The frontier life is alive and well in Wyoming. In Cheyenne and across the state, you can find plenty of places where city slickers can experience the life of a cowboy, whether it’s by visiting a museum or getting more hands-on experience at a Wyoming dude ranch. If you want to know what the state was like back when it was just a territory, head over to one of these Wyoming attractions. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!
Frontier Days Old West Museum
If you’re in Cheyenne, stop by the Frontier Days Old West Museum on Carey Avenue. Frontier Days has been an annual event in Cheyenne since 1897, and in 1978, the locals opened a museum documenting the history of the event and exhibiting artifacts that date back to the Old West period of Wyoming’s history. Today, the museum has one of the biggest collections of authentic horse-drawn carriages in the country, and they regularly display exhibits of folk and Native American art.
Vee Bar Guest Ranch
You’ll find the Vee Bar Guest Ranch on Snowy Range Road. At Vee Bar, guests can assimilate to ranch life as much or as little as they like, and the ranch’s horseback riding trails have options for every skill level. Guests can also try their hand at fly fishing, hiking, trap shooting, or herding cattle. The ranch’s cabins offer a lovely view of the Little Laramie River, and they serve an old-fashioned buffet three times a day.
Nelson Museum of the West
The Nelson Museum of the West is another Cheyenne attraction. Located on Carey Avenue between 17th and 18th streets, this museum focuses more on the history of the West as a whole rather than the history of Frontier Days, and they display the broad spectrum of cultures brought to the American West by settlers, American Indians, and Mexican charros. They also have a section devoted to American military history throughout every time period.
A Bar A Ranch
A Bar A Ranch is tucked away on the west side of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest along the North Platte River. With over 100,000 private acres and a national forest to explore, the ranch is one of the oldest and biggest guest ranches in the country. You can participate in classic dude ranch activities like horseback riding and fly fishing, but the ranch also offers tennis, golf, a heated swimming pool, and skeet shooting. Even their meals are gourmet creations inspired by Western frontier cooking.
In Wyoming, you can experience as much or as little of the Wild West as you like. You can see authentic artifacts in a museum, practice your horse riding skills at a guest ranch, or act out your cowboy fantasy at one of the many ranches that still herd cattle through the high plains.
If you’re fascinated with the Old West or if you’re a city slicker who wants to try something new, plan your trip to Wheatland, Wyoming, today!
Image via Pixabay
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