Book yourself a flight to the Cowboy State this summer and hit up all the best food, shops, and sites with this Wyoming travel guide.
Situated between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, it’s a land of footpaths and thoroughfares, byways and river routes — and it has long attracted explorers and wanderers of every kind. The gorgeous sites of rural Wyoming are nothing to sneeze at. So, grab yourself a plane ticket, drop your luggage at one of the C&I-recommended stays, and explore Wyoming with the C&I travel guide.
EAT
Newly opened Boar’s Tusk Steakhouse in Rock Springs has already made its mark with exquisite attention to detail, such as warm, pillowy rolls with three types of soft butter. Even the salads and sides are noteworthy, like the fried brussels sprouts with balsamic reduction. Overlooking a grassy golf course, Eve’s serves hearty meat-and-potatoes fare along with innovations like cotija-stuffed ravioli and lilac flower ice cream. For breakfast, head to Rock Springs’ historic rail station for fresh pastries and bagel sandwiches at Coal Train Coffee Depot. Nearby is Broadway Burger Station, a ’50s-style diner with first-class burgers on cornmeal buns—plus luscious milkshakes and malts in 30 flavors including banana, blackberry, and s’mores. If you’re really into ice cream, swing by Farson Mercantile, a vintage general store-turned-gift-shop that’s famous for its gigantic cones.
[Top Left] Boar’s Tusk Steakhouse [Top Right] Eve’s [Bottom] Broadway Burger Station (PHOTOGRAPHY: Shilo Urban)
SHOP
Discover clever, not kitschy, souvenirs in rustic-cool environs at Wyoming Freight Company, a new addition to Pilot Butte Avenue in Rock Springs. More than two dozen regional craftspeople contribute their handiwork, from glassware and manly toiletries to Bigfoot shirts and dill pickle peanuts. Shop for Wyoming artwork at Rock Springs’ Community Fine Arts Center, where you can also see original pieces by Norman Rockwell and catch exhibitions like Bernie Jensen: Western Artist (August 14 – September 28, 2024), whose paintings of wildlife and the West you might recognize from his longtime collaboration with Cabela’s for the company’s catalogs. Settle into a cozy nook with a glass of pinot at Sidekicks Book & Wine Bar and pick up titles on local history at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Shilo Urban
STAY
Sweetwater County offers a selection of chain hotels, including Homewood Suites by Hilton Rock Springs and Hampton Inn & Suites Green River. For private digs, check out the homes and apartments on short-term rental sites like Airbnb and Vrbo (most are in Rock Springs). You’ll also find log cabins around Flaming Gorge; the best are at Red Canyon Lodge in nearby Dutch John, Utah, which also has a bistro-style restaurant and horseback riding. If you’re truly up for an adventure, you can sleep in a yurt, tepee, or covered wagon at Rocky Ridge Outpost in Manila, Utah.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Rocky Ridge Outpost
GO
SkyWest Airlines operates one flight daily between Denver and Rock Springs in each direction, plus a second flight each way during busier times.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Shilo Urban
Discover the history and highlights of the Cowboy State.
From our August/September 2024 issue.
