Wyoming is our neighbor to the north. With a shared border, it’s virtually a straight shot up from Denver to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Despite that, I’d never spent any real time there. I fixed that last summer when I got to spend a long weekend exploring a variety of ways Cheyenne taps into its “Wild West” persona, as well as ways it shows visitors that it’s so much more than that. Whether you’re after that Western mystique and just want to discover the variety that Cheyenne, Wyoming experiences have to offer, let this be your guide.
What to do in Cheyenne, Wyoming on a Long Weekend
Where to take in history:
You can get a good bit of Cheyenne history in and near the downtown area. The Cheyenne Depot is a good place to start, right in the heart of downtown. Cheyenne describes itself as America’s “Railroad Capital” because its first residents were men working on the transcontinental railroad. The Depot is a designated National Historic Landmark and a former Union Pacific Depot that has been restored to its former glory. Inside, you’ll find a visitor center and restaurant as well as the Cheyenne Depot Museum with loads of railroad history, exhibits and interactive displays.
Other recommendations we were given were the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum (Frontier Days is a summertime mega event of live music, rodeo, food and so much more that draws people from all over); the Wyoming State Museum, Historic Governors’ Mansion, and Cowgirls of the West. We went to the latter two and happily lost track of time.
The Historic Governors’ Mansion no longer has any residents but there are lots of memories captured at various moments in time. It’s easy to imagine the clinking of glasses at formal dinners, laughter of the children of governors putting on a play in the attic, and the scurry of household staff managing all of the meals and cleaning. In the basement, there’s a fascinating display about how the long processes of doing laundry changed over the years (you’ll really appreciate your washer and dryer after seeing it). And you’ll find the sobering reality of the times and cautionary tale for the future, with the nuclear bomb shelter, kept ready at all times.
Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley, although not a museum, is a great opportunity to get the history of Cheyenne, while riding on a fun trolley. Topics may include outlaws, brothels, saloons and more. In other words, take that into account before you take the kiddos on the ride.
Cowgirls of the West Museum was a real treat, tucked into a strip of businesses on a block in the heart of downtown. We almost walked right past it, were it not for the enticing displays in the front windows of what used to be a retail store. Another free museum, this one is chock full, floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, with memorabilia over the decades of not only the history and evolution of cowgirls, but also of fashions, trends, and technologies that accompanied them. A fascinating display about how riding side saddle came to be is a lesson in the dangers of suppressing women. But there’s plenty that’s very empowering too, throughout the museum. Don’t miss the film in back that makes the history of cowgirls and wild west shows really come alive. While we’re on the subject of empowerment of women, Wyoming became the first state in the U.S. to give women the right to vote – as well as some other advances for women over time such as the first woman justice of the peace, first all-woman jury, and first woman bailiff. Admission is free.
Where to experience life in the Old West… that’s still happening:
Rodeo is alive and well in Cheyenne and it’s not just for show. Cheyenne’s Frontier Days, the “Daddy of them all” is every summer in July and is a great way to immerse yourself in everything iconic to rodeo and Cheyenne. But that’s not the only time.
Authentic, small-town rodeos are happening throughout spring, summer, and fall. One of the best opportunities is the Hell on Wheels Chuck Wagon Dinner & Rodeo on certain Fridays in June, July, August and September. Dinner was quite the spread, with brisket, beans, roasted potatoes, soft dinner rolls, and fruit cobblers a la mode. We didn’t have to rough it like the cowboys did, eating on the ground or standing up. We joined our fellow diners at round tables under a tent that kept the heat away until it was just cool enough to head over to the arena for the rodeo.
One level of ticket gets you a behind-the-scenes tour that was really interesting. We got to see the riders prepping for their turn on bucking bulls and horses, ready to hang on for dear life. Or riders getting ready for calf-roping. Some were working on their saddles. Others were taping up their ribs. I felt a bit like a voyeur into the behind-the-scenes of life as a cowboy or cowgirl, but it made me appreciate what I saw during the rodeo so much more. These are real, competitive events and money, and physical well-being is at stake. I’d recommend planning your entire trip around one or more of the Hell on Wheels dates!
Where to eat in Cheyenne
We started our day at The Omelet House, giving us a chance to see the historic and beautiful Nagle Warren Mansion Bed & Breakfast next door. What we loved about this place was that it had the vibe of a small town diner but with a really unique menu. The Country Fried Steak Burrito, for example, was perfectly breaded and fried steak plus eggs, hash browns and cheese. It was delicious. Or the “Daddy of ‘em All” omelet filled with veggies, meat, topped with green chili. Or the fact that, Friday-Saturday, you can order a Family Style Breakfast Board, that includes pancakes, bacon, fruit, eggs, and pancake toppings for 2, 4, or 6 people.
