Sure gas is reaching $4.00 a gallon and times are tight. If you are thinking of were to take the family this summer my advise is take them! We work harder than any country and take less than 2 weeks a year off. That's crazy! Now I'm not telling you to drive across the country you could travel the world for cheaper!

Wyoming in the summer is the best time to be here.  In 15 minutes you can be in the mountains and not hear or see another soul for days. For the price of taking the family to Disneyland for 4 days you can stay in a cabin for 2 weeks. We just bought a 8 person tent and are planing some long weekend camping trips. We just need to re-think what a summer vacation is, or was. The main reasons for the stay-cation to relaxing and enjoy were we live.

In the 50's and 60's people from all over the nation come to Yellowstone for there family vacation, when I ask people in Laramie if they have been to Yellowstone it's a small percentage that say they have been there even once, that criminal!  We have a lot of National Parks, National Forests and State Parks are just hours away from us and we don't think about going, I'm not sure why! We have Devil's Tower, the Wind Rivers, Flaming Gorge, Medicine Bow Mountains and the  Tetons just to name a few.  I keep forgetting my Wyoming fishing license works all over the state!

Rocky Mountain high! We  live really close to Colorado too! Rocky Mountain National Park, Gunnison National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park just just breaks the surface, and are all 4-5 hours away,  just beckoning us to pack up the trailer and head out. Thinking back on my childhood, our Wyoming family vacations where the ones I remember the most, my parents where relaxed and we had good times around the campfire.

Here are just 5 ideas for your summer stay-cation, hope all of you can get out and enjoy the summer and take some much deserved time-off! Of course you could just stay home, but that's not fun!

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1. Rent a cabin - For about $40 a night, rent a cabin. There are a variety of rental cabins ranging from lookouts on mountaintops to historic log cabins that offer great summer and fall getaways and quiet ski-in adventures. Website>

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2. Camp for at least 4 nights  - Wyoming is a state full of ups and downs – the Rocky Mountains and Grand Tetons, wide open spaces, churning hot springs, bubbling mud pots and tranquil forests, rolling rivers and rippling streams. A Wyoming tent camping trip has something extra-special for everyone.  Website>

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3. Yellowstone and stay at 3 different lodges - Old Faithful Inn is a massive building within a short viewing distance of Old Faithful Geyser. The Old Faithful Inn is one of the largest log-built structures in the world. The rooms here provide a comfortable and convenient home base for your Yellowstone vacation. Book your room early. Website>

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4. Fishing trip- With 4,200 crystalline lakes sand 27,000 miles of blue-ribbon, fishable streams, Wyoming is the ultimate fishing and fly fishing destination. Expert anglers and eager beginners alike can find a fisherman's dream along the clear waters scattered across the state. Wyoming embraces this gift, ensuring that capable guides and outfitters are as plentiful as the fish waiting to be caught. Website>

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5. Estes Park - Only 2 hours away is the majestic scenery of RMNP, its varied trails and abundant wildlife await you. Find a guided activity like fly fishing, horseback riding, or river rafting. For a change of pace, explore the shopping dining, and events offered year round in Estes Park. Website>

For more information on Wyoming vacations go to the Wyoming Tourism website>

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