PEACEFUL HOME

Wild. Formidable. Majestic. Wyoming’s Teton Range, home to Jackson Hole and the Amangani resort, is not a mountain range that beckons to all. It’s a place for adventurers, bold and restless.

Perched on a promontory, the Amangani captures sweeping views of the plains and peaks undulating across the Snake River Valley. The resort’s walls of windows and breathtaking multi-story ceiling heights evoke a feeling of wonder and power that mirrors the surrounding environment. Abundant redwood throughout the resort coupled with inspiring views out every window truly brings the outdoors in for guests to enjoy from the luxurious interiors. Quite simply, the Amangani which means “peaceful home” in Sanskrit ushers inside a powerful serenity from the encompassing natural world.

Since 1988, when Amanpuri opened in Phuket, Thailand, the Aman Resort has established destinations across the globe in Bhutan, France, Indonesia, and more. Opened in 1998 as the Aman Resort’s first North American property, the Amangani is an all-seasons retreat inviting guests to relax and explore in the foothills of the Tetons.

In winter months, guests are easily transported to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and have access to the Amangani Ski Lounge, ideally located at the mountain’s base. Heli-skiing is also an option for the extreme skiers in the group. In warmer months, guests can enjoy mild to strenuous hikes, kayaking, white-water rafting, and my personal favorite, fly fishing. Eighty miles away lies an entrance to the world’s first national park—Yellowstone, and the hotel is happy to arrange a car for guests to explore the 2.2-million-acre geological wonder. The resort’s signature in-house adventure offering is a phenomenal, guided wildlife safari. A personal guide transports guests in a luxury SUV across the flatlands, wetlands, valley, and forests to enjoy nature up close and personal with possible sightings of moose, bears, coyotes, elk, deer—even wolves and mountain lions.

A quick two-and-a-half-hour flight from Chicago brought my husband and me to Jackson Hole for a weekend of adventure and relaxation. Our first stop was downtown Jackson Hole, where Old West-style buildings offer the chicest of mercantile. We stopped first at Persephone, quite possibly one of the cutest coffee shops ever. With a steaming cup of coffee and wrapped in one of the blankets thoughtfully left outside, clients keep the chill mountain air at bay. Meandering the streets found us in front of Piper, a boutique contributing “a laid back, playful sense of style” with an array of brands catering to mountain town-living and beyond. My husband added a stop into Stio, a clothing company headquartered in Jackson Hole and built for the outdoor enthusiast. Around the corner was New West KnifeWorks where we discovered a pocketknife with a wooly mammoth tusk handle—a rare gifting item, indeed.

After a full afternoon exploring Jackson Hole’s charming storefronts, we headed back to the resort to explore the property’s offerings. First up, the Wellness Center. Here the four redwood-paneled treatment rooms, movement and fitness studios and two steam rooms offer plenty of rejuvenating options. Opting for a holistic massage, it was truly one of the most relaxing treatments I have ever experienced. The dimmed lighting and cozy redwood-paneled rooms immediately had you feeling like you were wrapped in a warm, calming blanket.

Heading back to town that evening, we dined at King Sushi—a lively, and inventive sushi spot inside a small log cabin. The legendary Million Dollar Cowboy Bar was our next stop—the perfect place to enjoy live music before heading back to the resort to prep for our Saturday adventure.

Saturday started with delicious omelets, coffee, and juices before we hopped into a BMW X7 the resort kindly provided us. We headed off to the trailhead of the Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes Trail, a ten-mile, 3,000-foot elevation gain trail through spectacular scenery. The challenging exertion had us thrilled to later relax on the abundant terrace off our room, overlooking the mountains and pausing for a moment before dinner.

That evening we dined at the resort at The Grill. Following a savory tomato bisque soup, I tried an elk steak for the first time. It was a delicious decision as the steak was immensely flavorful and cooked to perfection. Freshly baked warm cookies and house-made ice cream were the sweet finale to a wonderful meal and invigorating day.

Sunday dawned with an entire morning dedicated to relaxing on the property with coffees, followed by a mellow hour-long hike from the resort’s front door, and then an afternoon spent at the spectacular pool admiring the 360-degree views.

Our time at the Amangani felt like time suspended—it was a mix of movement, adventure, and relaxation—all soul-fulfilling and truly a vacation of dreams.

To learn more, and book your next trip, visit aman.com/resorts/Amangani.