The western part of the United States is truly beautiful and special – so many national parks and of course the majestic Rocky Mountains stretching through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. As a family we’ve visited a handful of states in the west. I realize that I am biased as to our favorite because it is the one we happily now call home – and that’s Wyoming.
We moved to Shell, Wyoming from southern Indiana in 2021 – a huge life change for us, and since that time Wyoming truly has become home for us. When we moved we learned a lot about our state very quickly in a couple ways:
1 – Our kids play hockey, which meant we started traveling all over the state. Each weekend during the hockey season was learning and exploring a new town.
2 – We treated the area around our new home as if we were tourists. Every chance we got we’d find a new spot to hike or a new trail to ride the side by side. We tried out the local outfitter’s horseback rides and fly fishing guides and white water rafting. We found waterfalls and visited museums. We took day trips to other sites an hour or two away. And through it all we fell in love with our new home state more and more.
I’ve been sharing about our travel experiences on this site for years now and have yet to share about our favorite place in the world. That changes now. I’m so excited to share about this place that is so crazy wonderful and so different from the rest of our country that it earned the catch phrase – “Wyoming doesn’t exist.”
I’ll share some of our favorite WY towns, activities, restaurants, and some basic Wyoming travel tips. Also in the time since we moved here we’ve gradually been growing a business of hosting travelers to Wyoming, so I’ll also be sharing our Ever Sky Properties vacation rentals here. We love to see familiar faces come visit and experience this special slice of heaven.
*I’ll post links to our direct site (which will be the best deal), but all can also be found on Airbnb and VRBO if that’s how you prefer to search*
First I’ll start with the town probably most people think of when they think of Wyoming, but spoiler – it’s not my favorite, (saving that one for last!)…
Jackson, WY
Aka “Jackson Hole” (however just the region or valley is referred to as Jackson Hole by locals; only tourists refer to the town of Jackson as “Jackson Hole” … just so you know.)
Jackson is a great little town with a beautiful backdrop – the Teton Mountains are truly spectacular! We do really like Jackson, but one of the reasons it is not on the very top of my favorites list is because it is always pretty crowded and pretty touristy as well. Jackson feels different than the rest of the state – it’s just not quite the same culture. But it is fun to visit. If you like to ski, it is a great ski town with the Jackson Hole Resort, Snow King Mountain right in town, and our family’s favorite Grand Targhee nearby. And of course, Grand Teton National Park is a must!
Our Family’s Favorites:
- Shopping downtown
- Skiing
- The National Elk Refuge
- The National Museum of Wildlife Art
Favorite Restaurants:
- Persephone Bakery (breakfast)
- Jackson Drug (lunch)
- Merry Piglets (dinner)
Places to stay in/near Jackson:
We don’t have any Ever Sky Properties here, but in town we like the Elk Country Inn. We’ve also stayed in Wilson, WY and Driggs, ID nearby.
Another famous Wyoming spot many travelers want to visit that’s not a town, but is actually big enough to be a state …
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined and spans three different states – Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, but the majority (96%) is in Wyoming. It is vast but so amazing with tons of wildlife and sites you can’t see anywhere else. There are also lots and lots of visitors to Yellowstone, so visiting requires some patience with people and traffic.
You can spend as much time as you want in Yellowstone but if you also want to explore some other parts of the state (which I recommend) you can definitely do it in a day or two. If you just have one day, do the Grand Loop (southern loop). We’ve done this route from the East Entrance – I prefer counterclockwise, stopping at some of these incredible spots and watching for wildlife along the way:
- Sulphur Caldron & Mud Valcano
- Lower Falls & Upper Falls
- Virginia Cascade (good picnic spot – bring food with you for lunch for sure!)
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Grand Prismatic Spring (my Favorite!!)
- Old Faithful (shops here for souvenirs and ice cream)
- West Thumb
For the Northern Loop we’ve entered from the Northeast Entrance after driving the Beartooth Highway (I could write a whole post about the Beartooth Highway – a definite must do! We’ve had both family and some of our guests say they enjoyed it more than Yellowstone). We also chose counterclockwise for this loop with these stops as the highlights:
- Mammoth Hot Springs
- Roaring Mountain
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Tower Falls
- Lamar Valley
Where to stay near Yellowstone:
What many might not realize is that there are not a lot of towns very close to Yellowstone, and staying inside the park is pretty limited. Some people stay near Jackson and combine Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone entering the South Entrance, which is doable but a lot of driving. The closest Wyoming town to Yellowstone, about 50 miles from the East Entrance is …
Cody, WY
Our family loves the cute cowboy town of Cody, Wyoming. This is where our kids play hockey, so even though it is about an hour drive from our hometown of Shell, it feels like home away from home. Cody is less touristy than Jackson and maintains the true cowboy culture that is Wyoming.
