Montana & Wyoming

While driving through wide open spaces for two days with my family used to seem like an eternity as a kid, I look back on it now with great fondness. I realize I got to experience vast space, blue sky and nature driving across Montana, Wyoming and Colorado almost every summer. I saw untouched spaces for miles, full of horses, buffalo, mountains, farms, and yes, cowboys. I also began a lot of my learning about Native American culture & history here, as well as the early Frontier days. It cemented my love of the great outdoors and riding horses, and has lead me to return again and again to discover new peaceful plains. Apparently, so has everyone else, as these states have become a magnet for big city folk seeking luxury ranches, fly fishing trips and more (even David Letterman primarily lives in Montana these days. Given Montana boasts 147,040 mi², and Wyoming97,914 mi², who can blame them? So giddup…

Montana

From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, its wide-open spaces include Glacier National Park, a vast wilderness preserve that passes into Canada. (Capital is the town of Helena)

See

  • Glacier National Park

  • Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Centre

  • The site of the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn

  • The historic trail of Lewis and Clark, which dates back to 1804

  • Book horse riding and/or a fly fishing expedition

  • Sample some huckleberry jam or pies – it’s the local berry that stands in for blueberries in Montana

  • Explore the charming town of Missoula

Stay

Paws Up, Ranch at Rock Creek, Lodge at Sun Ranch, Triple Creek Ranch

Wyoming

Continued vast plains and the Rocky Mountains, complete with its famed Yellowstone National Park, geysers including the iconic Old Faithful, and Grand Teton National Park. (Capital is the town of Cheyenne)

See

  • Grand Teton National Park

  • Yellowstone National Park

  • Snake River/Canyon/Pacific Creek/Dam

  • Jackson Hole: Ski, Hike, take an eco tour adventure

  • National Museume of Wildlife art

  • Granite Hote Springs (and dog sledding)

  • Frontier Days

  • Cody Stampede Rodeo

  • *Side note: I did get a kick out of visiting the tiny Cowgirl museum in Cheyenne last time I went

Stay

Brush Creek Ranch , A Bar A Ranch, Amangani, Fireside Resort, Hideout Lodge & Guest House, Rusty Parrott, Four Seasons Jackson Hole

Travel, USA, City GuideCarrie Mitchell