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Wyoming’s Cheyenne Frontier Days is just the beginning of your adventure — stay a little longer to explore the rugged beauty and rich history of Southeast Wyoming.
Each summer, the spirit of the Old West comes alive in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as the city hosts the legendary Cheyenne Frontier Days. Known as the “Daddy of ‘em All,” this 10-day exhibition showcases the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, attracting nearly half a million visitors from around the globe. But it’s more than just bull riding and broncos. Carnival thrills, historic reenactments, parades and star-studded concerts ensure a unique experience at for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages.
Getting There
Getting to Cheyenne, Wyoming, from Texas is relatively easy. Take a short flight to Denver from any major airport and then rent a car in Denver. Cheyenne is about 100 miles due north from Denver. TIP: As a Texan, be prepared to stop at the new Buc-ee’s located just south of Fort Collins. (Isn’t it a law that Texans must stop at every Buc-ee’s they see on a road trip?)
Where to Stay
Little America Hotel & Resort is conveniently located in Cheyenne at the crossroads of I-25 and I-80 making it the ideal base for exploring Southeast Wyoming. In addition to comfortable accommodations and a full-service restaurant, guests can play a round on the 9-hole golf course or relax by the heated pool.
Dining in Cheyenne
If you’re craving a tender, flavor-packed steak, you’re in for a treat. Wyoming’s Rib & Chop House serves up premium steaks and delicious baby back ribs. And be sure to bring your appetite! For a spectacular culinary showcase, order the Côte de Boeuf, a 36-oz bone-in ribeye steak that easily feeds two. It is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate as the steak is prepared tableside on a sizzling skillet with fresh herbs and garlic.
Another popular restaurant for a great meal is The Metropolitan Downtown. “The Met” is known for its innovative twists on comfortable classics. In addition to great food, enjoy an extensive wine list and creative cocktails.
The Omelet House is the place to be for breakfast – but arrive before 9 a.m. if you don’t want to wait outside for a table at this beloved local cafe. Located in a cozy house that’s over 100 years old, the friendly staff and hearty comfort foods guarantee an excellent dining experience to start your day. In addition to their namesake 3-egg omelets, other popular dishes include biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles and cinnamon rolls.
Daddy of ‘em All
The 10-day Cheyenne Frontier Days is also known as the “Daddy of ‘em All”. The world’s largest outdoor rodeo includes competitions in Bull Riding, Bareback Riding, Barrel Race, Breakaway Roping, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping and Tie-Down Roping. Top scores from each day advance to the finals on Championship Sunday.
Another big draw each weekend is Frontier Nights. The stars come out at night when the biggest names in country music perform on the main stage. This year’s performers included Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, Turnpike Troubadours, Jelly Roll, Jason Aldean, Flatland Cavalry and more. Concerts begin at 8 p.m. each weekend night, and concertgoers purchase a ticket, separate from the rodeo admission, for the concert they wish to attend.
Plenty of other activities keep guests entertained when not watching the rodeo or concert. The traditional carnival midway keeps kids of all ages busy with thrilling rides, games and concessions. Stroll through Old Frontier Town to catch a glimpse into Cheyenne’s Western heritage. Artisans and merchants dress in period costumes and give living-history demonstrations of pioneer crafts and skills.
Around the corner from Old Frontier Town is the immersive Native American Indian Village. Be sure to schedule your visit to coincide with the Native American dance performances. Arrive early enough to visit the craft booths that surround the Indian Village to see a variety of Native American handicrafts.
The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is a separate fee but well worth a visit. The relationship between early pioneer settlers and Native Americans is reflected in the artwork of the museum. In addition to paintings and sculptures of horses and cowboys you’ll find an exhibit of Native Americans clothes, jewelry and shoes with beautiful, intricate beadwork. My favorite exhibit, though, is the Miss Frontier Banners. Each banner has a photo of that year’s Rodeo Queen from 1931 through today.
The Highway to Heaven
About an hour’s drive west of Cheyenne is Laramie. This historic Old West-turned-College town is a great place to visit and learn more about Wyoming’s past and future. The drive from Cheyenne to Laramie along I-80 is known as “the highway to heaven”. Interstate 80 is a major highway traversing the US from New Jersey to California. The stretch between Cheyenne and Laramie takes you through a mountain pass in the Laramie Mountains at an altitude of 8,640 feet – the highest point on I-80 – thus earning it the nickname of “highway to heaven”. This highway follows close to the route of the historic Lincoln Highway. You’ll be reminded of this fact when passing the 40-foot Lincoln Monument that overlooks the highway just east of Laramie. If you want to see it up close, you can pull off at the rest area where it’s located.
