Typically, it’s the larger, more touristy towns that attract the attention of visitors to Wyoming, but you shouldn’t miss out on our smaller, under-the-radar towns. They have just as much to offer as our bigger, better-known cities and, sometimes, these overlooked gems are hiding adventures and experiences you can’t get anywhere else.
Laramie is just such a place. Filled with delicious restaurants and fascinating museums, it’s also close to a wildlife refuge, an epic national forest, and a ski resort. With so much to see and do, it’s an underrated city that you simply must see.
Laramie is a picturesque little town in the southeastern corner of Wyoming.
The town will celebrate its 150th birthday this year. The historic downtown is reason enough in itself to plan a visit to Laramie. The stunning historic buildings have been well-maintained and house an assortment of businesses from antique shops to jewelry stores to clothing boutiques and more.
Over the century and a half since its founding, Laramie has played an important part in Wyoming history. Consequently, it's home to numerous museums including the Plains Musuem...
Part of the University of Wyoming, this beautiful building houses rare books and other written and visual accounts of Wyoming history that you won't find anywhere else.
...which also happens to be the home of the University of Wyoming Art Museum.
When it comes to restaurants, you'll find just about anything you're looking for in Laramie from fast food to upscale elegant and everything in between.
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What's more, Laramie is surrounded by the gorgeous Wyoming wilderness and all the advantages that come with it. At the top of the list is Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
If you arrive at this refuge to find the gate shut, that doesn't mean it's closed to the public. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just wants to try to preserve the road, so it's only closed off to vehicles. Visitors on foot are more than welcome to come on in to see the beautiful birds and other wildlife that call Hutton Lake and nearby Rush Lake home.
If you're in the mood to hit the slopes, Snowy Range Ski Area is about 30 miles west of Laramie.
It's an old-school ski area that not many people know about unless they're from Wyoming. The locals kind of like that it's an under-the-radar ski hill.
Laramie is close to the Medicine Bow National Forest...
