November 24: Cheyenne & Laramie, WY . . .
Read MoreI've had three great days in Colorado doing traditional vacation things that are all centered around a specific destination and/or point of interest. I spent day one getting to know Greeley. Day two was spent in Loveland and Fort Collins. Yesterday was spent in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. This brings me to today, (Thanksgiving day), which will be my last for this western vacation.
I've said on numerous occasions on these boards just how much I cherish my time behind the wheel. A cruise to nowhere with the roof down remains my favorite way to relax and enjoy life. Those traditional vacation things are wonderful in themselves. But for me, there is something magical about getting there.
Heather has known me long enough to fully understand this. So when I asked her what she had in mind for Thanksgiving day, she suggested we drive to Wyoming. Wyoming ? This sounds interesting. What's up there ? "Wyoming," was her response. I understand this logic !Power for the building comes from a combination of solar (roof-mounted panels), wind (5 turbines on the property), and geothermal sources. A wildflower green roof helps keep the place cool in the summer. The building's walls were made using the "Rammed Earth" technique. This is just what it says – a mix of earth, rocks, clay, and other elements that are compressed, or "rammed" together. The colors seen in the photo above were added during construction to illustrate the different layers.
The Visitor's Center is located inside a 27,000 square foot building that is packed full of interactive exhibits relating to the history of the region. Unfortunately, the exhibition part of the center was closed for the holiday. But we got to check out some detailed information regarding the center's "green" design.
This is an interstate welcome center and rest stop. The expected "rest stop" things like abundant parking, restrooms, and tourist information are all in place. But what is not expected is the site's 26 acre size that features walking trails, outdoor exhibits, and art sculptures such as the "Wind Code" seen in the photos above and below.
The location of this center pays tribute to the Yellowstone Highway from 1915. This was an unpaved road that originated in Denver, Colorado and headed north to Rocky Mountain National Park. From there it continued north through Cheyenne, Wyoming on its way to Yellowstone National Park, hence the name. Connecting these recently established national parks via an automobile roadway was a very forward thinking idea a century ago. The concept would be further developed into the "National Park to Park Highway" that connected 12 western national parks via a 6,000 mile loop.
Mother Nature got wind of our plan for "driving in Wyoming" and decided to threaten us with the possibility of winter. We left Greeley with the roof down and temperatures in the mid-40s. The trip to Cheyenne was not only directly north, but also upward in elevation. Upon arrival at the Welcome Center, which sits around 6,000 feet, the temperature had dropped to the low-30s and was now accompanied by strong winds.
The threat from Mother Nature wasn't just about the temperatures. It may not be apparent from the photos. But we also had to worry about road closures, specifically Interstate 80 west of Laramie due to high winds and snowfall. So we decided to make a loop from Cheyenne to Laramie via State Route 210 west and back to Cheyenne via Interstate 80 east. Also known as Happy Jack Road, Route 210 winds its way toward Laramie through Curt Gowdy State Park, Medicine Bow National Forest, and the Sherman Mountains.