Our Family’s Favorites:
- Cody Nite Rodeo (a must in the summer – so fun!)
- Buffalo Bill Center of the West (5 museums in one)
- Buffalo Bill Dam and State Park
Favorite Restaurants:
- Thai Thai (not much for atmosphere, but man the food is good!)
- Trailhead (get a reservation; everything is amazing here)
- Cody Steakhouse (lots of places to get a steak, but this one gets my vote for best)
- Cody Craft Brewing (for pizza)
- Bigg Chill (for ice cream)
Places to stay with us in/near Cody!
–The Buffalo Rose: a historic home built in 1914 located in downtown Cody so you can walk to the shops and restaurants if you want; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps up to 10
–Saddlstring Ranch Cabins: just 5 minutes from town but with some privacy and 2.5 acres, perfect for groups of friends or multiple families, sleeping up to 18 with 3 main cabins, a bunkhouse, and a family gathering/game room called the “Rodeo Room”
–Beartooth Retreat: a remote spot in Clark, WY which is in between Cody, WY and Red Lodge, MT (each about 35 miles); also equal distance from both the East Entrance and the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone (about 1 ½ hour drive for each); sleeps up to 24 with 9 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and a large outdoor pavilion with incredible views of the Beartooth Mountains.
Now we’re getting closer to our home and our favorites in the Bighorn Mountains! I’m saving the best for last, but first in the Bighorns …
Ten Sleep, WY
Such a cute little town! If you are a rock climber, Ten Sleep is where you want to go! One of our daughters did a rock climbing camp here. Lots of hiking and fishing opportunities as well; Highway 16 is a beautiful scenic drive. There’s also a small ski resort called Meadowlark. The town itself is super small with a population of 260, but so fun and quaint – there are a few nice shops and restaurants.
Favorite Restaurants:
Not that there are a ton of options, but we recommend:
- The Daily Bread (breakfast)
- 1 Cow (lunch)
- Sleepy Coyote (dinner)
- Do not skip ice cream in a homemade waffle cone at Dirty Sally’s!
Where to stay with us in Ten Sleep!
–The Canyon Hideout: set back in your own private canyon with incredible views, sleeps up to 12 with 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, a loft area, and a game room.
Finally – THE favorite – our HOME …
Shell, WY
Shell is a tiny town with a population of 74. We have one cafe/store called The Old Shell Store, a post office, and The Shell Bar. The Old Shell Store introduced us to the Shell motto: “Small on People; Big on Nature”
We’re at the base of the Bighorn Mountains with the jaw dropping Highway 14 scenic drive through Shell Canyon. There’s also a small ski resort called Antelope Butte. Incredible hikes, waterfalls, fishing, offroading spots, and wildlife – moose, elk, black bears, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, wild turkeys, pheasants, herons, and bald eagles to name a few. And here’s the best part … no crowds. The beauty of a national park but all to yourself.
*I’m trusting you, reader friend, to keep this special spot somewhat of a treasured secret so that never changes!*
Shell is also a great base to throw in some day trips as well. An hour drive will get you to Cody or to the Bighorn Canyon in Montana. An hour and a half will get you to the Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis with the gorgeous Wind River Canyon nearby or to Sheridan (for fun shops & restaurants, golf, and polo). Two hours will get you to Yellowstone or to Red Lodge, MT.
Our Family’s Favorites:
- Hikes: Beef Trail, Bench Trail, Paradise Falls, Porcupine Falls
- Offroading: endless trails for the side by side
- Fishing (creeks & lakes)
- Devil’s Kitchen Nature Preserve
- Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite
Favorite Restaurants –
Yes, I know, there aren’t many 😉
- The Old Shell Store (amazing cinnamon rolls, burgers & fries, huge homemade ice cream sandwiches and other desserts)
- Los Gabanes (in Greybull 15 miles from Shell)
- The Speakeasy Steakhouse (Greybull)
- Wylde Sage Coffee House (Greybull)
- A & W (Greybull; our one and only fast food spot)
Where to stay with us in Shell – on our ranch!
