I Took My Toddlers to Jackson Hole — This $7 Bib and Portable Car Seat Saved the Trip

3 days ago 11

Published on July 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM

PS Photography | Genevieve FarrellPS Photography | Genevieve Farrell

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Traveling is one of my favorite things. Traveling with toddlers, though, is another story. After recent trips with my kids to Japan, Mexico, and Canada, I was left feeling overwhelmed and ready to let their passports collect some dust. And I know I'm not alone. At a recent kids' birthday party, one dad told me he'd canceled three upcoming trips. A mom confided that she's scared her daughter will grow up, ask why they never left Los Angeles, and she'll have to admit it's because traveling with kids is worse than giving birth.

Heading into our trip to Jackson Hole, WY, I was anxious about two things: packing the right stuff and whether my kids would enjoy it. Despite all the research and planning, you never really know how a trip will go until you're there. Even then, it's an evolving situation depending on kids' moods. Will one of the kids be angry I didn't pack their orange shirt? Will they hate every activity? Will someone get norovirus on the plane? (Tragically, this has happened.)

That's why I'm still shocked to say that this trip was successful, both in terms of what we packed and how much fun we had. Keep reading to see what I brought and how traveling to Jackson Hole with my two-under-four crew made me fall back in love with family travel.

Where to Stay in Jackson Hole With Children

The Four Seasons Jackson Hole made everything feel easy — and "easy" might be the highest compliment a mom of young children can give. I'm talking 10 out of 5 stars. When we entered the room, they had a canvas playhouse set up with stuffed toys. It immediately grabbed my kids' attention, which gave my husband and me a moment to unpack and set up our SlumberPod ($200), a tent that goes over the crib to block 95 percent of light. Since my children and I go to bed at different times, it lets us keep the lights on without disturbing them. It's expensive but has been a game-changer for travel. We're still using it with our almost-4-year-old, so it's one of those rare baby items that lasts well beyond the infant phase.

The location of the Four Seasons is unbeatable. It's nestled at the base of Teton Village, just steps away from the gondola to the Tetons, nearby parks, and a splash pad. The views are unreal. "Somehow, tantrums feel calm in a place like this," is what I can imagine Nicole Kidman saying in an AMC-style ad for the hotel. While most of my trips with kids have felt like barely controlled chaos, something about the beautiful surroundings calmed my nervous system. Calm mom, calm kids.

What to Do in Jackson Hole With Children

Adding to the luxuriously chill experience: during our four days in Jackson Hole, we needed a car only once — to visit Grand Teton National Park. There, we spotted a moose and bison, walked around the iconic Jenny Lake, and strolled through a bloom of wildflowers.

The rest of our trip was filled with hotel-organized activities that made the days fly by. My kids loved the aerial tram ride, which lifts you over 4,000 vertical feet for sweeping views of the Tetons and Jackson Hole Valley. We also took a scenic gondola to a magical park in the mountains, where we played and ate a picnic lunch. Other highlights included horseback riding, hiking, and watching the older kids scale The Climbing Wall and aerial ropes course.

We ended most days with a visit to the hotel pool, where my kids burned off their last bits of energy in floaties while I took in the mountain views from the deck.

I also want to note that I aspire to be outdoorsy but am not exactly rugged. Jackson Hole was approachable for me. I got to relish the beauty of nature while still enjoying the creature comforts of the hotel. From the incredibly comfortable bed to a spa morning to reset with a steam and cold-plunge combo and an Intraceuticals facial to combat the dry terrain, it was the perfect combination of adventure and restoration.

Where to Eat in Jackson Hole

When it came to dining, we loved The Handle Bar, the restaurant located inside the Four Seasons. There's a grassy area out front so my kids could play, which made all the difference. Meals are usually very intense with my kids, but having the option for them to take breaks to run outside made it manageable. Another family-friendly restaurant was Osteria in Teton Village. It's right next to the park and splash pad, which meant another easy meal where the kids could play between bites.

Keep scrolling for everything I packed for Jackson Hole with my two kids under four. It's not exactly a concise list, but every single item truly contributed to the success of the trip. I'm inspired by parents who pack light — but I'm just not in that phase yet.

Festive Baby Bibs

Konny Bib ($7)

These quick-drying, moisture-wicking bibs add flair to my daughter's outfits. I keep a handful in my bag for drool and runny noses.

