Jackson holds a special place in my heart. It's been a focal point of two monumental times in my life where I packed up everything and moved across country. The summertime here is so unique to me, even after living in Colorado. The mountains are rugged and iconic, and it feels more remote, and more untouched than a lot of other areas i've traveled to. It felt like being hugged by the mountains, just really warm and comforting!
When to Visit Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson hole, Wyoming is a great place to visit in the winter or summer; i've also been in the fall. The only advantage in the fall was there was literally no one around at any of the popular sites. Some local stores weren't open due to seasonal closures, but it was nice how empty it was. If you're looking for a ski trip, then obviously winter is a no-brainer, make sure to have your IKON full ski pass. Keep in mind the Jackson hole's altitude is at 6,800 ft so you might need to adjust for a day before going out to hike higher elevations.
Where to Stay
We were there in early June, so there was still some snow in the Tetons and cooler temperatures. We stayed slightly outside of the town since it was cheaper and we needed a dog-friendly place for Sora: Togwotee Mountain Lodge.  It was super cozy and picturesque, the backside of the hotel opened up to the mountains and a hiking trail. It was safe and a great place for me to bring Sora and leave her somewhere safe while I hiked the national parks during the day. It made for a nice morning walk too, but it was very far out from downtown Jackson Hole. It was close to the national park though at least! It was a great place to stop on my cross-country move. On my second visit in the fall in November and I stayed more central since it was shoulder season and the prices were lower at the 49'er Inn & Suites. I loved that stay as it was super central and dog-friendly!
Below are photos from right behind Togwotee Lodge:
What to do in Downtown
When you're done hiking for the day and ready to explore the town, you can check out the Million Dollar Cowboy bar. This bar is classic and iconic to the culture there. Even as COVID had just been starting to end with everyone vaccinated, the bar was in full swing. People were dancing, enjoying whisky cocktails and taking in the full experience. It was a super fun way to spend a night out in the middle of nowhere in a welcoming culture. For some dinner and beer, we checked out the Roadhouse Brewing; make reservations in advance if you can.
I really enjoyed a glass of red wine at Bin22 and some shopping at the local boutiques. A lot of the places were dog-friendly so I was able to bring her around for some girl time! While you're by Mormon row, I highly recommend enjoying a beer and pizza at Dornan's Pizza Pasta Company; the views were unmatched and it was so refreshing and picturesque!
Photography spots
Dog-friendly spots are Mormon Row and The Wedding Tree. These are easily accessible from the highway, so you can drive up for sunrise or night shoots if you are brave enough! I opted for the middle of the day. They give expansive views of the Grand Teton mountains and lots of wildlife.
Non-dog photography spots would be Schwabacher Landing and anywhere in Grand Teton National Park. There are several drive-u lookout points along US hwy 26. Any of them are going to be great spot to take in the expansive views of the Tetons. Honestly all of the roads around the entrance to the park are breathtaking, and you're sure to see wildlife.
This Is also a great place to get some astrophotography night shots! You can park and set up your tripod right by their parking lots and get the milkyway as it shines over the Tetons.
Drone Photography Spots
The Wedding tree is a great place to launch outside of the national park no-fly zone to get a good view of Grand Teton National Park (the walk from the parking lot is less than 5 minutes). If you try to fly anywhere closer and your drone won't be able to take off due to no-fly zones. Other spots I did not have the time to visit were Green River (about 2 hours from Jackson) where you can ideally get some great drone photography.
Hiking in Grand Tetons National Park
We did about 6-7 miles of the Cascade Canyon trail in Grand Tetons National Park because we weren't in shape at the time to finish the entire trail. The nice part about this hike is you can take the scenic boat ride across Jenny Lake; you can buy tickets directly there and the line wasn't too long for us when we visited In June! You can access Inspiration Point along this hike for the viewpoint. I think the hike covers the main areas of Grand Tetons that you'll want to see, since you want to visit viewpoints before entering the park to get that stunning photo opportunities!
Other Places: I didn't have time to hike Delta lake, but it's high on my list; no dogs allowed. Lost lake was a nearby hike that was short and dog-friendly; just be sure to watch out for wildlife with your pups to keep them safe.
If you have time - Yellowstone National Park
Take the drive up to the southern portion of Montana and see Yellowstone National Park. We did this for an evening drive, which was kind of scary due to large amounts of wildlife; there was a grizzly bear on the road we were driving too which is a terrifying thing to see, so be careful! This is only worth it if you have time, otherwise just focus on Grand Tetons as they are really stunning.
