Don’t mind me, just sitting here in this covered wagon and living my best cowgirl life in Wyoming! Early this fall, I traveled with a great group of people to experience cowboy culture and more in beautiful Casper, Wyoming. This wild western city sits in the heart of the state and has so much to offer an adventurous and inquisitive out-of-towner like myself.
I had an incredible time exploring Casper Wyoming and I fell so much in love with this destination that I’m already making plans to come back with the rest of my family in tow.
You’ll see why and more in today’s blog post where I’m sharing the Top 10 Fun Things to Do in Casper Wyoming. More below!
SHOP THIS CASPER WY LOOK:
cowboy boots / fringe jacket / hat / similar western shirt / jeans
1. Horseback Ride the Oregon Trail
In Casper, you can bring your childhood dreams to life by exploring the Oregon Trail via horseback instead of through a computer screen. (Who else played the video game in elementary school!?) Well, the “real” Oregon Trail ran right through Casper, Wyoming and along the Platte River with a pivotal stopping point for pioneers nearby at Independence Rock. Today, visitors can opt to horseback ride or even experience an adventure while riding in an authentic reproduction of a covered wagon along actual ruts of the original Oregon Trail.
I was treated to a trail ride atop Taz, a sweet-as-can-be mare belonging to Historic Trails West. Our guides took us through some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen and down to the banks of the Platte River where we stopped for a savory breakfast fit for a cowgirl. Historic Trails West offers oodles of options for adventure – from half-day rides, full-day rides, overnight wagon trips to even week-long wagon trips. You’ll have a blast while also learning a thing or two about the history of the trail and pioneer life.
2. Find the Perfect Cowboy Hat at Lou Taubert’s
Lou Taubert’s Ranch Outfitters boasts 9 floors of anything and everything a cowboy or girl would ever need and is an institution in Casper Wyoming. With over 10,000 pairs of cowboy boots in stock, a visit to Lou Taubert’s evokes that “kid in a candy shop” feeling to boot lovers like myself.
This family-run business has been operating for 100 years now and while they are great at finding shoppers the right pair of cowboy boots – they really excel at fitting people with the perfect cowboy hat. Louis Taubert, the grandson to the OG Lou Taubert, was on hand during our visit and helped our group to each find the perfect hat for our face, frame, and coloring. I had my eye on a wide-brimmed tan Australian outback style hat until Louis said, “No, I think this one would really suit you more.” and then handed me this stiff black rancher hat from Justin Boots. (Linked online here) It’s actually named The Magnificent, which it should be because it truly is a magnificent hat.
My suggestion would be to let Louis take the reigns and step out of your comfort zone trusting him to find the hat most perfect for you!
SHOP THIS CASPER WY LOOK:
3. Catch the Sunset on Casper Mountain
Casper Mountain watches over the city of Casper with its peak at 8,130 ft. above sea level. The views of the city and surrounding landscape from above are nothing short of awe-inspiring, especially when seen at sunset. Our group picked up a few bottles of wine from Urban Bottle and ready-made appetizers from Grab and Go Gourmet for a happy hour feast at sunset.
Casper Mountain has several public parks, hiking trails and even a folk museum open to visitors. You can camp here, rent a cabin, hike, snowboard, ski, bike and even catch a music festival come summertime.
4. Explore the Shops and Dining Options in Downtown Casper
Downtown Casper is a juxtaposition of history meets the modern-day. Casper’s historic buildings have been transformed to suit life in the 21st-century housing bustling businesses, unique shops, delicious restaurants and more. Be sure to stop at David Street Station to enjoy the outdoor space and if you’re visiting during the holiday season don’t miss the ice rink that pops up in this very spot!
Our group had such a great time perusing all of the shops in Downtown Casper. A few of our favorites were Wyomade, 3o7 Metal Works, Wyo Shirt & Gift and of course, Lou Taubert’s. Metro Coffee is a quaint little hipster coffee shop just steps away from the shops whipping up a delicious iced latte that can’t be missed either!
Grab one of the best burgers you’ll ever try at The Branding Iron for lunch and dinner. Breakfast of brunch at Eggington’s is a crowd favorite in town. Get there early to grab a table on the weekends and be sure to order the Egg’s Benedict with cheesy hashbrowns. I’m salivating just thinking about it!
Fun Things to Do in Casper Wyoming: the Best Places to Eat
Speaking of restaurants, a bit further afield are Gaslight Social, Racca’s Pizzeria, Cottage Cafe and FireRock – all of which are nothing short of delicious! Gaslight Social is a great spot for a drink and pub food. Racca’s Pizzeria is a family-friendly pizza joint with an extensive wine and cocktail list. Our whole group loved the spicy Hell’s Kitchen pizza! Cottage Cafe makes for a cute lunch spot with its charming decor and tasty sandwiches. The creme de la creme dining on a trip to Casper is definitely FireRock Steakhouse, an upscale dining spot specializing in steaks. The ambiance evokes a feeling that you’re visiting a fancy Wyoming ranch and having dinner with family, laid back but also elegant.
