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Follow the Park to Park Highway — a popular early 1900s auto route connecting 12 national parks in the West — to discover road-trip stops too special to ignore, from Wyoming’s lively capital city to quaint small towns that move at a refreshingly slower pace. Drop a line in one of the West’s most renowned fishing destinations, revel in prehistoric and natural wonders, and pick up special Wyoming mementos — like cowboy boots and local wine — to remember your journey. STARTING POINT: SOUTHEAST WYOMING WELCOME CENTER A Terry Bison Ranch Resort | Cheyenne Climb aboard a custom-built train for a ride out to the middle of the working ranch’s bison herd. At the ranch, bite into the Senator’s Steakhouse’s juicy bison burger, voted the Best Bison Burger in Wyoming by USA Today’s 10Best. B Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility State Historic Park near Cheyenne Visit the world’s only easily accessible Peacekeeper Missile Alert Facility and get an idea of what life was like for the well-oiled teams that worked here during Cold War times — from 1962, when it was built, through the beginning of the 21st century. C Fort Laramie National Historic Site | near Guernsey and Torrington Tour restored buildings at the largest military post on the northern plains at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, a former 1834 private furtrading station turned military post to protect trail travelers. D Table Mountain Vineyards | near Torrington Table Mountain Vineyards’ “pure Wyoming wine” is concocted using local ingredients. Make an appointment for sips of their semi-sweet Cowgirl Blush or the Wyoming Nectar honey wine. E Guernsey State Park Guernsey Explore historical structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, including a museum located at the top of a cliff that gives way to expansive views of a sparkling reservoir. F Glendo State Park Glendo Sparkling Glendo Reservoir attracts boaters, water skiers, swimmers and anglers. Keep your eyes peeled for encampment rings and other artifacts from Native American tribes who once inhabited the area. G Jackalope Square Douglas According to legend, the jackalope was born in Douglas when two brothers mounted a jackrabbit’s body with deer antlers at their taxidermy shop. Pose with the 8-foot statue of the creature at Jackalope Square. Don’t forget to tag #ThatsWY! H Ayres Natural Bridge Douglas Discover a 100-foot-long natural rock arch spanning La Prele Creek west of Douglas. This oasis has a short trail that leads to a view of the “bridge” from above, as well as picnic tables that offer a break from the road. I Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters | Casper This downtown Casper institution has supplied locals and visitors with boots, hats and other Western essentials since 1919. With more than 10,000 pairs of boots in stock, you’re sure to find the perfect fit. J Miracle Mile Fishing near Casper and Alcova Portions of the North Platte River that flow through the region — including the Miracle Mile system between the Pathfinder and Seminoe dams — abound with brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout. Connect with a local outfitter to boost your chances of reeling in the ultimate catch. K Wyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig Sites | Thermopolis Hundreds of displays and more than 30 mounted skeletons tell storied tales of Wyoming’s prehistoric past. See the Archaeopteryx specimen — one of only 12 in the world — or opt for a dig-site tour, where you can dig for fossils yourself. Learn more about Wyoming’s fossils on p. 66. L Wind River Canyon near Thermopolis Travel through time on the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway in Thermopolis to catch glimpses of the canyon’s 2,500-foot, pink-hued rock walls, which date back to the Precambrian period, as well as bighorn sheep and other wildlife. Keep an eye out for signage highlighting the canyon’s geology along the way. END POINT: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK EAST ENTRANCE Find more along the Park to Park route at TravelWY.com/parktopark. Visitor Centers • Casper • Cheyenne • Chugwater • Douglas • Lusk • Pine Bluffs • Thermopolis • Torrington State Parks & National Forests • Curt Gowdy State Park • Edness K. Wilkins State Park • Glendo State Park • Guernsey State Park • Hawk Springs State Recreation Area • Hot Springs State Park • Shoshone National Forest Tripadvisor-Approved Stops in the PARK TO PARK REGION CHEYENNE’S UNION PACIFIC DEPOT “I totally nerded out at the depot museum. The history of the railroad and the role it played in Cheyenne’s founding and development was really interesting. I also enjoyed learning about how the railroad technology changed over the years. Upstairs is one of the largest and coolest railroad models I’ve ever seen. This is well worth a few hours of your stay in Cheyenne.” — Ellen OREGON TRAIL RUTS STATE HISTORIC SITE | Guernsey “I was so excited to see the trail ruts in Guernsey. They’re a fantastic relic of the Oregon Trail and very well preserved and maintained. There is an ADA walkway to get to the ruts and historic market as well as a more scenic path with steps. Highly recommend if you’re into history.” — hezzy_t NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS INTERPRETIVE CENTER | Casper “The detail, the exhibits and stories in this museum were excellent. There’s so much interesting history presented in an informative and interactive way. I’d recommend this for everyone — it’s appropriate for young kids and so good for adults. We allocated about an hour and a half and did not make it all the way through the exhibits, and we didn’t get out to the outside trails. ...This museum is amazingly well done, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the exhibits are engaging and fun.” — The Menn WYOMING WHISKEY | Kirby “My husband is from Worland, WY, so when I saw the writeup on Wyoming Whiskey in Sunset Magazine I asked him if Kirby was close to Worland. It is! We stopped while on vacation and what a treat. Great whiskey (especially the Outryder), great people, wonderful gift shop. Don’t miss it!” — Jacqueline G. Find more Wyoming things to do at tripadvisor.com. MORE TRIPADVISOR IDEAS Backwards Distilling Company Tasting Room Casper Bread Doctor Torrington College Inn Bar Douglas Douglas Railroad Museum Douglas Historic Governor’s Mansion Cheyenne Legend Rock Petroglyph Site near Thermopolis Martin’s Cove Historic Site Alcova One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company Thermopolis Paleon Museum Glenrock Tate Geological Museum Casper Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum Douglas Wyoming State Museum Cheyenne Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Cheyenne Nicolaysen Art Museum Casper Register Cliff near Guernsey Windy Peaks Brewery & Steakhouse Wheatland Wyoming State Capitol Cheyenne
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