We will be spending Thur-Mon of the Labor Day weekend for the Virginia vs Wyoming game in the Laramie/Cheyenne area. We have reservations at the Hampton Inn in Cheyenne because the HI Laramie is booked and we can't even get in with our Platinum status! We have been told it is about a 45 min drive.

Our 15 month old son is coming with us and we fly in and out of Denver.

I am preggers so no strenuous hiking for me. What interesting things to do Friday/Sunday? I think I found a Buffalo/Animal ranch south of Cheyenne that sounded good but not really sure what else to occupy our time.

We may be driving to Rock Springs to meet up with friends that live in SLC, Utah on Friday. Unless there is a better meeting point. I will be happy to just see some beautiful scenery and nice stopping off points to get out and see along the drive. We are coming from NC and have never spent any time in that part of the States. Unfortunately don't have time to get up to the Yellowstone area.

ttt

I'd head over to Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, CO.

The park seems quite LARGE --are there easy access points from the interstate that don't require strenuous hiking?

What do you recommend in Estes?

Drive through Vidavoo (sp?)Park. As I recall it was between Laramie and Cheyenne. There are all sorts of wierd rock formations. We used to go visit family in Cheyenne and we took a ride there one afternoon. There is also a park in Cheyenne with a big train engine in it. I think it's called Big Boy. Not sure if your son is old enough for train stuff, but my boys thought it was cool when we stopped there. There is also a big park there where they have the rodeo and fair. At one time they had buffalo there and a little kiddie park. Not sure if it still there or not. Enjoy the trip!

Rock Springs is a 3.5 hour drive west from Cheyenne so you will consume most of a day just getting there and back. Rocky Mountain National Park is S/SW of Cheyenne (1.75 hours) so really in a different direction than Rock Springs. Really not practical to attempt to do both in a single day.

We were in the Cheyenne and Laramie area over Memorial Day weekend, and there really isn't much in the way of scenery or wildlife as the area is high desert. Cheyenne and Laramie are not really tourist towns and we had to venture elsewhere to find interesting activities.

If you are heading to Rock Springs, the Lincoln Monument is right off I-80 between Cheyenne and Laramie and might be worth a stop. In Laramie itself is the old Wyoming Territorial Prison. We stopped there while in Laramie; again, nothing special. Also between Laramie and Cheyenne (but off the secondary road rather than the interstate) is Curt Gowdy State Park. A nice place to stop and has some hiking trails as well as a lake. Likely to be crowded on Labor Day weekend. Here's the link: http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Parks/CurtGowdy/index.asp

If you really get ambitious, you could check out the Scotts Bluff National Monument in Scottsbluff, NE (about a 2 hour drive from Cheyenne).

Good luck!

Since you are pregnant, one thing to keep in mind is the altitude - Cheyenne is just about 7000 feet above sea level. I moved to Cheyenne when I was in high school, and I remember, even at the ripe old age of 16, it took a few days to get adjusted to the altitude. It's also extremely dry there. So be sure to take it easy and stay well hydrated.

i think rmnp is still a good idea. you can go into the bear lake area and there are nice easy walks around the lake you may see elk in the valley. you can enjoy a walk around estes park for touristy shops with the rocky mtns as your backdrop it's all pretty nice...

thanks! We wouldn't do both place in 1 day (rock springs and the park) we have Friday and Sunday available.

I see the OB on Monday and will ask IF I should do anything regarding the altitude. I seem to recall that a girl in my lamaze class had problems in Denver but she was maybe 5-6 months along and ended up having contractions and going to the ER. I will be ~9 weeks so hopefully it won't be as noticeable. But good idea to at least check with the doc.

On you way west from Laramie, consider taking State Route 130 out of town via Centennial and Saratoga, going up over Snowy Range Pass which is nearly 11,000 feet and through the Medicine Bow National Forest and re-joining I-80 at Walcott. Otherwise the drive out to Rock Springs doesn't offer a whole lot of scenery as you will be driving across the Great Divide Basin.

Very pretty scenery, especially around Lake Marie.

any idea how much time that would add to the drive?

we would rather have scenic views if possible! We do have a GPS that we are bringing with us so I can force it to go different routes other than shortest or fastest.

It is about 80 miles from laramie to Walcott via I-80.

If you took Rte 130 through Centennial and Saratoga that adds between 20-30 miles to the drive.

BUT, it isn't a matter of taking about 20 or 30 MINUTES more because Rte 130 is a two-lane road (in very good repair last I drove it) and once you get to Centennial the route immediately begins to climb as you enter Medicine Bow and it becomes a somewhat typical "mountain road" until you get over the pass and are on the downward slope toward Saratoga.

Look, if you want "scenery" between Laramie and RS this is your best op-tion..I know because I lived there for many years.

If you just want the fastest route to Rock Springs then stick to I-80, especially if you feel pressed for time.

You might want the short diversion at the town of Medicine Bow to stop off and see the Virginian Hotel.

IMO, BTW, going down to RMNP while rewarding would take a lot more time.

Enjoy your trip.

Are there any good eats we should try to get to while in any of these places?!

I know DH would love to have some buffalo and I need a snack or something every few hours! Ice Cream shops would be great too!

thanks again for all the tips!