WYOMING: THE COWBOY STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
It
doesn't matter if you take a trip across the state line or the border, being
far from home can be exciting and also a bit stressful. When considering
traveling, it is important to think of the best mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer
many more sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer
a chance to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover
ground fast but don't allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in
flight. Each mode of travel has its own advantages and disadvantages to be
considered. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Wyoming is a great place to discover the American
West at affordable prices while also visiting what is considered to be a US tax
haven state. With many unspoiled mountain vistas, vast blue skies and the
awe-inspiring scenery of the high plains and Rocky Mountains, Wyoming offers
much of what travelers to this region seek. Unlike other states in the Rockies,
Wyoming's demographic growth has been restricted to a few areas of the state
where mineral extraction has expanded in the recent past. While mining and
drilling have expanded recently (and very notably in some regions), Wyoming is
still relatively unspoiled compared to other parts of the region.
Wyoming is the least populated U.S. state, with slightly more than half
a million residents, the majority of whom cluster into a handful of cities and
towns. Of these, Cheyenne and Casper are the largest and are home to more
than a quarter of the state's citizens. For visitors, this means that the
distance between towns is often vast, requiring more planning and
self-sufficiency than travel in more densely populated parts of the country. It
also means that travelers will have the chance to experience firsthand the
feeling of being all alone in vast, wide-open spaces.
The state offers a wealth of outdoor recreation and sightseeing
opportunities, including the nation's first national
park, mountain ranges, vast forests, crystal-clear rivers and
wilderness areas. The state's attractions include archaeological treasures,
such as those at Castle Gardens in central Wyoming, as well as ghost towns
dating from the early frontier days (Atlantic City) to the 1980s. Native
American culture has left a significant mark on the state and region. The Wind
River reservation, home to the Arapahoe and Shoshone tribes, offer visitors
excellent opportunities to experience contemporary Native American culture and
to learn about the past.
Nearly half of the state is designated as public land, so visitors will
not lack for opportunities to get out and experience wide open spaces. As
visitors might expect, Wyoming's economy is closely tied to these public lands,
used for mineral extraction, tourism and ranching, making land-use policy one
of the state's most hotly debated issues.
WHAT TO DO
National Parks & Monuments
Located in the
northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone
National Park and Grand Teton
National Park are
places everyone should see at least once in their lifetimes.
Guides and
outfitters in nearby towns, such as Jackson and Cody, can help visitors explore
the parks' mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, wildlife and geysers.
Since its
designation as a national park in 1872, visiting has been an iconic American
adventure. Yellowstone's more than 2 million acres boast the most and widest
array of geothermal features anywhere in the world. Visitors flock to its
geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots, and its legendary wildlife
includes grizzly and black bears, gray wolves, buffalo, elk, pronghorn and
eagles.
To experience
the park's grandeur, visitors can choose day hikes, backcountry camping
excursions, bus tours, guided horseback and wagon rides, boating and fishing,
snowmobiling, cross-county skiing and much more.
Keep in mind
that tourist capacity in the Park is limited and crowds are often large. Back
country permits are required if you intend to explore the Park's vast and
interesting interior. If you want to stay in one of the hotels or lodges inside
Yellowstone, you may need to book your rooms far in advance. Camping spaces are
similarly limited and must be reserved well in advance.
Just south of
Yellowstone, Grand Teton rises from the relatively flat valley into a towering
spine of 12,000-foot peaks that dominate the horizon. Its high-alpine backcountry
makes it a paradise of outdoor activities and adventures: more than 250 miles
of hiking trails; gorgeous waters that beacon kayakers, canoers, sail boaters,
waterskiers and float trippers; world-class fishing in Jenny, Jackson and
Phelps lakes; and peaks that lure climbers and mountain bikers.
As with
Yellowstone, lodging and other facilities within Grand Teton National Park are
limited. Camp sites, hotel rooms and climbing permits should be secured well in
advance of your visit.
This
one-of-a-kind natural wonder near the town of Hulett in northeast Wyoming looms
more than 1,200 feet above the eastern plains and the Belle Fourche River. The
volcanic rock formation is popularly known for its scene in the climax of
Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic, Close
Encounters of the Third Kind. The tower is considered sacred by many
American Indians, who leave colorful prayer cloths tied to trees near its base.
Several campgrounds near the park's entrance offer views of the tower.
- Fossil
Butte National Monument
Just west of
Kemmerer lies a prehistoric limestone lake bed that's home to fossils dating up
to 50 million years ago. The visitor center has thousands of them on display,
including a 13-foot crocodile and a giant slab of limestone encasing 356 fish.
In summer, you can hike to the fossil research quarry and assist park staff as
they collect specimens.
REFERENCE
SITES:
I'm fortunate to live in
Wyoming, one of the most beautiful, pristine places in the world.
John Barrasso
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