Friday 15 May 2020

Dream time for the Great American West in Wyoming

Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park
The Great American West is an awe-inspiring region in all seasons, and summer is always a great time to visit the states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The region abounds in pristine national parks, fascinating Native American and cowboy culture and exciting outdoor activities for when travel to these states is once again possible.

Here is a collection of off-the-beaten-path highlights in each state and virtual tours and videos that you can experience from the comfort of self-isolation while you plan and dream.

Check out our Australian & New Zealand websites and our Facebook page for more great photos and information about the Great American West.

And click here to experience Wyoming's virtual tours

Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin (live stream): Watch Yellowstone National Park’s incredible Old Faithful geyser erupt water to heights of 40 metres with this live-stream webcam.
Grand Teton National Park: Virtually climb to the summit of the Grand Teton, walk around String Lake, and explore the Moose-Wilson corridor.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West: You may not be able to visit the Center’s five fascinating museums (affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution) right now, but you can learn about some of the interesting exhibits through these virtual tours.

‘Inspo for iso’ –– here are 3 off-the-beaten-path Wyoming destinations to dream about:

Fossil Butte National Monument
1. Fossil Butte National Monument
Once a sub-tropical lake ecosystem, Fossil Butte National Monument now contains one of the largest deposits of freshwater fish fossils in the world. Learn more about this ancient site at Fossil Butte’s Visitor Center which displays over 300 fossils including a 13-foot crocodile, the oldest articulated bat, and 356 fish! Explore Fossil Butte National Monument on two hiking trails or attend an interesting ranger talk where you will learn about Fossil Butte’s ecosystem and history. Those interested in fossils should take part in the summer Fossil Quarry Program where you will learn about the ongoing research at the site, help rangers look for fossils, and record the findings of the day.

2. Star Valley Chocolate Café
A must-see for chocolate lovers is the Star Valley Chocolate Café; a local favourite located in the quaint town of Afton. Enjoy scrumptious handmade gourmet chocolates and caramels that are made on-premises, or taste expresso drinks made from beans ground right in front of you! Before you leave, try the café’s famous hot chocolate which is made with homemade chocolate syrup and served with foaming hot milk, whipped cream, and sprinkles.

3. Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
For a fascinating road trip, drive along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (Wyoming Highway 296 over Dead Indian Pass) from Cody to Yellowstone National Park. Dead Indian Pass is 2.460 metres above sea level, showcasing spectacular views of mountains and alpine meadows. Finish the trip at Yellowstone National Park – the park’s lower loop has unbelievable natural features including Mammoth Hot Springs which looks like an inside-out cave, and Old Faithful which erupts hot water to huge heights!

Ask a local: the historic Occidental Hotel, Buffalo
Take an enthralling glimpse back in time to the cattle wars at The Historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo – an intriguing 140-year old hotel with history, ghosts and all the Old West atmosphere you could ever want. The hotel was visited by many famous names of the Old West including Butch Cassidy, Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill, and Theodore Roosevelt. The beautifully restored hotel has some original ceilings, rooms filled with antiques, and its Saloon contains an original back bar complete with original bullet holes!

Photos credit Wyoming Office of Tourism

About The Great American West
The Great American West is the brand for the international marketing efforts of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Collectively, the group markets to both travel trade (tour operators, travel agents, etc.) and consumers through advertising and public relations efforts. Individually, each state office works with their industry partners to raise awareness of their states and the region as a whole through the promotion of products and travel destinations. The Great American West contracts with Rocky Mountain International to help coordinate their united efforts in eight international markets, including The United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Benelux and Nordics. https://greatamericanwest.co/

About Rocky Mountain International
Rocky Mountain International specializes in international tourism marketing and business development for the Western U.S. Our mission is to increase incremental international visitation, spending and market share of the region to fuel the economies of our stakeholders. Through our work, we will significantly contribute to job creation, tax revenues and increased quality of life in the communities we live. RMI headquarters are in Cheyenne, Wyoming with overseas operations in London, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan and Sydney. For more information about RMI, visit RMIMarketing.com

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