If you would like to experience the Old West, going to a rodeo is a great way to begin your western adventure.  Rodeo is much more than a sport – it is a way of life for the cowboys who test their skills at the diverse and often dangerous events.  Bull riding is always a crowd favorite – the eight seconds cowboys are required to spend aboard these huge beasts to qualify is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Cody and Jackson, Wyoming host rodeos throughout the summer, as does Ruby’s Inn, at Utah’s Bryce National Park.  The towns of Cody and Jackson have a distinctive western flair, with Jackson’s boardwalks and antler arches and the world-class Buffalo Bill Historical Center and Old Trail Town in Cody.  Both towns host periodic mock “gunfights” in the streets.   Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are located nearby, so either of these towns would be a great starting point for your western adventure.

If you would like to spend more time exploring the “real” west, Cheyenne Frontier Days may be for you.  Held each July (in 2011, July 22-31) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, this event features a “Behind the Chutes Tour,” a chuck wagon cook off, and a pancake breakfast that are free to the public.  You can visit a museum, explore an Indian Village, or tour the old west town of Wild Horse Gulch.  Love parades?  Don’t miss the “Grand” parade in historic downtown Cheyenne, with entries dating back to 1926.

For help in planning your authentic western adventure, contact the friendly trip consultants at Tracks & Trails (800-247-0970).  They can help you build your custom RV trip to explore all the wide-open west has to offer.