Go North to Southern Wyoming

Strolling downtown Cheyenne after one of the festive Frontier Days’ parades, I found charming restored Victorian homes and tidy streets with intriguing shops. The entrancing Cheyenne Botanical Gardens, within walking distance from the Frontier Days complex, is always free of charge, with 9 acres of different landscapes and a Baroque-style orangerie.

En route to my next stop, Laramie, 45 minutes west of Cheyenne, I can’t say enough about the lush Vedauwoo Recreation Area’s spectacular rock formations and huge, iconic pronghorn herds. Rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing (worm, lure and fly), canoeing and paddle boarding all bring enthusiasts and tourists to revel in the never-congested trails.

Laramie is an anomaly in Wyoming. A rare pocket of diversity, the Gem City of the Plains is home to the beautiful campus of the University of Wyoming as well as a delightful historic downtown replete with cute independent bistros, brewpubs and uber-cool coffeeshops. Laramie self-describes as “offbeat.” Don’t be surprised to spot rainbow flags, No Hate Allowed signs and PRIDE posters. Even during the pandemic’s dark days, we journeyed up to Laramie to get take-out at Sweet Melissa, a beloved vegetarian go-to (even for meat lovers) for 20 years, recently one of five Laramie restaurants featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. I struggle every time I go to order from the wildly creative menu.

Afterwards, downtown Laramie’s Sugar Mouse is truly adorable. This cupcake shop is like a life-size postcard, with gorgeous, fanciful creations in a setting worthy of a British tea parlor.

Shops are unique, too: Cowgirl Yarn is fascinating, even for non-knitters, with its array of yarns and wools from all over the world, while The Chocolate Cellar’s collection of exquisite antique candy tins, (some 500+) is fascinating. Plan for at least an hour at Bent & Rusty to see the rather overwhelming treasure trove of Western memorabilia, artisan goods and a wild assortment of items.

A special time to explore Laramie might be Jubilee Days ( July 2-10), an Old West-style festival including wacky bed races, PRCA rodeos, a carnival, parade, live music and a brewfest.

Laramie has a romantic appeal for Western lore enthusiasts, as it has served as the set for many Hollywood movies and TV programs. It also hosts a large array of museums. Visitors can gaze upon one of only five full brontosaurus skeletons in the world at the University’s Geological Museum, along with many other pre-historic creatures. Laramie’s top tourist attraction is the Wyoming Territorial Prison, built in 1872, where over 1,000 infamous types such as Butch Cassidy spent time. And don’t miss the classic Buckhorn Bar & Parlor, operating since 1890 with staggering numbers of animal heads peering down from the walls. Ask the bartender about the bullet hole in the mirror!

The Laramie Mural Project, founded in 2011, is a glorious array of large-scale murals on downtown walls and alley- ways made by local artists. Walking tour brochures are available at the newly remodeled Laramie Visitor Center at 800 South 3rd St.

Yes, it’s windy in Wyoming. Prepare to be “blown away” in more ways than one!

Irene Middleman Thomas is a Colorado-based writer who was most certainly “blown away” from her preconceived notions about Wyoming when she first visited several years ago. Now, she heads to southern Wyoming several times a year for the excellent hiking, snowshoeing, festivals, hot spring soaks, wildlife viewing and, yes, the restaurants!