Four Seasons, Jackson Hole
Nestled up against the foothills of the Teton Mountain range, the Four Seasons, Jackson Hole is more than just a single-season resort. It combines the noted chain's top-notch services in a private, yet fully equipped setting, with miles of hiking trails in the summer and the convenience of skiing directly to or from the lifts of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in the winter.
The hotel, which opened in December 2003, is just outside Jackson Hole proper, in Teton Village, at the bottom of a mountain that is crisscrossed with ski runs. Featuring 140 guest rooms, including 18 suites and 16 master suites set up like small residences, the resort is modern yet completely in tune with its backwoods setting. Swimmers can enjoy the heated, year-round outdoor swimming pool and three outdoor whirlpools. No expense was spared in the state-of-the-art spa, which has 16 treatment rooms, including two private suites with fireplaces and deep soaking tubs. Services range from standard massages to complete body and skin-care treatments.
Diners have three places to choose from. The Westbank Grill is manned by executive chef Laurent Mechin, who was previously the executive sous chef at Four Seasons, Costa Rica. The Grill serves as the hotel's main dining facility for breakfast and lunch, and at night, it becomes a resource of dishes made with the finest local ingredients available and a range of high-quality American cuisine. Mechin also runs the hotel's catering operation, which produced one of the finest duck dishes, using Sonoma County fowl, that I have ever eaten.
The Peak is one of the hottest après-ski outposts in Jackson Hole. Both hotel guests and locals can kick back after a day on the slopes and watch the die-hard stragglers coming down the mountain. The food focuses on simple fare such as burgers, chili and chicken wings.
For those just looking for a snack, the Lobby Lounge offers a selection of finger foods like artisinal cheeses and shrimp, along with specialty cocktails and wines.
The hotel also maintains a humidor stocked with a good selection of cigars, which you can smoke on the hotel's many patios and outdoor spots.
The Four Seasons, Jackson Hole provides the makings of a dream vacation. Blend the best of the Four Seasons philosophy—to provide superior service to every guest—and a spectacular setting like the Teton Mountain range, and you can hardly miss.
Visit www.fourseasons.com/jacksonhole/
