Wyoming Road Trip Part 1 & Family Travel Tips

At the beginning of the month, our family made a trip to Wyoming for the grand reopening of the Cody Firearms Museum. I’ve always wanted to check it out and when Ashley Hlebinsky, curator of the museum, asked to feature my guns and gear in an exhibit, it jumped to the top of our summer must-do list.

We packed up the truck with our daughters, ages 6 and 11 years, for the two-day drive through Kansas and up through Colorado and Wyoming while making the most of picnic-style stops at rest areas along the way. Hitting the Colorado border, we ate a quick and tasty dinner at Oscar’s in Limon before resting the night in Brighton. It was the first time my girls had a chance to see the Rocky Mountains and they marveled at the snowy caps in the distance.

Our first stop crossing the border into Wyoming was Cheyenne. It’s such a charming Western city with a whole lot of character. We took the opportunity to stretch our legs and grab drinks at Paramount Cafe. 

Walking around downtown we made a neat discovery. Did you know that Cheyenne Gunslingers host gunfights, western skits and more right in town? It’s too bad we couldn’t stay to watch the show!

Aside from friendly gun laws, Wyoming has a lot to offer shooters and hunters. While refueling at a gas station in Laramie I had to smile at the fine selection of Federal Premium Ammunition, camouflage, fly fishing gear and jerky on hand before our next stop in Casper. Fun fact about Casper, it made a Forbes list in 2010 and ranked number 8 for best small cities to raise a family.

In the home stretch, we couldn’t resist a stop at Hell’s Half Acre.  Located about 40 miles west of Casper, it’s 320 acres of unique erosion. The deep ravines, caves, and pinnacles are rugged and beautiful. None of my photos do it justice. Even though my youngest daughter was disappointed that we couldn’t explore one of the caves and though it is fenced off, it’s still an impressive sight to see.

Not long after Hell’s Half Acre, we hit the edge of a thunderstorm. Fierce dark clouds and brilliant sunlight gave us quite the treat. We enjoyed seeing a huge double rainbow rise over the hills and dissipate in the rearview mirror.

We pulled into Cody, Wyoming in the early evening with just the right amount of time to grab a quick dinner, unpack and rest up for a fun Independence Day.  How did we handle the 16+ hour drive? Planning is everything and here’s my advice if you’re considering taking a long family road trip.

6 Travel Tips for Long Trips with Children

1. Are we there yet? Nope. My first tip is to not rush and plan on making a lot of stops. I tend to get antsy on a road trip and when I travel alone, I tough it out making few stops to get to my destination as quickly as possible. When I am on the road with my children, it’s different. Frequent bathroom breaks prevent those dreaded emergencies. Stopping to stretch the legs, reading rest area historical signs and breathing fresh air do wonders to improve the mood. On our return trip, we even jogged a lap around a pretty rest stop in Iowa.
2. Baby wipes. Lots of them. Whether it’s washing hands before eating a snack, cleaning up a spill or for use in a public restroom stall, our family just doesn’t travel without several packages of baby wipes. They really do make life so much easier.
3. Bring a variety of snacks and drinks. Pack both salty and sweet snacks that are either individually packaged or separated into sandwich bags for convenient, individual servings. We also prepared a cooler for drinks, cheese, and other food best kept cool. Instead of ice packs, frozen water bottles helped keep items cool and served as drinks later. 
4. Pack your vehicle wisely. Make sure kids can reach games, electronics, and books easily. Place snacks and the cooler within reach for whoever is sitting in the passenger seat to access and distribute easily and safely.
5. Activities and distractions. Let’s face it, not all trips have exciting views and kids can get bored easily. Electronics can certainly help. My husband and I allow for limited screen time at home. We don’t have cable and watching television or movies is a reward. My kids look forward to road trips for the chance to watch movies and play games. For this, we also have separate electronic devices for each child to avoid disappointment and arguments. On our Wyoming trip, I downloaded new movies and apps to further help prevent boredom. That said, we also made sure they took breaks to sing, play “eye-spy” and admire the scenery.
6. Always keep safety in mind. Communicate plans with family members when you take breaks. Of course, never leave children alone. Stick together in groups whenever possible. I even use one bathroom stall for me and both girls whenever possible. Lock vehicle doors, keep an eye out for suspicious activity and communicate what you see and any concerns with your partner and family members accordingly.

I hope you find these suggestions useful. Thanks for reading and please stay tuned for more on our Cody, Wyoming adventure.