7 Must See Attractions in Wyoming

Wyoming is the place where you can wear a cowboy hat, ride a horse, go to a rodeo, and explore Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park. You can eat buffalo (bison) or elk burgers and wash it down with a huckleberry milkshake at lunchtime and go to a western-style dinner of BBQ ribs and chicken, beef stew and cowboy beans at a good, old-fashioned chuck wagon cookout that night.

Wyoming is great for any time of year not summer; in winter, elk and bison graze in the snow and mountain resorts are ski heaven. If you like wide open spaces, mountain beauty and no crowds, then Wyoming is the place for you. There are still places in Wyoming with NO CELL service or internet. If you want to unplug and get back to the basics in life this is the place for you.

7 Must See Wyoming Attractions

Yellowstone National Park

Your Wyoming vacation would not be complete without a visit to Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is the world’s first and oldest national park. It is one of the most awe-inspiring wilderness areas on the planet. Driving through the main roads, you’ll enjoy some of the most scenic views, but the huge network of hiking trails is the best way to appreciate the park’s diverse ecosystems. It is a geothermal wonderland with hissing geysers, bubbling mud pots, and steaming hot springs. Waterfalls gush down steep ravines and glittering lakes and rivers stretch for miles. Huge herds of bison still roam free in the valleys, and the abundant wildlife includes grizzly and black bears, gray wolves, elk, antelope, trumpeter swans, and majestic bald eagles. The park is open year-round.

Devils Tower National Monument

Rising more than 1,200 feet, Devils Tower National Monument is a geological gem. This site is considered sacred to the Lakota tribe and other tribes that have a connection to the area. Hundreds of parallel cracks make it one of the finest traditional crack climbing areas in North America. When you are here make sure to drop by the visitor center to see some interactive exhibits on how the monument was formed as well as exhibits on the culture and history of the area. During the spring and early summer, abundant wildflowers create fantastic photo opportunities. Rock climbing is a popular pursuit here during certain months, and anglers can fish for black bullhead, catfish and walleye in the Belle Fourche. Ranger-led tours of the area are also available.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Situated in Cody, Wyoming, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is the oldest museum dedicated to American West history. You’ll find plenty to see and do here. The center comprises a complex with five museums—the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum and the Draper Natural History Museum. It’s a great place to take in art exhibitions and displays relating to this fascinating history and to learn more about the history of the American West.

Near the center is the rodeo grounds where some of the best cowboys in the Wild West perform every summer.

Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Once a private fur-trading post, Fort Laramie became an important outpost serving pioneers emigrating west on the Mormon, Oregon, and California Trails. The area was also an important military post during the Plains Indian Wars. In 1938, President Roosevelt proclaimed the 214 acres of military reservation land a national monument. Today the National Park Service manages the site. Your first stop should be the Visitor Center where a short audio-visual presentation tells the story of the fort’s history. Artifacts such as uniforms and weapons are also on display here. After the Visitors Center, a walking tour of the restored buildings brings the fort’s fascinating history to life.

Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis

Built around the world’s largest single mineral hot spring, Hot Springs State Park is a great place to stop for a relaxing soak. Visitors can soak for free in the warm waters indoors at the State Bath House or in the two outdoor pools.

Also in the area are over 6.3 miles of accessible hiking trails, petroglyphs, and summer flower gardens. Look for the herd of bison grazing in the hills.

Grand Teton National Park

Taking the entire family to Grand Teton National Park is a treat that they’ll never forget. You will see some of the most breathtaking sights, hike over 200 miles of trails, view extraordinary wildlife, and take gorgeous photographs. Wildlife is abundant. More than 300 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, and many freshwater fish live within the park. Not surprisingly, the park is a paradise for wildlife lovers, photographers, climbers, kayakers, and hikers. The best way to explore the spectacular scenery is by hiking the many trails. Some of the roads and access points close during winter months.

Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park and a popular stop on the way to Yellowstone. It’s rustic wooden buildings and board walks and a town square framed by elk-horn arches is the perfect setting for Old West fun. Add quaint shops, galleries, and restaurants to this charismatic town and you will see why it charms the modern-day visitor.

Bordering the town, the National Elk Refuge protects the largest herd of wintering elk in the world. In season, visitors can ride horse-drawn sleighs into the refuge to view these gentle creatures. It is only a 20-minute drive from town to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort which offers some of the best skiing in North America.

While there is still more to see in Wyoming; these are my top sites in this gorgeous untouched state. What is your favorite part of Wyoming?