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Wyoming is a stunning United States location where the family can embrace the natural beauty of the western wilderness. Families will love the rugged outdoor adventures. From Yellowstone National Park to elk and raptor conservation centers, Wyoming hosts many cheap or free fun activities for families. 17 Cheap Family Activities to Do in Wyoming
1. The Medicine Wheel
For a trip back in Native American history, visit the giant sacred Medicine Wheel near Lovell, 10,000 feet above the Bighorn Mountains. The enormous rock pattern is so much more than a pile of stones created centuries ago. Visitors say they can feel the atmosphere change as they near the Medicine Wheel. It has 28 spokes (representing the 28-day moon cycle) and is 80 feet in diameter. There is a short but easy hike to the site.
2. Dalbey Memorial Park
Dalby Memorial Park in Campbell County is a perfect day out for the family and is pet-friendly. It has a playground, a picnic area, and sports facilities for frisbee, golf, basketball, and volleyball. As it’s on the Gillette Fishing Lake, it’s popular with families that enjoy fishing. Families say the playground is suitable for toddlers, and there is plenty of shade from the lush mature trees scattered around the park in the summer.
3. Durham Bison Ranch Tours
Durham Bison Ranch is a 55,000-acre site 39 miles south of Gillette. In 1830, 40-60 million bison (buffalo) roamed the plains, but by the late 1880s were near extinction. Today, there are more than 400,000 bison in North America. The ranch has over 3,000 bison (bulls can weigh over 2,000 lbs) living naturally. Book a two-hour tour on Monday and Wednesday mornings or Friday afternoons from June to September to make the most of this adventure.
4. Wyoming Dinosaur Center
Spend an entire day digging for fossils and bones at 4,500 feet above sea level at a dig site at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis. If the family discovers new bones, the center records the findings in the bone registry as the family’s contribution to the Center. Or choose an hour-long fun tour to the “Something Interesting” quarry to learn about the dinosaurs found on site.
5. Campbell County Rockpile Museum
Rockpile Museum in Campbell County, Gillette, is a super family-friendly attraction. The museum focuses on regional and local history, specifically Campbell County’s people and culture. Visitors can enjoy video tours, rock blasting, rotating exhibits, VR coal transportation, and more. Admission is free for children under five and active duty military with their families, veterans, and spouses.
6. Intermittent Spring
If the family loves quirky aspects of nature, drive to Afton in Star Valley. Walk the 1.5 miles out of town to the Intermittent Spring, one of only three worldwide. The spring gushes through the cracks in the rocks for 18 minutes and then suddenly stops completely. A few minutes later, a trickle becomes a roar, and the water crashes over the rocks again. After the family has had enough of this natural wonder, head into Afton for a meal or sample the Star Valley chocolates.
7. The Pilot Butte Wild Horse Scenic Loop
For horse-loving families, there is nothing like watching horses in the wild. Head out from Rock Springs or Green River to start the 24-mile loop, which takes around 1.5 hours. It’s remote, and the track is gravel, so you’ll need a suitable vehicle. As well as the 1,500 horses in the canyon, get the camera out to snap elk, moose, coyotes, mule deer, and pronghorn. In the sky, watch for hawks and majestic eagles. Plan a visit in the spring and spot the wobbly-legged newborn foals frolicking on the trail.
8. Keyhole State Park
Keyhole State Park is a must-visit for families that love the great outdoors. The park is on the edge of the Black Hills, located between Moorcroft and Sundance. The park has ten campgrounds and plenty to do, such as horseback riding, fishing, boat rides, hiking, water skiing, and more. For memorable family get-togethers, the park has three group shelters for hire for weddings or parties.
9. Eagle Butte Coal Mine Tours
Book the family for a guided tour of Eagle Butte Coal Mine. You will see the magnificent machines at work and learn how the energy filters nationwide. Allow time for the two to three-hour tour on the site’s guide bus to enjoy a relaxing and informative introduction to this open pit mine that produces 35 million tons of sub-bituminous coal annually. Trip Advisor reviews say it is an excellent tour for a family and is low-cost, too.
10. Legend Rock Petroglyph Historic Site
Legend Rock Petroglyph Historic Site is near Thermopolis, 20 miles northwest of the Hot Springs State Park. It has hundreds of fascinating petroglyphs carved into the face of the rock on the impressive, almost vertical 400-meter-long cliff. The petroglyphs depict the sacred history of Native Americans. The site has a picnic shelter, informative trails, and a visitor center.
11. Cam-Plex Multi Event Center
If the family wants a mix of entertainment in one place, head to the 1,000-acre Cam-Plex Multi Event Centre. It has a racetrack, rodeo grounds, a ballroom, a fine arts theater, and a 21-acre picnic and park area. The center hosts monster truck rallies, live sports, ballets, concerts, and more.
12. Buffalo Bill Center of the West
The Buffalo Bill Centre of the West in Cody has five enormous museums and a research library of American West culture, artifacts, and art. The family can enjoy a guided tour, a live raptor experience, and chuckwagon dinners, which include Dutch oven cooking, steaks, trail beans, biscuits, and more.
13. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is a miracle of nature, with 3,500 square miles of wilderness spreading across Wyoming and edging into states like Idaho and Montana. The park has hundreds of animal species, including wolves, bears, bison, antelope, and elk. The family will love the alpine rivers, dramatic canyons, lush forests, gushing geysers like the famous Old Faithful, and not forgetting the hot, bubbling springs.
14. National Museum of Wildlife Art
At the 51,000-square-foot National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, the family can come face-to-face with the museum’s life-size animal sculptures on the outdoor sculpture trails. The museum overlooks the National Elk Refuge and has over 5,000 wild animal artworks. It has an interactive children’s gallery and museum shop.
15. National Elk Refuge
The National Elk Refuge is not just about elks. It’s a 24,700-acre national wildlife refuge and native conservation center in Jackson Hole. The land has forests, wetlands, and grasslands as natural habitats for its elks, wolves, bison, bald eagles, bighorn sheep, trumpeter swans, and cutthroat trout. Activities include hunting and fishing, and there are opportunities for the budding wildlife photographers in the family.
16. Jackson Hole Rodeo
Embrace Western history and culture at the Jackson Hole rodeo for an exciting family adventure. Watch barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, mini bull riding, and more. Jackson Hole Rodeo is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings starting at 8 p.m., and gates open at 6.30 p.m. If the family has an appetite after all that excitement, head to the concession stands to enjoy cowboy-style foods such as succulent local bovine, swine bison, and delicious pork huckleberry sausages.
17. Teton Raptor Center
The Teton Raptor Centre in Wilson is a nonprofit organization that cares for these beautiful creatures. The conservation center takes in orphaned, ill, or injured raptors and corvids and restores them to health. Book the family in for a 60-minute live bird experience or a” Behind the Scenes” visit for adults and children over six, where you can watch the majestic birds flying free.
16 Coolest Small Towns in the U.S. You’ve Never Heard Of
One of my favorite things about this country is the differences in each state. A cross-country road trip can take you from the mountains to the desert, coast, and swampland, with each region representing its unique charm and culture.
I’m an avid road tripper and have had the privilege of spending some time in these small towns. They left their mark on me in the best way possible.
18 Ways to Save Without Sacrificing Life and Happiness
Do you want a new perspective on saving money? If you think this is another article telling you to skip your morning coffee or give up dining out, then let us tell you—it’s not! This blog post discusses 18 innovative and painless ways to save cash without sacrificing the things that make you happy. We believe that a good life isn’t about cutting back on everything you love but about making smarter decisions with what you have. So, if you’re ready to start saving without compromising your lifestyle or happiness, dive right in!
