One of the things we love about travel is the diversity and enriching experiences each location provides. That’s why for our latest “Destination Spotlight” in our popular series from our nationally syndicated radio show, we decided to feature Cheyenne, Wyoming. This city might not be the first place you think of when planning an itinerary — but it’s worthy of consideration. Located in the 44th State in our Nation, Cheyenne is also the capital city of a state whose wide-open natural beauty hasn’t changed much over the years.
A short trip north of Denver, Colorado — Cheyenne is an inviting community that exemplifies America. From its charming downtown to surrounding lands filled with an abundance of outdoor activities — the city features a lively art scene, tasty food options, and evident respect for Cowboys, and its history in the west. It has a wild-west history going back to the American frontier days, but modern-day Cheyenne offers a lot as well.
If you’re in the market for authentic Cowboy boots, you’re absolutely going to find them here. There are several local well-known shops and our experience — but we got ours at The Wrangler Boot Barn! While you’re strolling around downtown in your new cowboy boots, you’ll see 8-foot-tall statues of Cowboy Boots hand-painted by local artists to celebrate western history and tradition. To find them all — stop by the Cheyenne Visitor Center to pick up a map highlighting all the locations so you can check them out.
Home to the World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo, the Cheyenne Frontier Days is a 10-day event held in July to celebrate its American history. It attracts visitors from all over the U.S. and internationally. There are also many ranches and smaller rodeo events to visit as well.
The Cheyenne Depot Museum we think is a must-see attraction as it showcases the area and chronicles the early history of the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. It’s located in the historic Union Pacific Railroad depot which was built in the 1880s and is now a National Historic Landmark.
Other places of interest are the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, and the Big Boy Steam Engine. Old Number 4004 is the world’s largest steam locomotive and is on display year-round in Holliday Park — a lovely green space to walk, relax by the lake with a picnic and enjoy some time outside in nature.
If you love the great outdoors or camping is your thing, you’ll want to book time for visits to one or two of our country’s most beautiful national parks if you can while in Wyoming — Yellowstone National Park and a little further to its south, Grand Teton National Park. If they don’t fit into your schedule due to the distance, Curt Gowdy State Park is less than 25 miles west of Cheyenne and offers all kinds of activities to enjoy.
From its frontier history to world-class mountain biking, climbing, and a real taste of an old western American city, Cheyenne is a wonderful place to visit and extremely family-friendly and easy on your budget. There are plenty of places to stay but you may want to look at some of the more historic hotel offerings like the Historic Plains Hotel or one of the many ranches which accommodate guests for a truly authentic Cheyenne experience. Either way, adding Cheyenne, Wyoming to your list of places to visit will deliver a memorable and fun experience that can’t be duplicated elsewhere.
Safe and Happy Travels!
Robert & Mary Carey, Hosts
America’s #1 Travel Radio Show
www.RMWorldTravel.com
Photo credit: Photo provided by Robert & Mary Carey
