Recently, a “study” was released ranking Wyoming as the 4th most boring state — and Wyomingites everywhere are seeing red. At least, we would be, if we cared at all what the rest of the country thought about us! Truth is, Wyoming gets a lot of flack for being the boring, desolate open range landscape that’s portrayed on TV Westerns, and that image could not be farther from the truth. Here are just a few reasons to love Wyoming, and why anyone saying life here is boring can just shut up.

1. We actually embrace living close to one of the world's largest supervolcanos.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
Not only do we love our apocalyptic caldera, we'll actually CHARGE you to go see it.
2. We're a state of firsts.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
First National Park, First National Monument, and First National Forest. No other state can compete, except for Delaware... but that's only because Wyoming wasn't even a thought when those East Coasters signed on to become independent states.
3. We're home to some of the most photographed places on Earth.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
The Moulton Barn alone is considered one of the most photographed structures in the world. Show up to Mormon Row before sunrise on almost any day of the year and you'll see a crowd with tripods and cameras that drove out here from all over America.
4. There's nothing like hiking through Wyoming wilderness.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
Whether you want a quick backpacking trek down the Teton Crest Trail or you want to disappear into the Medicine Bow Mountains for a week or more, you'll find great trails and good company in the Wyoming wilderness.
5. Our history is full of stories from the bravest people who ever lived.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
From the Native Americans that defended their people by riding straight down a mountainside to those who left their homes to see what was out west, knowing it could cost them their lives, Wyomingites are the bravest of the brave.
6. We're about as ecologically diverse as it gets in North America.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
The Lamar Valley is known as the Serengeti of North America, and in Wyoming you'll often see wolves, coyote, moose, elk, pronghorn, grizzlies, bison and more... and that's without considering all of the smaller mammals, endangered fish, impressive birds, and reptiles you can spot if you just know where to look.
7. We're the best-kept ski-cret of winter sports enthusiasts.
Facebook / Snow King Mountain
People talk about skiing in Utah, Colorado, and the Alps... but Jackson is quietly becoming a haven for anyone looking to hit the slopes without fighting off Breckenridge crowds.

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8. We REALLY know how to cook.
Facebook / Cavalryman Steakhouse
From prime rib to elk burgers, you'll find some of the best meals of your life in small-town Wyoming kitchens.
9. We're not obsessed with technology, and we can live without our phones.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
When most of America is stuck in the endless scroll of news feeds, photo feeds, and social media, Wyomingites are out actually enjoying the fresh air and living our off-the-grid lives. It's not unusual for towns to hardly have cell service, and we've managed to avoid the screen addiction epidemic.
10. We can time travel.
K. Magaraci for OIYS
You can see evidence of the Oregon Trail, Pony Express, and earliest settlements throughout Wyoming. We don't learn our history from books, we actually get out there and see the stories from the past ourselves.
11. Our state flag is by FAR the coolest state flag.
Flickr / andrewghayes
There's nothing that represents the wild west of Wyoming more than the bison on our state flag. Wyomingites embrace being wild and free, so it truly represents each individual in our great state. When it comes to flags, though, Marylanders seem to be equally obsessed with theirs, which is just a bunch of squares... so maybe that's a great representation of Marylanders, too.
12. Traffic is basically non-existent.
Flickr / Thomas Hawk
I can't remember the last time I hit a big slowdown in Wyoming that was due to traffic! Sure, we do have to reroute due to weather sometimes, but at least we don't have to worry about rush hour every single day.
13. We don't have to worry about crime.
Flickr / MDV
Don't believe everything you saw on Longmire! Wyoming has a very low crime rate, and our police do more community-involvement work than chasing down dangerous criminals. It's so safe here that we rarely even lock our doors.
14. There is ALWAYS something to do.
Flickr / MDNR
No matter how bad the weather gets, we'll always find something to do. While people in other states are hunkered down watching the same shows on Netflix, we're out ice fishing, snowmobiling, or otherwise having an exciting time.

What do you love about Wyoming? Tell us in the comments below!

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