more on the calendar

I am frustrated.  I want to be able to add "notes" to the calendar.  This would be used to add information that spans a period of time but doesnt need to be added to specific dates - such as the JHMR local ski program, gymnastics sign up, etc.  The notes would allow me to put this important information into the calendar without filling up valuable space in the daily boxes.  Anyone familar with Google Calendar and have an solution or idea for me?

Jackson Hole Calendar

The calendar is BIG isnt it???  It is a work in progress but I thought this community was in need of a calendar that focused on family and kid friendly events.  I have only just begun and am finding it is a slow process to gather all the details.  PLEASE - if you have an event or know of any coming up send me an email by clicking on my full profile in the right side bar.  I hope to have this thing up and running at full capacity soon!

I am not sure if the calendar will stay in the current placement - working on that too.  Darn thing takes up over half the page!  I tried to make it smaller but it cuts off either the title of the event or doesn't list all the events for each day.  I went large so it is easy to navigate and read.  Send me suggestions if you have a better way of displaying events in the area.  Thanks for your patience!

Kristine

free kid and family activities in jackson hole

This post isn't only about Jackson Hole.  I think it could cover just about any mountain resort town.  But since I live here, it is easy for me to be specific about my town.  Most of this stuff is FREE or super cheap.  I am only writing about year 'round activities since festivals and concerts are too date specific.  Good thrills to keep your energetic toddler and kids entertained for a few hours to an afternoon of fun.  Family time without the stress.  BTW, I have been thinking of starting a Jackson Hole Kid's Calendar on this blog.  A weekly review of activities and special events geared towards families.  Thoughts?

• Playgrounds - an obvious choice but I specifically like the playgrounds at the local elementary schools.  TIP:  schools are much easier than playgrounds to find via mobile searches and are guaranteed to have an interactive play area.  You never know if the town park will have age appropriate play equipment so why risk driving around a town you don't know?  My favorite in Jackson is the Davy Jackson Elementary School located in town next to the Teton County Rec Center, just off the Town Square. Additional note regarding Jackson playgrounds - this town rocks!  We have lots of great parks for kids of all ages to enjoy.  If you want a list with pros and cons and location of our parks leave a comment below.
• Base of the ski mountain - During peak months (December to March and June to August) you will find lots of activities geared towards families and kids at the base of any ski hill.  The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort did a great renovation to the base of the hill with a large stone patio, play ground and (in summer) a water fountain perfect for running and splashing.  New for 2010 they added Sunday night concerts that are free and family oriented. In the winter this area becomes a snow castle and small sled area.
• Library - The Teton County Library is in town and easy to access.  On Tuesday and Thursday mornings they offer story time in the main meeting room.  This is one great library that understands that kids are energetic - they have converted a back room off of the kid's area to house toys, interactive games and large plush animals for lazing about while reading.  There are tables near the back wall with little chairs for kiddos while the shelves are lined with stuffed characters of their favorite books.  Puzzles, games, free computers, and video add to the fun. 
• National Museum of Wildlife Art - Toddler art is on Monday mornings offering all kinds of hands-on activities that finish with a fun piece to take home.  Stay on afterwards to explore the museum's galleries and check out the kid's area.  Loaded with books, animal costumes, drawing, stamping and more, this is a great way to spend the morning.  If you happen to be there during lunch they offer a fantastic restaurant with some of the best views in the valley.  There are museums in most towns - check them out as they will offer some type of fun for all ages.  For more information, check out their website.
• Airports - the Jackson Hole Airport (or any small airport) is fantastic place for fullfilling a toddler's obession of planes and trucks.  A couple of times a year we head up to the airport to watch planes land and take off then hit the cafe to nosh on grilled cheese and french fries.  Large windows provide a perfect view from any angle and the parking is free.  What more could a kid (and parent) ask for??
• Visitor's Center - our favorite is the Grand Teton Visitor's Center.  It is located before entering the park so it is free to explore.  Inside you will find hidden animals and creatures (great for I-Spy), interactive displays, fun videos of rivers and streams in the floor along with a good movie and well stocked gift shop.  Afterwards, take them outside for some amazing photo ops in front of the Grand Teton Mountains.  Check out the website for times as they adjust with the seasons.
• Wilson Bridge at the Snake River - The river is all but absent on the South side of the bridge this year (changes yearly but you can always find an easy and safe access point somewhere along the north and south parking areas) so we like to head down to the river to collect rocks, throw some in the slower moving water and dig in the sand.  A drift wood teepee was created this summer which provided endless fun of crawling inside and then out, in and out, in and out, in and out...you get the idea.  I take a small shovel and bucket, good water shoes and a change of clothes since little ones will be guaranteed to get wet and dirty!  Great for spring, summer and the fall.  Lining both sides of the river is a wonderful walking path for mountain strollers, doggies and excited kiddies.  This path is accessible in the winter months as well.  The views heading north are unbelievable with unobstructed views of the Tetons.
• Recreation Center - what would the list be without the Teton County recreation center?  Offering a year 'round indoor lap pool and kiddie pool with two slides, it is available for open swim starting at 1pm daily.  They also provide toddler swim and toddler gym most mornings.  Check out their website for exact dates and times.

win a trip to jackson hole

A while back I added a post about a contest through REI for a trip to JH.  This morning I ran across two more contests so thought I would throw it out there for all those who don't live here.  Pass it along!

