Laramie Wyoming is the home of the University of Wyoming, and the local source for Wyoming football. Located high amid the Snowy Range Mountains only 45 miles from Cheyenne, Laramie isn’t exactly the most lively place in the lower 48, but there are a few outdoor adventures to be had in the Laramie area.

The Snowy Range Ski & Recreation area isn’t far from Laramie Wyoming, nestled, as it is, in the piney bosoms of the Medicine Bow-Routte National Forest. There are 27 different ski runs to choose from, with difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert.

The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site doesn’t sound like a pleasant place to take the kids for a picnic, but picnic areas there are, and playgrounds too! History buffs will enjoy touring this restored reformatory where notables like Butch Cassidy were incarcerated. The nearby Ranchland baby animals petting zoo cuts the bitter with a little sweet, while Frontier Town shows folks what the west was like beyond the prison walls. Large groups and RV’s are welcome, so bring a cooler and a few grill a few Bratwursts.