Kids' Water Shoes

Native Shoes Jefferson Slip-On ($34, originally $45)

Natives are slip-on, easy to clean, and made of rubber. They are ideal for travel days and time at the pool. My 21-month-old loves taking off her shoes, so I also packed her an additional pair — the Stonz Cruiser Mary Jane ($55), just in case she lost a shoe. There's something about tiny toddler toes in Mary Jane shoes that is just overwhelmingly adorable.

Large Baby Wipes

Coterie Travel Wipes ($33 for four packs)

These wipes are 30 percent larger than other brands and come in a small container that's convenient for travel. They are more expensive than other wipes, but the large surface area helps keep midflight diaper changes as clean as they can be.

Sun Hats

The North Face Kids' Class V Brimmer Hat ($35)

One of my personal accomplishments as a parent is that my kids will wear sun hats, as long as everyone in the family is wearing one. When I travel, I dress my children in brightly colored clothes so they are easier to spot, and these North Face hats stood out during our adventures. I wore a beige Women's Class V Brimmer ($45) that complemented my outfits. I have a smaller head, and this one fits incredibly well.

Toddler Cargo Pants

Roots Toddler Cooper Heavy Jersey Cargo Pants ($38)

Growing up in Canada, Roots was a staple in my wardrobe. The brand is known for sweatsuits, and my son loves the cargo pants, which he says are softer than his other pants. Bonus: the multiple pockets where he can store a few toys.

A Screen-Free Audio Player

Yoto Mini ($70)

This is the best screen-free entertainment. It allows your child to listen to music or audiobooks automatically thanks to easy-to-use cards. A few of my kids' favorite cards are Raffi, Moana, and Frozen.

A Fast Charge Power Bank

OtterBox Performance Fast Charge Power Bank ($79)

My phone battery is always running low, so I keep this in my purse at all times. It's a bit heavy but a true miracle product on travel days. It lasts days and offers 3.6x faster charging.

Durable Jeans

Duer Performance Denim+ High Rise Straight ($79, originally $129)

These Duer jeans have antimicrobial properties and got a ton of use during the trip. They are stretchy and durable for chasing after my kids. The light blue color was perfect for the Western vibe.

Fashionable Hiking Shoes

Merrell SpeedArc Matis Gore-Tex® ($210)

When traveling with my kids, I bring the bare bones amount for myself. I brought these hiking shoes, plus running shoes and flip-flops, and called it a day. These hiking sneakers have Gore-Tex to take on terrain, but the chunky style looked great with my outfits.

Kids' Suitcase

Away Kids Suitcase ($225)

Away recently introduced these slightly smaller kids' carry-on bags. I have it next to the Away Bigger Carry-on Flex ($345) for comparison. It's roomy — enough for five to seven days of kids' clothes, while compact enough for my almost-4-year-old to push on his own. It's also become a staple toy in my house, as my son loves to pack it and pretend he's going on an airplane.

Lightweight Travel Car Seat

The WAYB Pico Portable Car Seat ($449)

This car seat is incredible. It weighs just eight pounds, fits in a backpack, and installs quickly. It's worth the investment because you can bring it on the plane for a kid to sit in, or place it in the overhead compartment. This is a nonnegotiable for me as I've had airlines lose my car seats three times when I've checked them. Dealing with a lost car seat with tired kids after a 12-hour travel day is torture. I also use it at home to fit three car seats across one row of my car when I have family in town.

Over-Ear Noise-Canceling Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones ($449)

Traveling with kids is a full-body sport, and these Bose headphones rise to the challenge. My daughter is 21 months old and was seated on my lap for the flight, and these stayed on when she batted them. I also love that they have up to 24 hours of playtime, which is more than I ever need during a trip. During stressful moments, I could blast some spa music, take a few deep breaths, and get ready to enter the situation calmly.

Travel Stroller

Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Travel Stroller ($600)

This is a controversial decision. We brought only a single travel stroller. This comes down to an experience of having a checked stroller that arrived damaged. The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 folds easily and fits in the overhead compartment on the plane. I also have the wheeled board ($180), so one of the kids could stand on the back. This stroller was the little engine that could as it navigated surprisingly well on rough terrain. Its ease and simplicity has made me use it as my primary stroller, rather than a double stroller.

Genevieve Farrell Roston (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker and the director of video at PS. She oversees the Webby-nominated PS Fit video series, which makes fitness fun and accessible. She has more than 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry. A certified personal trainer, she loves running, Pilates, and rest days. As a mom of two, she is an avid reviewer of children's gear and products.

Travel and expenses for the author were provided by the Four Seasons for the purpose of writing this story.

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