Go Wild West in Sheridan, Wyoming

The cowboy spirit is alive and kicking in Sheridan, a small frontier town at the foot of the majestic

Big Horn Mountains

. Rodeos and concerts run throughout the year, and annual events like

Buffalo Bill Days

and the

Sheridan County Fair

celebrate the independent frontier spirit that turned Sheridan into the

#1 Western Town in America

.

A two-hour drive southeast of Billings, Montana, is Sheridan's

historic downtown

. Thirty buildings date back to the early 1900s when the railway brought cowboys and miners to Sheridan in search of fame and fortune. The saloons and blacksmith shops are gone, but the downtown area maintains an Old West feel with stores featuring

western clothing and leather crafts

.

Learn more about the area's Wild West past and spot wildlife on a 30-minute drive to the Big Horn Mountains. You'll see where the Plains Indians took a last stand to protect sacred hunting grounds and discover the history of the "bloody"

Bozeman Trail

. Nearby

interpretive centers

have trail and campground information as well as exhibits on the 300 species living in the mountain range.

Want a more adventurous approach to the mountains? Go

biking

on a canyon trail that drops 4,000 feet or

hang gliding

on some of the best thermals in the northern Rockies. In winter, you can go

cross-country skiing

through the picturesque spruce forest.

For more planning tips, go to the

Sheridan Travel and Tourism website

.

Read more of the

50 Affordable Stateside Escapes

.

Have a recommendation for Sheridan, or another great getaway in Wyoming? Post your comment below.