Mountain Modern Motel
Just in time for summer adventures in and around Jackson Hole, Wyo., the Mountain Modern Motel opened Memorial Day weekend with a splash ... of red buffalo plaid and other playful decor. The contemporary, tiny-homes-inspired redesign of the former Painted Buffalo Inn helps guests celebrate the great outdoors while — however reluctantly — indoors.
The setting: Two blocks from Jackson Town Square, five minutes from the National Elk Refuge and a short drive to sights in Grand Teton National Park. Yellowstone National Park awaits about 75 minutes north. For winter travelers, three ski resorts are nearby.
The appeal: Backcountry chic with a practical bent. The 135 compact rooms, some with platform bunks suited to families, include kitchenettes, subway-tiled bathrooms and “gear walls” with nooks for storing hiking boots and skis and snowboards. Guests also have access to selfserve laundry and a bike and gear repair station. Large-scale images of fly-fishing and the area’s destinations inspire outdoor exploration.
Insider’s tips: Allow one of the hotel’s “wise guides” to help plan excursions or craft a bucket-list package, which with a minimum threenight stay includes daily breakfast, a seven-day park pass to Grand Teton and Yellowstone, hikes, paddleboarding and other outdoor adventures; rates vary by date.
Good to know: The multiuse lobby with cozy seating serves light meals and to-go fare by day and adult beverages by night; soft-serve ice cream is available all day. Big Hole BBQ, next to the hotel entrance, stays open until midnight, offering late-night happy hours and local beers on tap.
Details: 380 W. Broadway, Jackson, Wyo. (307) 733-4340, www.mountainmodernmotel.com. From $260, plus daily $5 resort fee and 7 percent in local taxes.