Last month, I took my sister and my best friend to a small town just north of Colorado, not sure what to expect from the trip. Three days later, we had fallen absolutely in love with Cheyenne, Wyoming, with every intention of returning as soon as we could!
Cheyenne is less than a 2 hour drive from Denver, located just north of the Colorado / Wyoming border. It’s got a charming Western vibe and is full of stories and history if you take the time to look. You could visit in late July for the infamous Cheyenne Frontier Days: a 10-day rodeo celebration that’s been going on for over a century. Or, if you’re like us, you can plan a trip to experience the capital city of Wyoming just as it is any other weekend, and discover a completely different kind of Western adventure.
Continue reading to learn about my top recommendations for a weekend in Cheyenne, including the Big Boot Tour, amazing coffee, a bison train ride, and so much more!
It might sound silly, but my number one recommendation to explore the town is the Big Boots tour. “These Boots are made for Talking” is a joint project of the Cheyenne Depot Museum Foundation and the Downtown Development Authority that allows local businesses and organizations to tell their story through art on eight-foot-tall cowboy boots placed around the city. Grab your map from the depot museum and try to find as many of the boots as you can!
Other must-visit outdoor activities in town are the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and the Big Boy Steam Engine. You’ll find the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens in Lions Park, just north of downtown. Explore the gorgeously curated outdoor gardens through the grounds and in the Paul Smith Children’s Village, or head inside to check out the tropical plant collection at the Shane Smith Grand Conservatory. Alternatively, head to Holliday Park to see Big Boy 4014, a restored Big Boy Steam Engine originally delivered in 1941. The 1.2 million pound locomotive traveled over a million miles before its retirement in 1961.
My favorite way to experience Cheyenne’s charm indoors is exploring local shops! From Western home decor to quirky antiques to trendy clothes, you can find just about anything here. My top tip is to take some time to get to know the shop owners - that’s how we heard some of our favorite stories about the town! Our favorite shops were The Wrangler and Triple R Fashion for Good for clothes and accessories, Wyoming Home for Western home decor, and Cowgirls of the West and The Eclectic Elephant for antiques.
You guys already know that I can’t visit a new city without exploring it’s local coffee scene! After trying just about every coffee shop in Cheyenne, these were my four favorites that I’d highly recommend checking out.
The Paramount Cafe is located in a historic theater and has one of the prettiest patio spaces I’ve ever seen! The interior has a cool, rustic, moody vibe, while the outdoor patio is bright and warm due to the floral mural along the wall. There aren’t a ton of food options here, but you’ll find an extensive drink menu including a handful of creative specialty lattes. I tried the Mary Poppins latte, which was as cute as it sounds (read: rainbow sprinkles!), but definitely on the sweeter side.
Central Cafe is a lovely shop located steps away from Lions Park and Cheyenne’s Botanic Gardens! The interior is cozy and stylish, and there are a few tables on the patio for outdoor seating. I ordered my go-to (a honey lavender latte, half-sweet) and loved it.
The Cheyenne Cup is a cozy, friendly shop serving up a huge food & drink menu. I got an iced dirty chai latte and would order it again in a heartbeat! Online reviews raved about some of their breakfast items, so I’d check those out too if you’re looking to grab a bite with your coffee.
The Hawthorn Tree is a specialty tea shop that serves up a seemingly endless menu of coffee and tea drinks. I tried a blackberry basil spritz, a perfectly refreshing drink for a sunny afternoon. Make sure to explore the shop, which is full of fabulous teas and perfect gifts for any tea connoisseur in your life!
Want to see these four spots in action? Check out this Instagram Reel!
I’ll be honest… I didn’t have super high expectations for the food scene in Cheyenne. Luckily, I was blown away by some of the spots we found! Here are some of our favorites.
First, let’s talk daytime spots. Daylight Donuts is a winner for a grab-and-go sweet snack. Their blueberry cake donut was my favorite! If you’re in the mood for a savory breakfast bite, head to Mort’s Bagels for a bagel sandwich that’s sure to satisfy your cravings. Our favorite lunch spot was Paris West Restaurant & Drinkery, located in the heart of downtown and serving elevated comfort food and tasty drinks. Their menu blew us away (especially the variety of grilled cheeses), and the seasonal mimosa paired perfectly with my buffalo chicken & bacon grilled cheese sandwich. The fun decor and cool vibe make this spot one you’ll want to sit down and enjoy!
Don’t skip evenings out on the town! If you’re looking for a classic dinner in town, try Wyoming’s Rib & Chop House for tasty American fare like fresh seafood, premium cuts, and their award-winning baby back ribs. If you’re more in the mood for craft cocktails and delicious tapas in an elevated setting, head to Paramount Ballroom. You can’t go wrong with any drink on the menu, and trust me: the deviled eggs are a must-order. If you want a good, old-fashioned Western saloon experience, venture 20 minutes west of town to the Bunkhouse Bar & Grill! Bonus points if you make it on Friday or Saturday after 6 PM to catch the house band take the stage.
Although I could easily spend 72 hours in the heart of Cheyenne, there are tons of adventures nearby for visitors to take advantage of! It may be difficult to fit all three of these into a weekend trip, but I highly recommend trying to make it to at least one or two.
I think my friends and I can confidently say that feeding friendly bison on an adorable train ride was our favorite part of the whole weekend. Terry Bison Ranch, located just 7 miles south of Cheyenne, is the second-largest bison ranch in the US and home of the only bison train ride in the country! The train runs every 90 mins starting at 9 AM and is led by a knowledgeable, friendly guide. Make sure to grab feed beforehand so that you can feed the bison when the train stops! Stick around afterward to hang with the rest of the animals on the farm.
Want to hike and paddleboard in a state park? Head 30 minutes west to Curt Gowdy State Park, and start with the Crow Creek Trail to Hidden Falls. The 3.6 mile trail is fairly mild in terrain and elevation (only around 400 feet of elevation gain total), making it a great choice for nearly any visitor! If you’d rather skip the hike, you can drive around the Granite Springs Reservoir to find an overlook or a cozy spot right on the water. If you’re looking to paddleboard, I’d recommend heading to Crystal Reservoir, the southernmost reservoir in the park where jet skis are prohibited.
Finally, if you’re a climber, Vedauwoo Climbing Area is a blast! This area of rocky outcrops is located just north of I80 between Cheyenne and Laramie, with tons of options for thrill-seeking climbers. Since we’re not climbers, my friends and I opted for a hike around Turtle Rock, which I’d recommend for great views of the unique rock formation and the surrounding aspen trees! Vedauwoo is also a short and scenic drive away from Curt Gowdy State Park, so if you’re looking to visit both, I’d recommend taking Rd 210 just south of Crystal Reservoir to I80 for some cool views of the rock formations along the way.
Feeling overwhelmed by your options? Don’t worry - I put together a complete weekend itinerary that hits all of my favorite activities listed above! Find the itinerary in the caption of this Instagram Reel and thank me later ;)
If you couldn’t already tell, my friends and I absolutely adored our getaway to Cheyenne! We were so charmed by the town and its people, and are already planning a return trip for next year. If you’ve been looking for a weekend getaway from Denver without the hassle or price tag of a few days in a mountain town, I can’t recommend Cheyenne, Wyoming enough.
Thank you so much to the Visit Cheyenne team for having us! We’ll see you again soon.
