[Music] [Music] with nearly half of wyoming designated as public land the cowboy state is the ideal destination for anyone who wants to explore the dramatic natural beauty of the american west the most sparsely populated state in the union wyoming is filled with spectacular landscapes ranging from the thermal geysers of yellowstone to the jagged mountain peaks of grand teton the mountainous state is rightfully proud of its wild west heritage too whether watching a bronco busting rodeo or rollicking the night away at a country music dance hall it’s clear to see that cowboy culture is alive and well in wyoming [Music] number 10 fossil butte national monument millions of years ago three great lakes covered much of what is now a high desert in the southwest corner of wyoming the smallest body of water known today as fossil lake has proved to be a treasure trove of fossilized animals and plants located around 15 miles west of the city of kemmerer the fossil butte national monument features a butte that rises 1 000 feet above the ancient lake bed fossils are found all over the butte and during the summer visitors can join paleontologists to dig for prehistoric remains the visitor center displays more than 300 fossils found in the region [Music] number nine hot springs state park the largest hot springs in north america is the main attraction in hot springs state park located near the aptly named town of thermopolis the steaming hot water from the big spring is used to supply several spa resorts and water parks run by the state the state bath house is open to the public visitors can soak in an indoor or outdoor pool free of charge for 20 minutes with its open and enclosed twisting water slides indoor and outdoor pools and bubbling hot tubs the star plunge water park is a family favorite number eight cheyenne located in the southeast corner of wyoming cheyenne is the cowboy state’s capital and largest city founded in 1867 cheyenne’s many historical buildings and museums are its main attractions the renaissance revival style capital building features a gold leaf dome that’s visible from almost anywhere in the city and the building’s stained glass interior grand staircase and checkerboard marble floors make it worth a visit in july cheyenne hosts the cheyenne frontier days the largest outdoor rodeo in the u.s established in 1897 it includes numerous rodeo events free pancake breakfasts nighttime concerts and parades [Music] number seven bighorn canyon the bighorn canyon national recreation area owes its existence to the yellowtail dam built on the bighorn river in montana during the 1960s much of the dam’s reservoir which extends 71 miles upstream into wyoming lies within the crow indian reservation steep canyon walls rise above bighorn lake making the reservoir a scenic place to enjoy boating and water sports the wyoming side of the park lies adjacent to the prior mountain wild horse range offering visitors the chance to see herds of wild horses riding along the canyon summit [Music] number six devil’s tower rising 1267 feet above the surrounding terrain devil’s tower is the core of an ancient volcano exposed from erosion it is located in the black hills in crook county and was declared a united states national monument in 1906 by president theodore roosevelt the mountain became world famous in 1977 when it was chosen as the location of the alien human rendezvous point in steven spielberg’s oscar-winning science fiction film close encounters of the third kind nowadays it’s one of the most popular places to visit in wyoming [Music] number 5. flaming gorge recreation area formed by a dam built on the green river in 1958 the flaming gorge reservoir is the primary attraction of this national recreation area straddling the border between utah and wyoming equipped with five full-service marinas the man-made lake is the perfect vacation destination for water sports boating and fishing with more than 100 miles of trails hiking and mountain biking are popular activities as well named after the flame-colored cliffs that rise up from the green river flaming gorge is most scenic at sunrise or sunset when the canyon glows with brilliant colors [Music] number four cody no visit to wyoming is complete without exploring the state’s cowboy heritage and the city of cody is a great place to peer into the cowboy state’s past located near yellowstone the city was founded in 1887 by the legendary buffalo bill cody the buffalo bill center in the center of cody has five western themed museums filled with engaging exhibits including artifacts that chronicle william f cody’s colorful life the old trail town which features more than 25 restored western buildings is a must-see attraction too known as the rodeo capital of the world cody holds rodeos almost every night during the summer [Music] number three jackson hole located near wyoming’s border with idaho the upscale jackson hole resort area began life as an outpost for trappers attracted by the region’s many fur bearing animals a river basin at the base of the teton range jackson hole attracts visitors in every season rafting in snake river is a popular pastime in summer and with more than 500 inches of snow each winter the region is a favorite skiing destination too the city of jackson is the only incorporated town in the valley but there are resorts homes and communities scattered all over the valley [Music] number two [Music] grant teton national park home to marvelous mountains sweeping valleys and sparkling alpine lakes grand teton national park will delight nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts located in the northwest of wyoming the park covers a vast swath of the rocky mountains and is named after grand teton the highest peak in the range at 4199 meters the dramatic landscapes are stunning and the glinting glaciers verdant forests and gushing rivers lend themselves perfectly to all kinds of activities such as hiking and rock climbing the national park is a great place to go wildlife watching as elk bears and moose roam amid the splendid nature [Music] number one yellowstone the granddaddy of american national parks yellowstone is the oldest in the united states and the world having been founded in 1872 when it was first discovered stories of the magnificence of the area were passed off as lies and tall tales you can see why erupting geysers here belt steam in water such as the clockwork old faithful there are boiling hot springs like the grand prismatic spring thanks to differing temperatures and minerals as the water spreads out this is a veritable rainbow of unbelievable colors there’s even the grand canyon of yellowstone a natural wonder in granite this place is a true icon of must-see nature [Music] do [Music] so [Music] you Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f93N7azHOQ