• 3 days of "luxury" in Jackson Hole, 2 nights lodging at the Four Seasons Resort and 2 roundtrip airline tickets.  Sounds like a nice weekend getaway! Sponsored by Wyoming Tourism and Travel and Leisure. 

•  4 nights lodging with 3 days skiing at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and 2 roundtrip airline tickets.  Sponsored by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Wyoming Tourism.
  

free family event

Whatcha got planned for this weekend?  If you live in the Jackson Hole area how about hitting up the National Museum of Wildlife Art for the Harvest on the Hill?!  Sunday, November 1st between 1:00pm to 4:00pm head north of town for their largest celebration of the year.  Free t-shirts for the first 600 guests, entertainment, kids's crafts, live music and yummy treats!  FREE for all locals.  Oh, and don't forget to check out the new fall exhibits while there - Tom Mangelson has a beautiful showing of his latest photography collection "The Natural World"...something not to be missed.

win a family trip to jackson hole

I have lived in JH for over 17 years.  I moved from Des Moines while single and in my twenties and have never looked back.  I love my home so much that I want to share it with everyone.  I found this sweepstakes through REI.  Want to visit Jackson or (if you already live here) know of anyone who would like a free vacation to this beautiful area (be crazy if you didn't!)?  Marmot has teamed up with REI to offer a Family Fun Sweepstakes. This amazing prize for 4 people includes roundtrip air, 4 night's lodging at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, 5-day lift passes, Marmot ski jackets, pants, base layers and gloves, and K2 skis with bindings and poles, or snowboards. WOW! Contest ends December 15th so enter now. Imagine winning - you and your family could be skiing in the Tetons this winter!

huckleberry season

The month of August is huckleberry season. I spent one day hunting for huckleberries in Grand Teton National Park.  It was a gorgeous mountain summer day...sunny with a few clouds, slight breeze and not too hot.  Huckleberry hunting is an annual event I share with my in-laws.  We pack up various sized containers, our lunch and head off to our favorite places in the park.  This year was especially fun as I included my (then) 2.5 month old daughter.  Strapped in a front carrier, she and I headed off into the forest with a backpack filled with baby needs (plus the containers, lunch and water).  Hunting for huckleberries can be tricky.  First, you must know where to find them and second, you need a keen eye to spot the berries on the bush.  The berries are small (like a tiny blueberry) and range from deep red to purple when ripe.  They hide under the leaves making it hard to spot them.  Getting down to the ground to pick berries while holding onto my daughter was tricky.  I have now mastered the art of deep knee lunges and squats!  We didn't find much that day so I wondered if we were too early or too late in the season?  Some berries were old and brown while others were still green.  Our bounty we gathered will go in the in the freezer until Thanksgiving when my father-in-law will make ice cream for the holiday. 
If you happen to be in Jackson Hole around mid-august, consider huckleberry hunting.  The bushes can be found along the trails near the lakes in Grand Teton National Park.  It is an easy hike that most can handle including young children.  Here is a brief explanation of the huckleberry:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huckleberry

hiking with the kids

Hiking is a main part of our summer life.  Before kids I used to tackle a 15 mile hike in a single day.  Now it is more like 4 miles or less but with kids it still takes as much time as those long treks. The amount of time outside revolves around how much fun we can squeeze into our adventure before nap time. 

A couple of weeks ago the weather was amazing so we packed up the kids, called a friend to join us and headed off to Grand Teton National Park.  Our 3 year old loves boats (who doesn't!) and since the season had slowed down we decided to take the ride across Jenny Lake to hike to the 80-foot high waterfall called Hidden Falls.  I am sure we were quite the scene - Me, with a 3 month old strapped to my front, my husband walking while our 3 yr old toddled along the trail and our friend carrying her 2 yr old in a backpack.  The trail was easier than I remember.  Did they move it?  Seemed shorter or not as steep.  Maybe I am in better shape than I thought?  The hike turned out great.  The trail has some tricky areas with slightly steep steps but nothing our son couldn't handle.  We looked for huckleberries (found 4 total), saw (dried up) raspberries and picked up some good walking sticks along the way.  The trail was mostly clear of other hikers allowing us to meander our way to the waterfall.  The area at Hidden falls offers good spots to relax under the shade of trees.  We parked ourselves on a couple of boulders, unpacked our lunch and cooled off from the misty breeze that comes off the waterfall.  Hiking down was a little more difficult for our son as he doesn’t handle the decline as well.  With hand holding and slow moving, we made it down to the dock for a short wait until the boat returned for our journey home.  Once back at the dock there is a nice stretch of “beach” available for toe dipping in the lake.  The kids immediately shunned their shoes for rock jumping in the cold mountain-fed water.  The hike begins at Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which offers parking for all sizes of vehicles.  The boat is a fast and fun way across the lake but if you choose, you can follow the trail around the lake, which is 5 miles round-trip.  Overall, once at the trail head the trek is less than 1 mile each way.  For those more adventurous, keep climbing the trail to Inspiration Point.  Great views of Jenny Lake below with the surrounding valley.

fall sunsets

Driving home from the museum after an early evening event we were captivated by this view.  The ducks and geese were still on the water with the sun starting to set over Sleeping Indian Mountain.  With my guys looking out towards the hills I took advantage of moment to capture this photo. Can you believe this spot is off the highway only a mile north of town? wow.