The Ever Sky Ranch is a small 300 acre ranch where our family home is and where we grow our own hay, we have a small herd of beef cattle, a handful of chickens, horses, and a couple mini jersey dairy cows. On one side of the ranch, we have a guest house that sits in the valley, and then on the other side of the ranch up on a hillside we have three cabins.
–The Wheels Up Cottage: This was our first short term rental home, and we had no idea if anyone would book this place in the middle of nowhere. But it really took off, and we loved hosting and getting to share the incredible views of the Bighorn Mountains and the peace and quiet here. The cottage sleeps up to 12 with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Guests who stay here have access to the game room in the barn, and we also welcome guests to watch us or even participate in some of our daily ranch chores (we get several takers for learning how to milk a cow 🙂).
–The Ever Sky Cabins: Three newly built cabins sitting at the top of the hill overlooking the ranch. They each have outdoor seating space to enjoy the views as well as a fire pit and hot tub. The Earhart Cabin and the Lindbergh Cabin are both 1 bedroom 1 bathroom, sleeping up to 4 at each, and the Wright Cabin is 2 bedroom 2 bathroom and can sleep 6.
So many beautiful spots in Wyoming, but we truly think Shell and our Ever Sky Ranch are pretty special.
Travel Tips for Wyoming
- Plan ahead when driving anywhere. There can be long stretches without any gas stations, so a good rule of thumb is not to get below half a tank. Watch for wildlife, and double check online directions. Google has been known to take drivers off on dirt roads that really should just be for off-road vehicles.
- Be aware of weather shifts in elevation. It could be sunny and 70 degrees at 4000 ft, then you drive 30 minutes and it could be 40 degrees at 8000 ft.
- If you’re visiting WY from somewhere with a humid climate, be prepared for quicker dehydration.
- Rattlesnakes are a thing here – stay alert. Bears too … grizzlies depending on the area (not so much in the Bighorns). Moose actually cause more human injuries than bears do, and of course – don’t pet the fluffy cows (bison).
- There are a lot of spots without cell service; however, newer iPhones do have satellite texting capabilities.
All I’ve written so far is for the travelers in you … but since this is the spot where I share not only about travel but also about my faith, I want to share that they go hand in hand for me. Ever Sky Properties is a business that we have created, but it is also very much a ministry. First, because, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Also, because out here in the middle of nowhere surrounded by the beauty and wonder of God’s creation, it tends to be a bit easier to hear His voice.
I desire for every person who comes to one of our spots to experience the peace and the presence of God. And that is what I pray for each guest. I pray that those who don’t know Him will meet Him here, and those who do know Him would experience Him and His voice in a new and powerful way. I pray that God would send people to us who need to hear from Him or who need healing in some way.
Hosting people is not easy. Some guests are quite hard to please and, well, downright rude unfortunately. We have a handful of stories that are doozies. But we also have met some incredible people who have graciously shared some amazing stories with us. Sometimes we get to hear that God has specifically answered the prayers we’ve prayed for our guests.
We’ve had two different families, two different years with the same story – two different women who were both recently widowed with children, needing to get away, scared of doing it all alone and then telling us about hearing and experiencing God and His healing in just the way they needed. We had another mom tell us a story about being worried that her daughter was hurt because she was crying, but the daughter explained that she just felt so thankful as she was looking up at the stars. We’ve also had guests reach out and ask if we are Christians because they felt the presence of God as soon as they walked into the home, which is another thing I pray for as I blast worship music while I’m cleaning.
I don’t know where this whole thing goes – this life, business, ministry, ranching, any of it … I honestly didn’t see any of it coming, but I thank God for every bit of it. I know that all good gifts are from Him, the Father of light in whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17). I try to trust and follow Him each day and each step.
I love that He led our family to Wyoming and that He’s given us the opportunity to share this incredible, beautiful, amazing part of our country with others. That’s WY! ☺️
So … Come see us sometime and experience it too!
… Just maybe don’t move here because here in Wyoming we really like that there are more cows and horses than people!
… And to protect our treasured secret, if anyone else asks about your western travels just respond, “Wyoming doesn’t exist!”
Just kidding.
Kind of. 😜❤️
