Wyoming

One of the most-visited national parks in the USA, Yellowstone offers incomparable beauty amid the rugged mountains, valleys, spectacular geysers and natural hot springs. Must-see sites include geothermal features – including Old Faithful – at Lower and Upper Geyser Basins, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lamar Valley for wildlife viewing. With nearly 9,000 square kilometers of protected wildlands, Yellowstone offers abundant outdoor recreation year-round.

Backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, snow sports, paddling the Snake River and rock climbing are just a few of the activities available at spectacular Grand Teton National Park. Soak in the views of jagged mountain peaks, pretty lakes and historical sites along several scenic drives throughout the park.

Jutting out of the earth is an awe-inspiring, 65-million-year-old rock formation considered a sacred site by Northern Plains Indians. Hike the Tower Trail and you’ll see prayer cloths placed there by local tribe members, but do not touch or photograph them. To learn about the unique geology, indigenous people and wildlife of the area, take a ranger-led park tour. The truly adventurous – and skilled – can try climbing its sheer vertical sides.

Once a crucial trading point along the Oregon Trail and the largest military post in the region, Fort Laramie is a time capsule of the early pioneer era. Tour the 1834 military fort and fur-trading post to see 12 restored buildings, mingle with interpretive guides in period dress, hike the Old Iron Bridge and explore history on a scavenger hunt.

Since 1897, this week-long celebration of Wyoming’s frontier heritage offers a deep dive into American Western culture. Find a recreated frontier town, a substantial rodeo schedule, bull riding, an American Indian Village, concerts, a chuck wagon cook-off and plenty of family-friendly entertainment, including a parade and carnival.

Take a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, where more than 7,000 majestic elk –one of the largest herds in the world – spend the winter. Fall is elk-breeding season, which can result in dramatic displays and bull calls. Spring and summer are prime time for bird watching in the refuge.

Encompassing five museums under one roof – Buffalo Bill Museum, Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum and Draper Natural History Museum – this is the place to learn about the American West. The center and Cody, the city where it’s located, are named after folk hero William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody, a Wild West showman, buffalo hunter and U.S. Army scout.

Set in the expansive Wind River mountain range, Wind River Country is home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes on the seventh-largest American Indian reservation in the USA. Throughout the region’s small towns, you’ll find heritage and cultural centers, historic districts, powwows and trading posts set against a gorgeous mountain backdrop.

Scenic highways and overlooks await visitors who travel through this range that leads to Yellowstone. Explore forests, take in the wildlife, visit cultural centers, see a rodeo or enjoy a music festival as you marvel at the wilderness, deserts and craggy peaks found here.

This center in Casper traces the incredible journeys of the half-million pioneers who passed through Wyoming on their westward progression via the California, Oregon, Mormon and Pony Express trails. It’s a must-see for history buffs, and admission is always free.