A Travel Guide to Wyoming
Wyoming is bordered on the north by Montana and to the east by South Dakota and Nebraska. Idaho forms most of the western border with Utah completing its southwest border. The state of Colorado boxes the neighbourly embrace on the south reaching to Cheyenne the capital and most populous city in the southeast.
Wyoming is a mountainous region with many peaks, canyons, and forested areas. There are nineteen state parks, forests and wildlife refuges here. The most well-known is Yellowstone National Park that lies in the northwest area overlapping the states of Idaho and Montana. This is where two of the most famous geysers in the world reside: Old Faithful and Steamboat Geyser. Old Faithful is more commonly known as its constant eruptions which can be predicted due to its regularity which occurs every ninety-one minutes when steam is projected upwards to a height of one hundred and twenty five feet. However, it is Steamboat Geyser that is the largest active geyser which does not erupt regularly but when it does it can majestically outperform Old Faithful with a projected height of 2-3 times and a much larger spray radius.
Both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park which Yellowstone reaches into (travelling further southward) support great eco-systems of flora and fauna which also contains some threatened and endangered species. Yellowstone is also home to the largest caldera – a super volcano - where molten lava rises to the surface. Previous volcanic eruptions here have also given rise to one of the world’s largest petrified forests - transformed from living wood to mineral. Grand Teton National Park is a marvellous appendage of Yellowstone’s natural authority – whose own peaks, rivers, lakes and meadows offer a splendid repast of adrenaline filled activity or one of tranquillity. Both parks offer splendid opportunities for fishing, rafting cruising or horseback riding in the warmer seasons to skiing and snowshoeing or snowmobiling in the winter.
One of the other significant and memorable places to visit in Wyoming must include a visit to the northeast Black Hills where the awesome sight of the Devils Tower National Monument endorsed by Theodore Roosevelt stands. It is steeped in scientific and native folklore and was one of the centrepieces in the film ’Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ written and directed by Stephen Spielberg. This is a monument that is climbed regularly all the year round except for the month of June to respect the sacred worship of the Native Americans.
Finally, the capital itself – Cheyenne - sits in the south east corner of Wyoming and is often dubbed the rodeo and railroad capital. It hosts the world's largest outdoor rodeo annually over ten days filled with bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling and team roping. It also hosts museums that celebrate the railroad and a museum given over to the cavalry days and shops to stock up in the Cowboy style.
There is a wide variety of self catering vacation rentals in Wyoming ranging from log cabins in the forests and the parks to condos and apartments in the cities.
