting through the Snake River Canyon. Want to explore at a more relaxed pace? We can arrange bike or e‑bike rentals for the whole family, with delivery directly to your rental home.

Fishing can be another memorable way to connect with the landscape. We recommend a family-friendly guided trip on the Snake River, with expert outfitters who specialize in working with kids. These trips focus as much on teaching and fun as they do on catching fish — ensuring both adults and children come away with a great experience and a few good stories.

No Jackson Hole itinerary is complete without a few great meals out. Local Restaurant & Bar, Hand Fire Pizza, and Calico all welcome families and offer tasty menus with something for everyone. And don’t forget dessert! A trip to Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream, located right in the Town Square, is a must. Known for its all-natural flavors and rich, creamy scoops, Moo’s is the perfect way to cap off a fun-filled day in the valley.

For an unforgettable evening full of laughs and local flair, take the family to the historic Jackson Hole Playhouse. This charming Western theater delivers high-energy, family-friendly productions packed with music, comedy, and crowd interaction that will have everyone — from toddlers to grandparents — grinning ear to ear. The intimate setting and lively cast create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere where audience participation is encouraged, and memories are made. Be sure to stop at the concession stand during intermission and treat yourself to one of their legendary huckleberry milkshakes — they’re practically a Jackson Hole rite of passage.

Rainy days are a welcome reprieve when you’re in the midst of an action-packed vacation. And the first of many favorite stops — without a doubt — must be the National Museum of Wildlife Art. This one-of-a-kind museum is situated above the valley floor overlooking the National Elk Refuge and Sleeping Indian Mountain (properly coined due to its resemblance to a sleeping Native American).

While the museum exhibitions appeal to all ages, every Friday during the summer, it runs a program called Fables, Feathers, & Fur, geared towards ages 3 to 6 (but open to everyone).

“This program features storytelling in the galleries and art-making in the classroom,” explains the museum’s Chief Marketing Officer, Madison Webb Stanko. ​“It is an exciting opportunity for young visitors to engage with the art through looking, reading, and art-making — and all the materials are provided.”

Stanko recognizes that museums can sometimes be a daunting place for families with young children, but the Wildlife Art Museum mitigates this challenge by offering a free scavenger hunt for young visitors.

“[The scavenger hunt] is a great way to get your kids invested in the experience and provide purpose and structure to the visit,” she says.

Stanko also notes the museum is designed with a variety of spaces for kids who are itching to touch something. For instance, the Children’s Discovery Gallery is stocked with books, costumes, drawing materials, and other sensory and tactile items.

“The Members Lounge has spotting scopes for budding naturalists to spend time looking out on the Elk Refuge,” Stanko adds, ​“And the Sculpture Trail provides a less-rigid space for kids to be outside and interact with the sculptures — they can even climb on the Stewart Steinhauer stone bison!”

Similarly, the Jackson Hole Children’s Museum caters to young explorers. While this location awaits the building of its permanent home, complete with an on-site daycare, families can still enjoy the museum’s pop-up in the Lodge Conference Center, Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The pop-up is filled with several exhibits that encourage free play, imagination, and creativity, so kids can easily move around to discover their interests.

Museum Operations Manager, Olivia Stuck, says her favorite exhibit at the pop-up is the Creativity Studio. ​”We are always updating [the pop-up] with new crafts and utilizing recycled materials from the community,” she says, ​“This summer, we’ve made egg carton gardens, seashell mosaics, recycled creatures, and more!”

The museum’s summer camps, for grades K through 5, include themes like ​“Around the World,” ​“Art Quest,” ​“Fantasyland,” and an All-Girls STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) Camp. Camps typically fill up at the beginning of the summer, but Stuck encourages parents to reach out weekly and inquire about availability and cancellations. She adds that the museum is anticipating the opening of its forever home by the end of 2025, but it still has plenty to offer at the temporary pop-up space.

Summer days are long in the Mountain West, giving visiting families ample time to pack it all in. From perfectly suited rentals to resort adventures and rainy-day indoor excursions, a family trip to Jackson is a memory-making endeavor — one chock-full of experiences only found in this neck of the woods.