5 Indoor Activities in Jackson Hole for When the Weather Sucks
Jackson Hole is a world-renowned outdoor destination, but it still has its share of bad weather. When conditions are too rough to explore, check out these indoor activities in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
On days in Jackson Hole when the temperatures are bitterly cold, it’s raining, or the snowstorm is unrelenting, you’ll want to seek out indoor entertainment. While the majority of activities in town are focused on the great outdoors, there are a few places to find fun inside.
Read below for five great indoor activities in Jackson Hole.
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National Museum of Wildlife Art
I am not big on art, but this was my favorite art museum I’ve ever visited. If the weather isn’t cooperating and you can’t go view animals in the wild, these incredible works of art are a good substitute. The National Museum of Wildlife Art is the only museum in the country dedicated to wildlife art, but there are works from around the world here, not just the United States.
I loved the works by German artist Carl Rungius the most. There was entire room dedicated to his paintings and the style really resonated with me. I was disappointed I didn’t find any of his prints in in the gift shop, but they are available online!
If paintings aren’t really your thing, you still might enjoy the National Wildlife Art Museum’s National Geographic exhibit on wolves. This gallery features amazing images and videos of wolves in the wild, all captured by photographer Ronan Donovan. It did a great job of bringing you close to these wild animals and gave a behind-the-scenes look into how Ronan was able to capture these images.
In addition to the artwork, there were many several signs explaining the history of the artists, the country, and the landscape. This historical information shed a lot of light on the context and made me appreciate the works more.
There’s no need to pre-purchase tickets. I bought tickets on-site for $18 and the gallery was fairly deserted during my entire visit. Overall, budget 60-90 minutes to go through the whole gallery. If you’re looking for a discount, there are flyers at the Jackson Hole Playhouse for $2 off museum entrance.
Hockey Games
On Friday and Saturday nights, the Jackson Hole Moose Hockey team plays at the Snow King Sports Center and the whole town pretty much comes out in support. Despite the small size of the arena, there was a lot of energy in the building.
Tickets are sold on-site for $10/person and they accept both cards and cash. We ate dinner before the game, but they did sell concessions from hot dogs and pizza to candy and beer.
The game we went to was against the Colorado Tugboats and it was absolute domination by the Moose. The home team won 10-1! And it wouldn’t be hockey without a few fights, and this game delivered on that front.
One note: the team’s official website doesn’t seem to be consistently updated, but their Instagram page is, so I’d rely more heavily on social media for updates and info.
Snow King Observatory
In June 2024, the brand new Snow King Observatory & Planetarium opened in Jackson Hole. It’s proudly the only observatory located at a ski resort – weird flex, but ok. The new $8 million building is located at the very top of the mountain, and the location may seem odd at first. However, Jackson Hole is a relatively small town with minimal light pollution, perfect for gazing at the stars
You have the option to visit every day from 10AM-5PM or purchase an evening experience ticket on select days. The daytime option offers exhibits, tours, planetarium shows, and more. This would be a really great way for to pass the time on a rainy day and expand your understanding of the universe.
Tickets that include a round trip gondola ride are $60/person, but there is student pricing available and kids 5 and under are free.
Dinner & a Show
If you’re looking for something a little different, check out the Jackson Hole Playhouse for dinner and a show. This small-town dinner theatre isn’t winning a Tony anytime soon, but you’re in for an entertaining evening.
When you walk in, the friendly staff checks you in, hangs your coat, and offers you a snack of popcorn while you wait for your table to be ready. The menu on their website wasn’t accurate, but the options were similar. Salad and fountain drinks were included, but we also ordered the red velvet cake for dessert, which was delicious. Note: tip isn’t included in the price either, so expect to pay that when you settle up after the show.
After dinner, our waiters became our entertainers. The show we saw was “Love Shack”, an original musical covering many famous songs from the past few decades. There was a loose storyline between each song and the cast consisted of just three men performing on a tiny stage. Still, we had a good time. The shows rotate throughout the year, so you can look online to see what’s playing.
If you aren’t interested in eating dinner and just want to see the show, you can call day-of for discounted show-only tickets if there’s seats available. I don’t recommend skipping the dinner though, as it would take away from the experience.
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Shopping
Jackson Hole features shopping opportunities for all budgets. There are a ton of gift shops around the main square to buy souvenir beanies, t-shirts, etc. If you’ve got more money to spend, you could buy some jewelry or high-end art at the several art galleries in town (the rest of us will just have to window shop there).
There are also several outdoor goods stores if you want to buy any gear. While it’s always ideal to support small businesses, there is an REI in Jackson if you need it.
If you want to stock up on groceries before the storm hits, there are lots of places to shop, including a Whole Foods and a Target. Both of these are on the smaller side, but they carry the essentials.
Although no one hopes for bad weather on their vacation, sometimes it’s inevitable. The best you can do is make the most of it by finding ways to stay entertained. From hockey to art, there’s something for everyone to do in Jackson in even the worst conditions.
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
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