2016-10-22 04:34:09
Experience the charm, history and friendliness of the downtown districts that are spread throughout Wyoming’s Rockies to Tetons region. Most date all the way back to frontier days, when transcontinental travelers saw this beautiful land and set up camp — permanently. The century-old courthouses, mercantiles and saloons still welcome travelers today, and thanks to the Wyoming Main Street project, they will for centuries more to come. These local towns have invested in restoring and preserving their central business districts and are all worthwhile stops on your trip. RAWLINS Timeless brick buildings line the sidewalks in Rawlins, the Western town that sprouted up around a 19th-century train stop. Browse railroad history at Depot Park, see local artists at The Red Desert Art Gallery (call for hours) and shop for gifts in quaint boutiques. Stroll through downtown to view the 12 murals that tell the colorful history of Carbon County. Don’t miss the Wyoming Frontier Prison, the historic (and supposedly haunted) penitentiary three blocks off Main Street. SARATOGA This historic downtown consists of just a couple of blocks chock full of antique stores and restaurants. Of particular interest is Lollypops — an ice cream parlor decorated like a 1950s soda fountain — and the 1893 Hotel Wolf, which once served as a stagecoach stop and boasts a cool old-timey saloon. Most stores still have their original storefronts, and the shops that have chosen to renovate maintain an Old West look. LARAMIE From its boom-town roots, Laramie has flourished into a cultural center as the home of the University of Wyoming, but it still maintains its Old West spirit from the days when it was known as “The Gem City of the Plains.” Pick up a walking tour brochure at the Laramie Area Visitor Center, Main Street Alliance or Chamber of Commerce; and see the Women’s House for Historic Women, University of Wyoming Art Museum and Garfield Street Footbridge. Finally, wet your whistle at the many locally owned watering holes.
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