Romantic Getaways in Wyoming

Rich in natural wonders and Old West history, the state of Wyoming draws couples from far and wide on romantic vacations. Its mountain peaks, wild rivers, and wide open plains provide a wealth of scenic beauty and outdoor recreation while the legends of the Old West makes for historic drama and vibrant culture.

Yellowstone National Park

The Yellowstone National Park of United States is one of the most visited public parks of the continent. Spanning across 3468 square miles, the park is primarily located in the state of Wyoming even though it extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone is famous for its picturesque lakes, canyons, rivers and geological features such as Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, West Thumb Geyser Basin, and Lamar Valley, of which perhaps the most popular is the Old Faithful Geyser. Old Faithful is a cone geyser which erupts around 90 minutes apart, on an average. The eruptions of hot water range between 3700 to 4800 gallons and reach an average height of 145 feet however eruptions reaching as high as 185 have also been recorded. The geyser gets its name in fact from the more or less predictable time lag between two eruptions which may last from 1.5 minutes to 5 minutes. The reliability of the eruptions owe to the fact that the geyser is unconnected to any other thermal feature of the Upper Geyser Basin. The Old Faithful falls in Wyoming area of the Yellowstone National Park and if you are keen to make this the focus of your romantic vacation, you and your partner can stay at the nearby Old Faithful Inn.

Jackson Hole

with its wide range of exhilarating activities, Jackson Hole is considered as one of the top ski towns in America which also makes this the place for couples who believe that life is more fun in winter. Jackson Hole has one of the lowest base elevations of any ski resort area in the Rocky Mountains, at just 6,311 feet. Jackson Hole Ski Area also has the longest continuous vertical rise of any ski area in the U.S.: 4,139 feet from the valley floor to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, with a 55-passenger aerial tram that transports skiers from bottom to top in 12 minutes. Despite such great facilities, the best news for lovers though is that Jackson Hole usually remains delightfully uncrowded: On an average day at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort, there are only 1,750 skiers skiing on the 2,500 acres of terrain. Apart from this, you or your sweetheart needn't even be Olympic-class skiers: Novices and intermediates can take advantage of everything from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's beginner-only lift tickets to the highly regarded Jackson Hole Mountain Sports School. In addition to skiing, during your winter romance, you can go on sleigh rides in the National Elk Refuge, take a bighorn-sheep herd tour, snowmobile in and around national forests, take a dog-sled ride, and soak in hot springs. Alternately check out the Snowshoe Tour offered by the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Winter Naturalist Program wherein National Forest employees guide guests through the Jackson Hole wilderness and discuss topics such as winter ecology, natural history and avalanche awareness. Finally unwind with your partner by heading downtown which has shopping, more than 30 art galleries, good restaurants, museums and some great nightlife.

Buffalo Bill Historical Center

For couples interested in the lore and culture of Old West, a must-see in the state of Wyoming is the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. This is a complex of five awesome museums and though each worth a visit on its own, if you can manage to combine the five, you are sure to have a trip to the past that you'll remember for the rest of your life. Among these, the Buffalo Bill Museum invites you to experience a slice of America through artifacts from the life of Buffalo Bill Cody. At the Cody Firearms Museum, marvel at the ingenuity revealed in this huge collection of firearms from around the world. Then again at the Draper Museum of Natural History you can learn about Wyoming wildlife and geology while at the Plains Indian Museum you can acquire a deeper appreciation for Plains Indian culture through exhibits and a multimedia show. Finally the Whitney Gallery of Western Art lays you open to a world-class collection of Western art, with works by Charles Russell, Frederic Remington, and WHD Koerner.

Hot Springs State Park

For a true romantic destination though, you would need to head back to the natural beauties of the state and among these, one of the most exquisite is the Hot Springs State Park. As the site of the world's largest single mineral hot spring, the area draws not only human visitors but wildlife and is home to Wyoming's central bison herd. Here you and your partner can enjoy a soak in the 104-degree mineral waters indoors at the State Bath House, or in two outdoor pools. Again you can set for the winding trails through the park, which not only allow you to take in the interesting rock formations formed by the mineral waters but also provide ample opportunities for romantic strolls in the park's famous flower garden.

Fort Laramie National Historic Site

History lovers on a tour of Wyoming will find the past recorded in the Fort Laramie National Historic Site particularly fascinating. Fort Laramie began as a fur trading post in 1834 and went on to serve folks migrating west via the Oregon and California Trails. The Fort Laramie National Historic Site includes a number of restored historic buildings, which you can check out on a walking tour. While there, stop first at the visitor center and enjoy an 18-minute fort history video, after which you can browse through bookstore, and museum exhibits that include uniforms, weapons, and artifacts from Fort Laramie's colorful history.

Grand Teton National Park

Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife. The abrupt vertical rise of the jagged Teton Range contrasts with the horizontal sage-covered valley and glacial lakes at their base, creating spectacular scenery that is sure to provide the perfect backdrop to your romantic destination. A road winds through the park, but the best way to experience the park is to take one of its shorter trails. Between the summit and plain, forests carpet the mountainsides. During summer, wildflowers paint meadows in vivid colors while crystalline alpine lakes fill glacial cirques, and noisy streams cascade down rocky canyons to larger lakes at the foot of the range. Running north to south, the Snake River winds its way down the valley, offering breathtaking views to visitors. Apart from taking in the amazing views, here you can go hiking, camping, climbing, boating and kayaking with your partner. For dining and lodging options, you can explore the city of Moose which is also the park headquarters.

Cheyenne

Though known for its Old West history, .Cheyenne, Wyoming's capitol city, is a wonderful place to visit for couples too. Start off your romantic vacation by visiting the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. Located between the Cheyenne Frontier Days Park and the airport, this includes over 25 different gardens within the grounds, including rose gardens, perennial gardens, a xeriscape garden, and a cactus garden. You can also check out the conservatory, a historic locomotive, sculptures, and fountains. There are many benches to rest and take in the beauty of the surroundings as well as to engage in some romantic tete-a-tete with your beloved. Culture enthusiasts will love the Art Deco Cheyenne Depot, a National Historic Landmark that was built in 1887 to service the transcontinental railroad. Also check out the Wyoming State Capitol Building which is famous for its architecture in a grand classical style. An important part of Cheyenne’s identity is its Old West history and the city's historic downtown reflects this colorful past in its grand hotels, stately business buildings, and lavish homes. A fun and interesting way to take in these amazing buildings, as well as the stories and the characters behind them, is on a walking tour. Don’t forget to stop by the Old West Museum which focuses on the history of the Cheyenne Frontier Days. Finally sample the nightlife of the city as Cheyenne has a range of dinging options, from down-home cafes to fabulous steak houses. Apart from these, cozy B&Bs, quaint inns, convenient hotels and shady campgrounds and RV Parks round out your accommodation options in Cheyenne.