Jackson Hole, Wyoming: The Perfect Cowgirl Getaway for a Cowboy Romance Author
By Carly Kade, Author of In The Reins
I couldn’t stop bouncing in my cowgirl boots when I learned that my husband (turned cowboy) was gifting me a cowgirl getaway to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was the perfect birthday gift for this author’s cowgirl soul! So when Maria asked me if I’d like to write a guest post for Whiskey Tales, I immediately thought I’d share a post about how a cowgirl getaway can jump start a cowboy romance author’s creative juices. So here’s three awesome ways to inspire your inner cowgirl in Jackson Hole, Wyoming!
- Stay at Hotel Jackson
Hotel Jackson is top notch and the perfect spot for a cowboy romance author’s cowgirl getaway. The boutique hotel boasts equine and Western-themed art on just about every wall, is located in the heart of Jackson Hole and offers impeccable service! I recommend visiting the library at Hotel Jackson. It is the perfect location for an inspired writing session. Once you settle into one of their plush leather armchairs in front of the fireplace and pop open your laptop, you’ll realize you are surrounded by gorgeous horse paintings and big beautiful picture books about the cowboy way! I made some major headway on the sequel to In The Reins in their peaceful Western-lifestyle inspired library.
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| Hotel Jackson |
- Horseback Ride at Local Outfitters
On the first day in Jackson Hole, we rode at Horse Creek Ranch through beautiful mountain trails. Located just south of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, they offer one hour, two hours, three hours and half day horseback rides. My husband and I chose one of their full day rides with lunch. I highly recommend it! From the back of our horses, we crossed creeks, looked out on the majestic Gros Ventre Wilderness and took in the breathtaking views of the Teton Mountain Range. We even saw a moose and her calf during our ride! It was a great outdoor adventure and turned out to provide some excellent research for the second novel in my horse book series! Our guide was a born and raised Wyoming cowboy. A regular bull rider at the Jackson Hole Rodeo, he shared his adventures training his horse as a heeler in a roping event!
On our second day in Jackson Hole, we rode at the famous Mill Iron Ranch. The Mill Iron Ranch has been a Wheeldon family tradition for four generations and has been in business since 1921. The Ranch is bordered on three sides by the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the second Largest State Ran Elk Feed Yard in Wyoming. It made for spectacular horseback riding! I loved that their horses are born and raised on their ranch. I recommend going for the four-hour trail ride and then attending their real cowboy cookout maybe even have a lil' whiskey too! I felt like an authentic cowgirl (one that might have ridden back in the days when people traveled by horse rather than automobile) spending time at these two wonderful Jackson Hole Outfitters!
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| Horseback riding at the local outfitters in Jackson Hole |
- Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Do the boot scootin’ boogie at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming! It is like being transported back in time and is an awesome display of the true Wild West. I was fascinated as I wandered around admiring the amazing collection of western memorabilia and cowboy décor draped over all the walls! Being inside the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar made me reminisce about writing the Silver Spur scene from In The Reins where McKennon Kelly and Devon Brooke share some of their first romantic sparks. This is no ordinary bar. It is the type of place where McKennon or Devon could walk through the door at any moment! At this establishment, you don’t pull up a bar stool; you take a seat in a western saddle.
The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is located in Jackson’s town square and is walking distance from Hotel Jackson. Since it’s famous for its western dancing and live entertainment, I pulled on my favorite red cowgirl boots and grabbed my cowboy’s hand for some two-stepping in front of the famous stage where well-known entertainers on the country music scene have been known to play … think Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Jr., Tanya Tucker, and Willie Nelson (just to name a few).
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| Million Dollar Cowboy Bar |
It felt so good to unplug from the real world & have fun with my hubby turned cowboy for a week. This cowgirl getaway to Jackson Hole really inspired my writing! My hubby has given me the best gifts a writer could ever ask for and I recently recounted them in a blog post called "5 Gifts for the Author in Your Life" so other people with authors in their lives might gain some insight on what those best gifts are on birthdays, holidays or merely simple days! Thanks to my husband for knocking my 40th birthday out of the park. I can't wait to see what the next 40+ brings!
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| Carly Kade in Jackson Hole |
Thank you to Maria for the opportunity to write this guest blog post. As McKennon and Devon’s story continues, I will be sharing sneak peeks, updates and new release info on my blog for readers that can’t wait to find out what happens next for the handsome cowboy and his wannabe cowgirl.
About Carly Kade
Carly Kade is an Arizona-based equestrian author. In her free time, Carly enjoys competitively showing her registered Paint Horse, works on her next novel, reads voraciously, and loves exploring the great outdoors.
In The Reins, Carly’s cowboy romance novel inspired by the equestrian lifestyle has steadily climbed the charts to rave reviews. The book has been an equestrian best seller on Amazon for more than 10 weeks and is an official 2016 EQUUS Film Festival literary selection. The novel is available now in paperback and eBook on Amazon. Filmed in Arizona, the book trailer is viewable at http://www.carlykadecreative.com/media-room.
Thank you, Carly!
In The Reins by Carly Kade
A city-girl-gone-country, a handsome cowboy and a
horse meet by fate on a southern farm. She's looking for a
fresh start and unexpectedly falls for the mysterious cowboy.
But can a man with a deeply guarded secret open himself up
to the wannabe cowgirl in the saddle next to him?
Deeply romantic and suspenseful, In The Reins captures
the struggle between letting life move forward and
shying away from taking the reins. Passionate, captivating,
and full of equine epiphanies, this is a love story
sure to touch your inner cowgirl.
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I had such fun writing a guest post for your western lifestyle blog, Maria. I enjoyed chronicling some of the inspirational moments (and pics) from my recent horseback riding trip to Jackson Hole for Whiskey Tale readers. Thank you for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteThank you Carly, I'm glad you enjoyed being a writer on the blog. We'll be happy to have you back anytime. ~M
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