5. Kayak the Fremont Canyon
A little less than an hour’s drive (and a beautiful one at that), you’ll find the Alcova Lake Reservoir and Fremont Canyon. This is a popular spot for water enthusiasts year-round but especially come summertime. But no matter the time of year, you’ll see kayakers and boaters exploring some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see – not just in Wyoming but in the entire country!
Alcova Resort & Marina sits on the water boasting a bar & restaurant while also renting boats, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes to adventure-seekers. The outfitter will even take guests by pontoon boat to the end of Fremont Canyon so they can paddle back the 4-mile trek their own. This is how we spent our Saturday afternoon in Casper and it made for a day that I will never ever forget! The majestic cliffs seen from the bottom of the canyon were utterly breathtaking. I joked a few times that I felt as if I were in a scene in Lord of the Rings or something.
The kayaking trip took us several hours so we were sure to pack lunch. Grab a BLT from Grant Street Grocery before leaving Casper and trust me, you’ll have one of the best picnic lunches of your life!! Alcova Resort & Marina is open from May to September and rents single-kayaks for just $10 an hour. (And I honestly can’t recommend this experience enough!!)
6. Sip on Sweet & Savory Cocktails at Backwards Distillery
Backwards Distilling Company recently opened their circus-inspired tasting room in Downton Casper and if you enjoy a good cocktail, you might just find you’ll try the best one you’ve ever had right here!
We met with one of the owners and mixologist Amber Pollock during our visit. She showed us how to make a sweet and savory cocktail complete with their very own distilled vodka, pineapple, and jalapenos! After a few drinks, Amber shared Backwards story with us and the inspiration behind every little detail that went into her family’s business. For example, each drink is named after either a former circus performer or a vintage circus act.
I brought home a bottle of Backwards Vodka to take to my husband as a thoughtful souvenir. I still have plans to recreate the cocktail we made again at home too!
7. Learn About the Past at The Interpretive Center
For my family, a getaway to a new place is not complete with some sort of museum visit. Naturally, I was thrilled to see The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center on our Casper agenda. The exhibits at the center share insight on what it was like for pioneers to trek the Oregon, California, Pony Express, and Mormon Trails. There’s an educational larger than life video to kicks off a visit along with a simulation of an Oregon Trail river crossing that both kids and adults will love!
8. Spend the Night in a Teepee and Feast Al Fresco
I mentioned above that a horseback riding trip with Historic Trails West is not to be missed. But now I’m sharing how you can take the experience to a whole new level with one of their overnight trips. If horses aren’t your thing, no problem! You can also opt to ride out on the adventure sitting comfortably in a covered wagon. Either way, you’ll wind up on the banks of the North Platte River where a delicious meal cooked over hot coals will greet you.
Our morning breakfast experience with Historic Trails West was another unforgettable part of our trip to Casper. (I keep finding myself saying unforgettable in this blog post … I need a new adjective but each activity was truly that extraordinary!) anyway, the lovely ladies that cooked our camp breakfast for us sat down with us to join in some lively morning discussion both about current events and historic pioneer facts. It was the perfect juxtaposition of conversation in a setting like this.
Guests can take their trip even further by opting to spend the night in one of the colorfully painted teepees nearby. The mountain views from the riverbank at the camp were so beautiful they could have been out of a painting! I can’t recommend this extended adventure enough to an outdoorsy / history enthusiast!
9. Treasure Hunt at an Antique Shop
Since moving to our new home, treasure hunting at antique shops has become somewhat of my favorite new pastime. We were all heading to the car after happy hour at Backwards Distillery when we popped into Paisley Grace’s Attic on a whim. The four of us had a ball perusing everything this antique shop had to offer. From antique furniture to whimsical and quirky accessories, Paisley Grace’s Attic had just about everything you’d expect to see in a traditional antique shop but somehow it seemed to have more too.
Funnily enough, each of us in our group left with a piece of vintage clothing that represented our different personalities so well – so much so that we couldn’t stop gushing about our finds for the rest of the day!
10. Hike Your Heart Out
Casper Mountain sits above the city boasting over 26 miles of public trails fit for the hiker, biker or snowshoer come wintertime. You can find many of the trails listed with more details on the Visit Casper website here. Hikers can also enjoy the trails near Fremont Canyon (pictured above) or through Casper along the North Platte River. There are so many options to find the best trail for your ability surrounding Casper, all coming guaranteed with a beautiful view!
Fun Things to Do in Casper Wyoming: Where to Stay
With so much to see and do in Casper, you can’t possibly cram everything into one day so you’re going to naturally need to find a place to stay! We spent three nights at Ramkota Hotel, just a few minutes away from Downtown Casper. This Western-themed hotel came complete with a delicious breakfast buffet and an on-site saloon to grab an evening nightcap. My room even had a view of Casper Mountain too!
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Big big thank you to Visit Casper for inviting me along on this incredible adventure and for sponsoring these fun things to do in Casper Wyoming. It really was such an unforgettable (had to say it again) adventure that I’m now inspired to plan a spring Wyoming trip just to come back with family. If you, dear reader, have any questions about my trip to Casper, send me an e-mail because I’m always down to talk travel all day long. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog & supporting the brands that make Lone Star Looking Glass possible.
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xo, Alice
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