Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole needs 4 days: Grand Teton National Park, with the namesake mountain range rising abruptly over the valley, on one, Yellowstone National Park -an hour away, with Old Faithful geyser and its colorful hot springs- over two days, and skiing or touring the town square with its elk antler arches on the fourth. June-September is best for the parks; December-March for skiing. It's expensive, one of the most exclusive mountain destinations in the US. It's the most popular gateway to Yellowstone, the world's first national park, established in 1872, and its combination of wildlife -bison, grizzly bears, elk- with unique geothermal landscapes made it an unmatched nature destination in the country.