If you are vacationing in Jackson Hole for the holidays, a great event to attend is Leslie Bricusse’s version of Scrooge! the musical at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts. Performed by the local Off Square Theater Company, the classic Christmas story comes to live with cheery songs, stage effects, and beautifully detailed costumes.
As you enter the theater, the set soon transforms you into 19th century England where you soon learn the town runs around a bitter old man named Ebenezer Scrooge played perfectly by local actor Terry Schwab. As the story continues along, you meet all the familiar faces such as the Cratchit family, the spirits of Christmases, and the favorite Tiny Tim. The story never ends without old Scrooge kicking that “Bah, humbug” attitude and making a wonderful transformation into the Christmas spirit. The cast and crew make the musical truly magical for your family with their talent in both acting and singing.
Scrooge! is playing in Jackson from December 11-21st at 8pm with matinees on Saturday (2pm) and Sunday (3pm). You can buy tickets at the Center for the Arts, which is located two blocks south of Town Square. Tickets cost thirty dollars for adults and twenty dollars for children and seniors. Contact the box office directly at 733.4900 or purchase online at www.offsquare.org.
Jackson Hole’s annual Town Square Lighting is a festive tradition and cause to grab you warm coats and bundle your family up for the fun annual event in historic Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Every year the day after Thanksgiving families pack the small town square and enjoy complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies while they sing Christmas carols amongst neighbors and participate in other holiday festivities. After a few favorite Christmas carols are preformed by The Jackson Hole Community Band, a countdown begins and then all the trees and antler arches that surround the town square are lit up with blue twinkle Christmas lights.
This holiday event continues in Jackson Hole with a visit from Santa Clause who hides his reindeer and sleigh in the nearby Elk Refuge so the animals blend right in! The children quickly file in line to tell Santa some valuable wishes as Christmas quickly approaches. The Annual Jackson Hole Town Square Lighting is a great event for all families and if you happened to miss it, still stop by town square and check out the beautiful lights which remain the whole holiday season.
Indoor rock climbing in Jackson Hole at the Enclosure climbing gym provides an excellent activity for a rainy day or if you or your kids need to burn off some extra energy while in Jackson. Located just south of town,the Enclosure is bursting with 12,000 square feet of climbing wall and over 200 climbing routes, which are always changing.
If it is your first time rock climbing, the staff at the Enclosure will help you with your gear rentals and becoming belay certified. A day rate at the Enclosure is sixteen dollars for adults, eleven for children and if you do not have your own gear, a rental package (shoes, harness &chalkbag) runs eight dollars. Before you toss your loved one up on the rope you must become belay certified to learn the techniques of rock climbing. Any staff member can certify you and it only takes about ten minutes.
Feeling like a kid on a jungle gym, I quickly picked an easy route denoted by a rating system ranging from 5.6-5.8 as beginners and going up to expert routes rated as 5.11-5.15. An easier route has more large holds and is a less technical climb. Each rock climbing route is marked by the same color tape all the way up to the top and the goal is to stay with your color and not use a hold from another route. When climbing if you do get tired you can relax back on your rope and wait for you arms to stop shaking before you begin again. If you are an advanced climber the Enclosure does offer many routes that are lead climbing.
If heights are not your thing, give bouldering a shot. Bouldering is unropped rock climbing which is done at lower heights with heavy pads underneath. Enclosure has 3,500 square foot bouldering area with many different routes. The rating system with bouldering is different with beginners climbing V0-V2 and advancing as the rating numbers increase. Once you fall on to the big cushy mat, you will become more confident as the day continues. Kids love this area due to their fearless nature and agile build; they often end up racing up the rock wall all day long.
If the weather is not cooperating with your plans or you want to try a fun sport, head over to Enclosure. Even though your arms will be burning after, your kids will be glowing and it will be a great addition to your vacation stories.
Grand Teton National Park Scenic Drives allow visitors to enjoy the diverse beauty and natural surroundings from the comfort of their car and explore the national parks in the region. Anytime during the summer these drives are enjoyable; however, in the fall months when the aspen trees turn a rainbow of colors is truly the best time. Also, keep in mind that even though there might be a beautiful lake to your right alluring your attention, you are still driving- so trust me- heed caution.
This scenic drive is located in The Grand Teton National Park and can be popular in the summer months. Enter the park in Moose, WY and head about twelve miles on Teton Park Road. Make a left when you arrive at the North Jenny Lake Junction and in a few miles you will soon be on a one-way road. On your left, you will pass the historic Jenny Lake Lodge, which during the season is a great place to stop for lunch or breakfast; however, reservations are highly recommended because the space is limited. Continuing on the one-way Jenny Lake Road, you will meander through a dense forest. Keep your eyes open to catch glimpses of any animals hanging around the lake. As you come over a hill you will see the lake in front of you where there is an excellent pull-off. I suggest to pull-off and hop out and snap some amazing photos of Jenny Lake and the reflection of the Tetons glistening in the glacier water. Continue on as you enjoy views of the lake to your right and soon you will arrive back at Teton Park Road. If you loved the loop, you can make a left and do it all over again!
If you enter the park at Moose, this drive is in the north section of The Grand Teton National Park. Take the Teton Park road north passing Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain. Soon you will arrive at the Jackson Lake Junction and you should hang a right on to 191 also known as John D. Rockefeller Road. In a few miles you will pass a turn off on your right called Oxbow Bend, a favorite spot for photographers to snap shot of the Tetons at sunset. Continue down the road and make a left at Pacific Creek Road. About four miles down the road, make another left on to an easy-going dirt road. You will meander on this road for a few miles passing beautiful Aspen trees and conifers. The road ends at a parking lot, where you can jump out and walk for just a minute and you will end up at Two Ocean Lake. The reds, yellows and orange of the Aspen trees radiates off the water in the fall making for excellent photos. If you are feeling ambitious, a relaxing hike around the lake takes about three hours and covers 6.4 miles. Two Ocean Lake is off the beaten path amongst many tourists so you should be able to find plenty of solitude here.
Moose-Wilson Road:
This road is normally known as the other way to get to Teton Village; however, it is scenic as well as functional. Moose-Wilson Road is a two way street, so you can enter it two ways, either enter from Teton Village Road or Moose. The road curls around fantastic scenery of lush forests and marshy areas providing an excellent backdrop for many animals. Animal viewing on Moose-Wilson is best around sunset when the moose head here to get a cool drink and the elk retreat down the hills to lower ground for the evening. Just a heads up, the road is really twisty dirt road, so in the fall and spring the road can be bumpy due to recent rain. Just ask at a park entrance or the visitor’s center about the current road quality.
These scenic drives will add some amazing hidden views to your tour of Jackson. I always like to pack a picnic and stop at one of the locations and really take it all in. Whether you enjoy one of these drives or all of them, a scenic drive is a truly relaxing way to see what Jackson has to offer.
