There is so much more to see than just Devils Tower.

         I am writing about the “Wyoming Black Hills,” which although lesser known than their South Dakota big brothers, still offer some wonderful visiting opportunities.

         Yes, Devils Tower is the center of everything.  This towering monolith was our nation’s first national monument back in 1906 and it is a totally impressive place.

         State Sen. Ogden Driskell has a historic ranch up there and also operates the KOA campground, which looks up at the tower. They love their country there and will spend lots of time talking about it to you.

         Another national historic place is the Vore Buffalo Jump, which is right next to Interstate 90. In fact, it was in the way of the proposed highway and that was when it was discovered.

         Luckily, they moved the highway. You can get a family tour for $20 from some friendly folks there. We were in a hurry and skipped the tour but peered over the fence at the big sinkhole.  Different groups of Indians would get together over centuries and stampede herds of bison to their deaths over the side.  It is estimated that 20,000 bison died in one 300-year period before white men wiped out the vast herds. Easy to get to and well worth the stop.

         Just up the road from the Jump is the new (well, five years new) Wyoming Welcome Center. This is an impressive place for tourists to visit.  It is also a nice place for Wyoming folks to visit, since it is full of educational and entertaining displays and television programs about the state.

         As a side note, it was always interesting to me that two of Wyoming’s most important welcome centers were on the wrong side of the highways for tourists coming into the state.

         We talked about this a lot when I was chairman of the Travel Commission back in 1993, this situation has been cured.

         The former welcome center in northeast Wyoming was on the left side of Interstate 90 for decades forcing tourists to cross over the Interstate to get to it.  Studies showed that tourists just did not want to do this and so, large numbers of them did not stop.

         Worst case was the state’s main welcome center in Cheyenne. Again, for decades, it was located on the left side of Interstate 25 for tourists entering Wyoming from the south. 

         Today, we have a spectacular welcome center on the inbound sides of the Interstate highways in both Cheyenne and in northeast Wyoming.  But I digress . . .

         Back to northeast Wyoming. The area is full of charming little communities like Newcastle, Sundance, Beulah, Pine Haven, Hulett, Aladdin, Moorcroft, Upton and other burgs almost too small to remember.

         Hulett is unique because of its small town charm with a big-time sawmill. There is a serious amount of wood being produced at the mill there.

         I always liked Sundance because you could see Sundance Mountain from 50 miles away.  It was always unique to be going east on Interstate 90 and look to the north and see Devils Tower in the distance and look straight ahead and spot Sundance Mountain.

         Newcastle is located at one of the prettiest sites in all of Wyoming.  By all appearances, you might think it is a “mountain town” except there are no big mountains around – just those beautiful hills.

         While we were in the area we ventured to Rapid City and stayed at the amazing Alex Johnson Hotel downtown.  Lots of nightlife.

         Mount Rushmore was its incredible self but the changes at the Crazy Horse Memorial were most impressive.  It is the biggest rock carving on earth and is taller than the pyramids. Worth a look.

         Our group swam at the Evans Plunge in Hot Springs a wonderful respite after a day in the hot sun.

         Earlier, we visited the venerable Reptile Gardens in Rapid City. Started in 1937, it continues to impress with the largest collections of its type in the country.

         Then it was back to Wyoming and heading home. Lots of road construction.  We hit a pothole so deep in Edgerton, thought it was going to wreck us. Who do I send the realignment bill to?  The town or the construction company?

         Despite that one literal bump in the road, the trip was excellent. It was capped off by my Texas grandkids being totally amazed by Hell’s Half Acre between Casper and Shoshoni.