A 3AM Start

Travel days always start early, but this one began in the dark. At 3 a.m. we rolled out of bed, bags packed with skis, snowboards, and enough layers to keep us warm in the Tetons. By 5 a.m., we were at Burbank Airport, parked ($13–26/day depending on the lot) and ready for our 6:30 boarding.

The route was easy: BUR ➝ Salt Lake City (with time for a burrito during a short layover) ➝ Jackson, Wyoming. The final leg was just 45 minutes — and what a landing it was.

Welcome to the Tetons

Jackson’s airport is unlike any other. It sits inside a National Park, surrounded by peaks that look painted against the horizon. Massive windows frame the Tetons like a living mural, greeting you the second you arrive.

On the flight, we’d run into friends and staff from the Four Seasons Westlake Village, which worked out perfectly — we all piled into two Suburbans for the ride to Teton Village. The 25-minute drive cut through wide-open countryside, snowy fields dotted with elk herds frolicking as if staged just for us.

The Four Seasons Arrival

The Four Seasons Jackson Hole sat blanketed in fresh snow, its timbered lodge façade glowing warm against the cold. Inside, we were welcomed with hot apple cider, warm smiles, and an upgrade — a one-bedroom suite that became our snowy sanctuary for the week.

Room 620 opened to a cozy living room with its own fireplace, a king bed in a separate room, and a master bath with a soaking tub that begged for long evenings. Out the window: mountains, valley, and rooftops dusted in white.

Thanksgiving & Opening Day

We had arrived on Thanksgiving morning, with ski season officially starting the next day. After so much travel, we slept early and woke to a world transformed — fresh snow covering every branch, rooftop, and slope.

Breakfast came via room service, followed by cocktails at The Handlebar, where floor-to-ceiling windows looked straight onto the lifts. Crowds piled in, skis balanced on shoulders, ready for their first runs of the season.

We weren’t skiing that day, but adventure found us anyway. The Four Seasons offered fat-tire e-bikes with snow spikes, so we bundled up and set out. They tore across the ice but struggled through fresh powder — fun, but a reminder: wear your helmet.

Town Lights & Local Flavor

That evening, we hopped on the $3 bus into Jackson for the town’s tree lighting ceremony. The buses are always lively, packed with locals chatting about hockey games or the best bars.

We ducked into the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar — a Western saloon where barstools are saddles — before heading to Jackson Drug for dinner. Despite the name, it’s not a pharmacy but a cozy spot for comfort food. Grilled cheese and tomato soup never tasted so good in the cold.

The return trip was by Lyft; fewer stops, more warmth.

Snowed In & Raptor Encounters

Saturday brought heavier snowfall. We gave in, started a new show, and accidentally binge-watched until 2:30 a.m. (what better excuse than a snowstorm outside?). The only break: a visit to the Teton Raptor Center’s bird presentation in the hotel lobby. Getting eye-level with owls and hawks was just as thrilling as a run down the slopes.

10,000 Feet Up

Sunday’s skies cleared just enough for us to ride the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram to 10,000 feet. From the top, the Tetons stretched endlessly, jagged and snowcapped, the world below reduced to toy-town scale.

Up there sits Corbet’s Cabin, a shack serving hot drinks and waffles that have become legend. We devoured “The Englishman” (lemon and whipped cream) and a Nutella-filled masterpiece. Maybe it was the altitude, maybe the magic of the moment — either way, they were the best waffles we’d ever had.

Blizzard Days & Foodie Hunts

Monday rolled in with a full blizzard, so we traded snow boots for slippers and spent the day relaxing after a huge breakfast at Westbank Grill (Huevos Rancheros + Cowboy Croissant = perfection).

By evening, De wanted soup, so I ventured into the storm. The hunt ended with a steaming bowl of Minestrone at Gamefish, a neighboring hotel restaurant. Simple, warm, exactly what the night called for.

Slowing Down in Teton Village

Tuesday was our last full day, so we strolled Teton Village, popping into small shops and finally snagging a jar of Huckleberry Jam to bring home. Drinks at The Handlebar, dinner from Westbank Grill (to-go), and a quiet night catching up on the latest Yosemite episodes rounded it out.

Farewell in Snow

Wednesday came too soon. With a 6:30 a.m. flight, we planned a 3:30 departure. The Four Seasons graciously gave us a late checkout the day before, so the morning wasn’t rushed. Our final meal: avocado toast from room service — the last unchecked item on a menu we’d nearly eaten our way through.

Jackson Hole Taxi arrived in a GMC SUV, $85 each way, reliable and easy — the same service we’d used on arrival. At the empty, serene airport, we sailed through security, and before we knew it, we were back over the mountains, homeward bound.

Jackson Hole is a mix of luxury and wilderness, where you can binge a show by the fire one day and ride a tram into the clouds the next. It’s a place where elk graze outside your window, where snowstorms become part of the plan, and where the mountains remind you how small and lucky you are.