Wyoming is a vast playground for visitors traveling with kids and young adults. Consider partaking in these essential
Western activities — all worthy reasons to ditch those screens and make fresh memories together as a family instead.
1. Lounge in Therapeutic Mineral Springs
Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis has a free bath house for the fam to soak in steamy 104-degree waters. Also keep your eyes peeled for bison that roam in the park.
2. Make a Splash as a Family
Fremont Lake near Pinedale is a prime stop for kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, water skiing and fishing. The body of water also hosts events such as the Sailing Regatta in August and Big Fish Ice Derby in March.
3. Hike to Natural Wonders
At Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander, hop on the easy half-mile trail to see “The Sinks,” a geologic formation where the Popo Agie River disappears underground and then reappears down the canyon in a large pool called “The Rise.” This area is great for families in the winter and summer seasons.
4. Slumber in a Mountain Hideaway
Families can stay in a cozy log cabin at Kodiak Mountain Resort near Afton in the Star Valley, an area known for its sparkling night skies and access to activities such as hiking and fly-fishing.
5. Chase Waterfalls
There are hundreds of waterfalls in the Cowboy State, from thundering cascades to wispy gems. Check out Porcupine Falls in the Bighorn Mountains near Lovell, where water tumbles over a steep cliff into a small swimming hole.
6. Hunt for Fossils
American Fossil Quarry near Kemmerer is a must visit for aspiring paleontologists. There, little ones can dig up and keep fossils of stingrays, shrimp, paddlefish, turtles and other preserved creatures.
7. Discover an Old Fur-trading Post
At Fort Laramie National Historic Site, one of Wyoming’s 26 national historic sites, visitors can walk through 12 restored buildings that replicate life from 1834 to 1890 on what was once known as the largest military post on the plains.
8. Explore a Ghost Town
Situated south of Lander, South Pass City is a restored ghost town with 17 original structures that highlight how locals lived in the mid- to late 19th century. Highlights include a saloon and card room, school and blacksmith shop.
9. Learn About the Past
Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody encompasses five museums, including one dedicated to the life of soldier, showman and hunter Buffalo Bill Cody and other legendary figures of the Wild West.
10. Play in the Sand
Killpecker Sand Dunes near Rock Springs offers 11,000 acres of soft sands for sand sledding and boarding, giggle-inducing pastimes that involve sliding down the dunes.
11. Examine Ancient Rock Carvings
Tucked east of Riverton, the Castle Garden Petroglyphs feature sandstone outcroppings etched with Native American rock art or petroglyphs of human and animal figures, including turtles and birds.
12. Reel in a Big One
Blessed with a bounty of lakes and waterways, Casper is one of the state’s top fishing destinations. Popular places to drop a line include the North Platte River and Pathfinder and Alcova reservoirs.
13. Feast on Western Fare
Even the pickiest eaters love Bar T 5’s three-hour dinner experiences in Jackson. Packages include a ride in a horse-drawn covered wagon, a homestyle barbecue dinner and a show with live music.
14. Learn About the West’s Indigenous Peoples
The Eastern Shoshone Tribal Cultural Center in Fort Washakie chronicles the history of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, the original inhabitants of the Wind River Mountain Range. Browse exhibits showcasing art and information
about historic figures such as Sacagawea.
15. Explore the History of Transportation
If you have lovers of planes, trains and automobiles in your crew, check out outdoor displays of vintage airplanes at the Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting in Greybull. Or visit the Frontier Auto Museum in Gillette to see old cars displayed in a colorful neon-lit ambiance.
16. Delve into Outlaw History
For more than 30 years, the Wyoming Territorial Prison in Laramie held bandits such as storied bank robber Butch
Cassidy. The site is now a museum that allows visitors to walk along the cell blocks and uncover stories of past inmates.
17. See Wild Horses
More than 225 wild mustangs roam together in western Wyoming’s Wind River Horse Sanctuary, located on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The preserve, the only one in the nation based on a reservation, is operated by a working cattle ranch that hosts ATV and wagon tours (appointments required).
18. Follow in the Footsteps of Pioneers
Book an excursion with Casper-based Historic Trails West, which offers a variety of covered-wagon treks (from lunch
rides to five-day adventures) along real routes traversed by settlers, gold-seekers and Pony Express riders.
