As the multitudes migrate south to Florida, Arizona and SoCal for the winter, do the contrarian thing and head north to Wyoming. The vistas are almost limitless, the crowds blessedly sparse and the air crisp and clear.
- Start with a sojourn to Yellowstone, this country’s very first national park. Wyoming Tourism says one of the most popular ways to see the land and its wildlife is the Winter Wolf Discovery. Wolves, elk and buffalo abound in this supernatural habitat.
- The National Elk Refuge is a perfect complement to Yellowstone. This is the 100th anniversary of the sanctuary which supports some 7,000 of the magnificent animals. The refuge sits just north of Jackson.
- Some folks love wild horses, others can’t stand them. The contentious creatures seem to have a polarizing affect on the people of Wyoming. In an effort to preserve some of the herds without raising the ire of some landowners, the country’s first Wild Horse Sanctuary is set to open this fall on the 4,000-acre Deadwood Ranch 30 miles west of Laramie.
- After dances with wolves, encounters with elk and the wonders of wild horses, it’s time to kick back a bit. Wyoming Tourism suggests a visit to the hamlet of Kirby (population 57), home of Wyoming Whisky. A former Maker’s Mark master distiller presides over the 38-foot-tall copper still and the folks who run the place will be happy to take you on a tour. Don’t look you quaff the product, however, till about Dec. 1.
- Kirby is just 12 miles north of one of the biggest mineral hot springs on the planet. That’s where you’ll find the aptly named town of Thermopolis. The place sports a public bathhouse where the hot soaks are gratis. Thermopolis is also home to the Wyoming Dinosaur Center.
(Images: doublejwebers, rjs71794)