Laramie
Laramie has many historic sites to visit, but it is also home to the University of Wyoming. The university, founded in 1886, is known for its football program and academic research. Downtown Laramie has many cute shops that will remind Texans of Fredericksburg. Be sure to check out The Bent & Rusty for custom, handcrafted gifts. Then grab a burger or pizza for lunch nearby at The Crowbar and Grill. Order some Pad Thai Fries, too!
Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site
Laramie is home to 12 museums, everything from art to history to science and more. We visited the Wyoming Territorial Prison which was like stepping back in time. It originally opened in 1872 and was in operation for 30 years. The prison housed 1,200 prisoners during that time, including the notorious Butch Cassidy. The famous outlaw was imprisoned there for 18 months for stealing horses. Learn more about Butch Cassidy in the museum’s exhibit dedicated to his life.
Located on nearly 200 acres, buy your tickets in the Gift Shop and then take a self-guided tour through the other three buildings on the grounds. Our first stop was the Warden’s House which gives you a peek into life on the frontier. Then we walked over to the two-story prison building where we strolled the halls, looking into the prison cells, dining hall and bathing room (where they could take a bath once a week in the summer and once every two weeks in the winter). Our final stop was the Prison Industries Building which functioned as a broom factory. Prisoners were required to work in order to raise revenue for the prison.
Snowy Range Scenic Byway
Leaving Laramie, we took the scenic route to Saratoga. Highway 130 is a spectacular scenic alternative to I-80 and is a “must do” when visiting Southeast Wyoming. This 29-mile windy road takes you through the Medicine Bow National Forest reaching elevations of nearly 11,000 feet. It is only open from Memorial Day through mid-November, then it’s closed due to snowy winter conditions. Be sure to download the map before your journey so you’ll know where the scenic outlooks, picnic areas and campgrounds are located.
The beautiful drive will take you to glacier lakes, gorgeous overlooks, and through incredible mountain peaks. Our favorite stops were the Libby Flats Observation Point (Tip: There is a public bathroom there but bring your own toilet paper.) and Mirror Lake. Several picnic tables and hiking trails make Mirror Lake a popular stop on the drive. We also saw several people fishing in the lake.
Saratoga Hot Springs Resort
Soaking in the mineral hot springs at Saratoga Hot Springs Resort is the perfect way to end a day of hiking and exploring. Native Americans first discovered the natural springs and called them “magic waters”. Today, guests at the resort can enjoy the mineral hot springs in either the 70-foot swimming pool or in one of the smaller teepee-covered hot-tub-sized pools. The temperature of the springs is completely natural and ranges from 96-98 degrees in the swimming pool to 100-112 degrees in the teepee pools. Information about the healing benefits of the natural springs can be found on their website.
If you need additional pampering, then schedule some time at the resort’s Healing Waters Spa. A massage and a soak in the mineral hot springs will leave you refreshed and ready to face the world. Enjoy a casual dinner onsite at the Snowy Mountain Pub & Biergarten before turning in for the night in one of the Western-themed guest rooms.
Wyoming: Wide Open Spaces
As we left Saratoga, headed back to the Denver airport, I couldn’t help but hum the tune to “Wide Open Spaces”. Everywhere you look, nature’s beauty surrounds you. So, curious to know more about Wyoming, I did a little research and learned a few interesting facts.
- Wyoming is the least populated state in the U.S.
- The population of the state of Wyoming is 586,485. For comparison, the population of Austin, Texas, is nearly double that at 984,567.
- Wyoming has seven National Parks, including Yellowstone in the northwest corner of the state.
- Wyoming is called “The Equality State” because it was the first state to give women the right to vote.
- Like Texas, rodeo is the official sport of Wyoming. (How many of you knew that about Texas?)
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Cover photo Wendi Baird.
Wendi Baird is the Editor in Chief for Texas Lifestyle Magazine. As a fifth generation Texan, her roots run deep in the Lone Star State. She loves traveling and writing about her experiences.
