J-Hole must eat restaurants/tips?

Doood your gonna have to be packing lunch for sure. It sounds like you wanna keep it pretty cheap so I would bring the Vasoline if your going to eat out.

Yeah I don't mind spending some cash (Targhee $199 half day cat skiing sounds pretty decent).

I'd definitely recommend staying at the hostel. The location is awesome, the rooms are clean, and the common area downstairs is tons of fun. Its a great place to meet people to ski and hang out with, and the guys that work there will at least point you in the general direction of some gnar (not hard to find at JH).

founda sweeeet price on the lexington trapper inn?. airport shuttle will get me atleast 1x (it doesn't operate early enough for my other flight). 5 days in JH. 3 days skiing. 2 at JH. 1 @ Targee w/ the $90 bus pass/ticket deal.

Go to the Alberton's food store there. That place get's the most ridiculous selection of food items (because of the rich people) and is always s good place on a cheap budget.

I've been lookn at the map of jackson. do only homeless bums walk in between the east/west side of town? It looks like you pass just a few gas stations and walk like a half a mile in between town.

To be honest, I'm not sure why that store was made to be their flag store for the rockies (I've been told that, but it might not be true.) Quite simply, the Jackson are property is expensive, due to it' s desirability (the Tetons alone make 'em so expensive) so people need to have money to be able to afford. Of course you have the lower-income properties in town, but that's mainly for the ski bums and working class people that keep the stores running. Jackson is for the really rich and broke ski bums.

I am looking at the town on Google Maps and the whole friggin town is just like art galleries, fancy restaurant after restaurant, and them boom the town is like over and done with. I was like WOAH, all the fuss over this?!?!

Jackson has the highest Income per-capita in America. Zero income tax laws encompassed with natural beauty, create a financial and geographical haven for elitist types to claim residency and beat income tax.

The basic premise of Jacksons economy is a resort community that relies on the tourism dollars of outdoor recreation, while also maintaining the elite atmosphere of high end accommodations and services.

There's an old adage in the valley that says, "The billionaires have driven out the millionaires." (previously, the millionaires filled the position of the antagonist)  Regardless of a similar economic standing to say, Vail, Aspen, Deer Valley, Park City, Sun Valley etc... the premise of Jackson's culture and heritage is based on trappers, cattle rustlers, ranchers, and simply; plain bad asses.

The exploration of the local terrain and varying outlying mountain ranges has been continued by many generations of settlers coming to the valley. Ironically, the new wave of "settlers" (i.e. transplant ski bums) seem to carry an attitude of entitlement because, like the holiday masses, they come to consume the valley for increased ego's and hypnotic scene integration.

Hope to hear opinions..(I'm sure any one opposed offers intelligent reasoning).... ;)

You sound like an excellent story teller.

Go to Billy's, they have awesome burgers that aren't extraordinarily expensive.

Yep, its a resort town that wasn't always a resort town. There are lots of towns in the northern Rockies with a similar story. There are rich people and there are bro-bras. The townees who "got there first" (after the natives) resent both invasive groups equally, and neither of them could care less. What makes Jackson stand out among other resorts is that the ratio of lift accessed gnar:puss terrain is way, way higher than at any other resort in the country. This heavily unbalanced ratio, accompanied by copious amounts of cold smoke pow and the modern media, has drawn in a lot of really really good skiers to JH over the past few decades. And you're right, the mountain also turns out some really really big egos. Most people who move to Jackson are simply in search of said gnar. When they find it, they embrace it and are often proud of it. Some are douche bags about it, but most aren't. Every transplant in the valley doesn't have entitlement issues just because they moved to one of the greatest places in the world to do what they love.

It doesn't seem like anyone posting here has ever lived in JH, except maybe the guy who recommended Billy's for a burger. You can order said burger from the Cadillac Bar (the Caddy has three parts) and they have two happy hours during the week: 5-7p and 10p-12a (two for one on every drink). We have tons of really good restaurants. Out in Teton Village a must hit is Teton Thai. The Moose has dope nachos but go to the VC (village cafe) for outstanding pizza by the slice. In town the best sushi is Nikai. The brew pub is much better for beer than food, but their menu has gotten better over the years. You will find the best food/dining experience at these two places (note they do have entree's under $30) - snake river grill and rendezvous bistro. the most popular bars I didn't mention are the Town Square Tavern and the Silver Dollar Bar both near the square. skip the cowboy bar. they charge a $5 cover for non-locals and it's not that cool. A more authentic wyoming dive is the Virginian. Rumors about it being the place where you are most likely to get your ass kicked are true.
Albertsons is the easiest grocery store to get to, though I prefer Smiths and still go to the Hole Grocer (more $$) for more organic items.
My favorite breakfast in town is at Shades. Most popular breakfast burrito is D.O.G. (down on glenwood, smartest ski bums call ahead to pickup). The aforementioned VC also has tasty breakfast burritos/sandwiches.
It sounds like you already know to get yourself a START bus schedule as soon as you get here. The town shuttle is free, it only costs $ to get to the village. But there's a loophole: if you convince the driver you are going to the 'Stillson lot' it's free :) This is recommended for getting back to town from the village.
The trapper inn is pretty bunk. Stay at the hostel while you're skiing but maybe bookend the stay at the Lex if they have good deals and to take advantage of a free airport shuttle (not sure about how good their shuttle is).
Out of all of this, the best tip I can give you though is that the gondi operates on green passes. choose your checker and hook em up. 8/10 will be stoked.