Beach Please Drink Company is a fun and tropical place for coffee, tea, crafted sodas, smoothies, and more. My Chai-crazed husband was impressed with their variety.
The Crooked Cup is a must when you need an afternoon pick-me-up in the form of some caffeine and a baked treat, like their mega-muffins, all made on-site. We stopped in between museum visits for some fortification.
The Metropolitan Downtown was a really nice surprise. Posh but not pretentious, it had a sleek, hip vibe. When an impending afternoon storm threatened to shut down patio dining, we gladly slipped into the elegant, chartreuse green, velvet banquette. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, we ordered the Street Tacos with grilled sirloin, and The Met Burger. Although close in price, there was an almost comical difference in portion size. I shared some (just some) of my delicious stack of Angus beef, lettuce, tomato and red onion plus fries with my husband. That was asking a lot of me because it was one of the best burgers I’ve had. We’ll definitely be back on a return visit because there were so many great-sounding things on the menu and the vibe was really appealing.
Other recommendations we were given by locals for places to eat included Mort’s Bagels, 2 Doors Down, Luxury Diner, Bella Fuoco, Wasabi Japanese Grill & Bar, the Albany, Bunkhouse Bar & Grill, Luxury Diner, and Sanford’s Grub & Pub.
Unique experiences to do in Cheyenne, Wyoming
The Cheyenne Farmers’ Market held outside during the warm weather months and then inside at the Cheyenne Depot from November-early May for the Cheyenne Winter Farmers Market. It’s a great chance to stock up on fresh produce, other food goods like jams, pastries, sauces and salsas, and non-food goods like soaps. The Farmers Market on Saturdays may have vendors from neighboring Colorado too, as well as Wyoming folks. But the Market on Tuesdays is exclusively Wyoming vendors, so you know you’re getting truly local items. Take the opportunity to meet the vendors, the people behind the food and other products. Get there early, as soon as the Market opens, because locals do their weekly shopping there and supplies get low quickly. Visiting a Farmers Market when you travel is a really meaningful way of eating and shopping local while supporting small businesses.
Not relating to food, but equally satisfying was our discovery of the Cheyenne Botanic Garden, across the street from where the Farmers Market is held. Frankly, I was surprised by the lushness of this place. After seeing so much farmland and wide-open spaces, bountiful gardens, alive with color, seemed unlikely. But the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is lovely, with xeriscape areas, a pond, creative and pretty nooks in which to sit a spell, a tropical conservatory inside, and an expansive viewing deck. The childrens’ garden was the most charming one I’ve ever seen, with so many ways for children to engage with nature in playful ways. Admission is free to this gem so don’t miss it.
Where to experience the outdoors
In case I haven’t expressed it enough, Cheyenne is full of pleasant surprises. The Vedauwoo Recreation Area is certainly one of them. After miles of basically flat, albeit pastoral, land in Cheyenne, we suddenly came upon these amazing rock formations. Think of childhood days playing with clay and imagine taking chunks of various sizes and shapes, all warm, earthen colors, and just plopping them on top of each other. Huge, rounded, blobs of rock rise up just waiting to be climbed, or in our case, admired from a hiking trail, amidst greenery, trees, and brooks. You can also camp in the Recreation Area! We’ll be back to do that next year, for sure. The area is different than anything I know of in Colorado so this easy foray up to Wyoming provides new scenery to hike, climb, and camp in.
Curt Gowdy State Park is also an option for outdoors fun with camping, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and much more. We’re looking forward to checking it out next time we head to Cheyenne.
Where to stay when discovering what to do in Cheyenne
While there are many options for where to stay in Cheyenne, from historic inns to motels, we stayed at the Best Western Frontier Inn, a short drive to downtown but also providing easy access to the Hell on Wheels and Live Fire events we attended. The hotel has a welcoming lobby, including flavored water, cookies, coffee and tea, complimentary and hearty breakfast every morning, comfortable and spacious rooms, a pool, workout room, and hot tub, and really stunning art. We loved how they took western-themed subjectmatter like a lasso, spurs, horses, and more and gave them a chic, modern vibe, both in the rooms as well as hallways and lobby. Frontier Inn “felt” very Cheyenne, honoring its history but all that it is currently.
That’s reflective of what Cheyenne is all about – a railroad and cowboy/girl history, impactful social and political events, traditional and progressive at the same time. What that means for us visitors is that there’s something to discover for every interest.
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