Teton Valley, Idaho
Story by Mike Calabrese
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Phto: Bob Woodall/ Wade McKoy/ FPI Farm roads in the foothills of the Big Hole Mountains lead to superb single-track bike rides. |
Teton Valley, Idaho,“the quiet side of the Tetons,” was once a region that travelers kind of sailed through (although its knockout scenery didn’t go unnoticed). Families were on their way to larger, busier, high-profile vacation hotspots. Lately, though, folks are sticking around for a spell. With no shortage of recreational, cultural, and resort opportunities, Teton Valley has become a destination hotspot all its own—and rightly so.
The valley’s charming towns of Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia, Idaho, lie just to the west of 8,429-foot Teton Pass. Travelers leaving Jackson Hole navigate this pass and wind slowly down through rock and forest, sometimes thinking they’ve seen it all by the time they cross the state line at the bottom. Suddenly, though, just outside of Victor, Idaho, the hemmed-in Highway 22 opens up on the vast and lovely Teton Valley.
Now, it’s true: one of the only traffic lights in the entire valley is right there in the middle of Victor, Idaho. But a stoplight couldn’t be more helpfully placed. Just beyond it, The Victor Emporium serves up arguably the best malteds and milkshakes in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Emporium also happens to house fishing gear (and fishing updates from folks who know) and just about anything else people in Victor need. Just down the street, the Cheeseburger Factory tempts those whose stomachs growl for burgers, and the best espresso and deli goodies this side of the Tetons are served up at the Hungry Elk Café, just before the stoplight.
After taking the edge off their appetite, travelers heading on to Driggs sometimes nearly run off the road when the Tetons loom into view on the right (the east side of the valley). Just about the time drivers regain their composure, another certifiable landmark pops up, The Spud Drive-in Theatre. This place is almost a national treasure. Folks looking for a little romance, or families yearning for a movie and an evening under a billion stars, shouldn’t pass up the Spud. A Spud “Gladysburger,” a stunning sunset, and a movie add up to a perfect summer evening under the Tetons. This year, from August 3-7, the Spud launches its inaugural “Spudfest,” a festival highlighting live music and screenings of independent shorts, features, documentaries, and animations.
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Phto: Bob Woodall/ Wade McKay/ FPI Farm roads in the foothills of the Big Hole Mountains lead to superb single-track bike rides. |
The Tetons, by the way—all three of the big ones—are set perfectly above Teton Valley, and sunset on these gorgeous peaks defies description.
The Teton Range on the east and the Big Hole Mountains on the valley’s west side (home to some of the region’s best single-track mountain biking) just beg for exploring. The wilderness below the Tetons, the Jedediah Smith area, is only minutes from Driggs and is popular with hikers of all ages. Many trekkers use these trails near Targhee to access and cross over into Grand Teton National Park. Check in with Peaked Sports, and RU Outside for reports on trail conditions and information on the best places to ride, hike, and fish.
Anglers, by the way, can wet a fly on the valley’s Teton River, and cowboys and cowgirls can ride to their hearts’ content in Teton Valley. But the local chamber of commerce has also made sure that its calendar is packed with fun right in the towns themselves. The 4th of July celebration, for instance, welcomes summer visitors in grand style: Tetonia hosts a rodeo, Driggs launches its annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, and Victor lights up Independence Day with a parade and fireworks.
One of the biggest events of the summer, though, occurs from August 13-15 when the Targhee Bluegrass Festival (see page 25) takes over the slopes of the Grand Targhee Resort. Bands scheduled to perform this year include The Tim O’Brien Band, Open Road, Kane’s River, Jim Lauderdale, the Darrol Anger Fiddle Ensemble, and Hit & Run. For more information log on to www.grandtarghee.com or call the resort at 1-800-TARGHEE.
Travelers seeking a bird’s-eye view of Teton Valley can drive just north of Driggs and stop at Teton Aviation at the Driggs Regional Airport. Scenic glider flights start with a tow into the big blue sky and, depending on the day’s thermal activity, begin soaring above either Darby or Teton canyons. Powered aircraft also make for an incredible way to view the panorama of the Tetons and its surroundings.
After the flight, amateur pilots and crew can check out the Warbirds Café. This aviation-themed restaurant serves up one of the best pulled-pork sandwiches in the world. And the Warbirds Museum is guaranteed to impress any visitor, displaying six fully operational, vintage aircraft.
Finally, the hungry traveler looking for “south-of-the-border” fare will be pleased to find Latino’s Delight in Driggs, rounding out a menu second to none in this valley so pleasant.
Obviously, “quiet” in Teton Valley has taken on a new meaning, and lucky travelers are taking advantage of it!
For more information, call the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce at 208-354-2500 or go on-line at www.tetonvalleychamber.com.
—With reporting by Joe Wilhelm
GRAND TARGHEE RESORT
In winter, Targhee’s 2,000 skiable acres sit under an average 500 inches of annual snowfall. But Targhee, whose winter fame grew out of this superabundance of cold-smoke powder, has blossomed into a year-round resort.
Summer finds this gem of a ski area settled peacefully beneath the west side of the nearly 14,000-foot Grand Teton. Only now the snow has yielded to an artist’s palette of color-drenched flowers arrayed over the area’s glorious terrain.
A perfect setting for celebrating the outdoors. Targhee’s sun-blessed west-facing hills just happen to be home to the Targhee Bluegrass Festival, this year in its 17th season. Slated for August 13-15 this year, the festival draws the biggest and brightest names in the bluegrass world (see page 25).
Families visiting Targhee can choose from an almost endless list of activities in addition to chair lift excursions up to the 10,000-foot summit of Fred’s Mountain. The hail and hearty and can hike back down or catch the lift back to the base. From there, well, just consider: horseback riding into Idaho and Wyoming wilderness areas; mountain-inspired sport climbing; fishing; biking; hiking; camping; and even a trip to a spa overflowing with amenities. Tennis, volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, swimming pool, hot tubs, movie night, tetherball, and a kids’ program help fill out the big picture at Grand Targhee.
For more information, please call 1-800-TARGHEE or go on-line at www.grandtarghee.com
Copyright 2004 by FPI (Focus Productions, Inc)., P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publishers.
Mountain Country is a free visitors’ guide published annually in May and distributed at hundreds of locations throughout Jackson Hole, Cody, and other regional communities. To receive a copy in the mail, send $5 to Mountain Country, P.O. Box 1930, Jackson, Wyoming 83001.
Publishers: Bob Woodall & Wade McKoy, dba Focus Productions, Inc. (FPI)
Editors: Mike Calabrese, Wade McKoy, Bob Woodall
Art Direction & Ad Design: Janet Melvin
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