Casper, located on the historic Mormon Trail and Oregon Trails and within driving distance of several national parks and monuments, captures the pioneer history and western culture that makes Wyoming such an iconic part of America's western heritage. With its close proximity to Casper Mountain and it's location which is central to the state, Casper is the Adventure Capital of Wyoming and an outdoor lovers' paradise. As the second largest city in Wyoming, there is also no shortage of cultural activities, historical attractions, professional sporting events, and exquisite shopping and dining opportunities. In addition, Casper maintains its friendly, affordable, and family-oriented atmosphere, making it a well-rounded travel destination while offering the best possible value to adventurous travelers who want a truly immersive vacation experience.

Despite the sheer variety of outdoor adventure opportunities in Casper, fishing and golfing are world-class activities and the city has earned recognition for both.

For golfing enthusiasts, there are four courses in Casper and one of them was recently named one of the best new courses in the nation. One of the most striking features of Three Crowns Golf Club is the fact that it is built on a former Amoco Oil Refinery site along the North Platte River. There are 110 acres of playable turf, with A-1 bentgrass on the putting surfaces. The tees, fairway and rough are predominately Kentucky Bluegrass. Other features are white sand from Idaho, and eight bodies of water scattered throughout the course. Golfweek listed Three Crowns as one of the "50 Best New Courses" in 2006.

Travelers planning a fishing trip will enjoy the North Platte River which American Angler Magazine voted the number one big fish fishery in the world. Travelers with a valid Wyoming State fishing license can fish for trout in the North Platte River year-round.  The river travels directly through the city of Casper, Wyoming, and the best fishing can be found just upriver from Casper.  There are also a number of tours and guided day trips for outdoor enthusiasts. 

The city is also a fun place to travel during the winter.  Casper Mountain has a small ski area which is perfect for visiting families, and snowshoeing can also be enjoyed along the trails in the winter. During the summer and early fall, Casper Mountain becomes a playground for hikers, bikers, and campers.  A favorite hiking trail on the mountain is the Braille Trail, which combines great hiking with signs along the way which have information in Braille for visually impaired hikers.

This city has a whole world of outdoor adventure: a soccer complex, baseball fields, skeet and trap shooting clubs, ATV and air modeler facilities, and city tennis courts and swimming pools are just some of the sports venues. Rodeos and equestrian events are held at both the Casper Events Center and the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, which is home to a new multi-purpose sports facility. Caspers indoor and outdoor sports facilities as well as its event facilities played a key role Casper being selected as Wyoming's Sports City by Sports Illustrated Magazine in 2003.

Click on the links below to learn more about Casper's outdoor adventures:

Fishing

Big Game Hunting

Biking

Hiking

Wildlife Viewing

Skiing

Snow Shoeing

Snowmobiling

Camping

Water Sports

Golfing

Travel savvy Americans are beginning to look at domestic travel options for more affordable family vacations. Casper, Wyoming is the adventure capital of Wyoming and offers no shortage of fun for people of all ages. It's a unique town that captures the spirit of pioneer history and western culture, and offers an ideal setting to teach children about this important part of America's history. Despite the charm of cowboy country, endless amounts of outdoor activity, abundant restaurant and accommodation choices, and a multitude of cultural activities make it an ideal family vacation spot, and Casper is known for its affordable and family-friendly atmosphere.

In addition to being a crossroads for the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail, Casper was also a major stop along the Pony Express Trail.  Not only can Casper travelers still see the wagon ruts used by thousands of homesteaders, but they can also take a tour with Historic Trails West.  Historic Trails West takes Casper travelers along for a ride on either a covered wagon or on horse back, following the wagon trails or Pony Express Trail, respectively.  Along the way, travelers will garner information from guides regarding the history of the trails, the region and local wildlife.  Trips last about 3 hours and are offered from May until October.

Here’s a sample of additional highlights for family trips:

National Historic Trails and Interpretive Center

North Platte River

Fort Caspar

Nicolaysen Art Museum

Wyoming Shootout

Science Zone

Click here to learn more about family adventures in Casper

As a compliment to spending days in the great outdoors, Casper offers visitors a healthy dose of cultural activities, making it an all-encompassing vacation destination. Casper is home to over 20 museums with facilities that educate visitors the area’s territorial history such as the Fort Caspar Museum and Historical Site, its oil history with the Salt Creek Oil Field Museum, and area's geological history with the Tate Museum. Casper also has a modern art museum--The Nicolaysen Art Museum and Discovery Center--and the Casper Planetarium. In addition to this, Casper boasts an award-winning symphony orchestra with regularly scheduled performances, and professional and community theater groups with regular performances.

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center is a 27,000- square-foot, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to commemorate the pioneers and emigrants who traveled through our area westward in search of new lives, land, wealth and happiness. The Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express Trails all converged at Casper to cross the North Platte River then diverged again to take the pioneers to their destinations. Visitors can walk the halls of the facility to fully absorb the western heritage that is so prevalent in Casper.

The quaint historic downtown district in Casper was built with oil and cattle money at a time when unique, intricate, attention-to-detail architecture was the norm, not the exception. Dining is an international experience with a variety of restaurants that serve everything from Wyoming-raised beef steaks to authentic Japanese sushi. There is no shortage of ways to spend nights in Casper, and the music scene in Casper is exciting and “home grown.” The many talented musicians and bands in Casper can be found playing at any of the nightclubs or at the growing number of outdoor festivals that take place during the summer months. Great shopping can be found throughout town, but for one-of-a-kind unique boutique shopping experiences, the historic downtown district is the place to go.

Click on the links below to learn more about the arts & culture in historic Casper:

Performing Arts

Museums

Night Life

Live Music

Casper Events Center

Long ago, Casper was a meeting place for pioneers who drove their cattle across the North Platte River---now it's a prime meeting spot for professionals in suits and ties. With more than 2300 hotel/motel rooms and approximately 180,000 square feet of meeting space, Casper is the only meeting destination in the region with these advantages. Casper is centrally located and offers an exceptional combination of dining, shopping, cultural, and leisure activities. The Casper Area Convention and Visitors Bureau can help create customized itineraries and make arrangements for conference goers and leisure travelers alike.

Click here to learn more about meetings & conventions in Casper, Wyoming.