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Venture To The Great American West

America As You Like It • 29 January 2025

Nestled in the northern part of the USA, the Great American West is a region of remarkable natural beauty and cultural richness. Comprised of Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota, this magical area is renowned for its awe-inspiring landscapes, epic outdoor adventures, and a deep connection to American heritage. With hiking legendary trails once travelled by world-famous explorers and spotting majestic wildlife like North American bison, wild mustangs, and moose, the opportunities for exploration are endless. With fourteen national parks, monuments, and memorials, including Yellowstone National Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Craters of the Moon National Monument, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, take in the breath-taking splendour of the West.

Credit to Idaho Tourism

National Parks and Monuments

These states are home to some of the most iconic national parks and monuments in the country, offering pristine landscapes and preserved natural beauty. Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as America’s first national park, spans Wyoming and Idaho and is renowned for its geothermal wonders, diverse wildlife, and extraordinary features like Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. In South Dakota, visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial can marvel at the monumental 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents. North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park preserves the rugged beauty of the Badlands, while Idaho’s Craters of the Moon National Monument displays volcanic landscapes, lava caves, and dark skies ideal for stargazing. Each park and monument offer an unparalleled glimpse into the region’s natural wonders and historical significance.

Western Culture

Western culture is at the heart of the Great American West, where rodeos and buffalo roundups celebrate the region’s Old West roots. In Wyoming, the Cheyenne Frontier Days festival has been an annual tradition since 1897, featuring the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, trick riding, wild-horse races, and an Old West town. South Dakota’s Custer State Park hosts a thrilling annual buffalo roundup in the autumn, where cowboys and cowgirls corral 1,300 bison. North Dakota preserves its frontier history at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, home to forts from the 1800s, including Lt. Col. George Custer’s final base before heading to Little Bighorn. Idaho blends Wild West mining history with modern-day exploration in Wallace, the “Silver Capital of the World.” Across the region, you can experience the enduring spirit of the American frontier.

Outdoor Recreation

Explore endless opportunities for adventure. Hike through South Dakota’s rugged Badlands National Park or ascend the towering peaks of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Idaho’s Bruneau Dunes State Park invites sandboarding, while North Dakota’s Maah Daah Hey Trail is perfect for mountain biking. For a true Western experience, a ranch holiday in any of the four states provides an unforgettable chance to embrace the cowboy lifestyle with horse riding, cattle drives, and outdoor family fun. Why not rent an RV to see the region’s stunning natural beauty at your own pace. 

Credit to North Dakota Tourism

American Indian Heritage

Discover Native American culture and history, with each state offering unique opportunities to learn about the region’s Indigenous peoples. South Dakota is the ancestral home to the Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota tribes of the Great Sioux Nation, where you can travel along the Native American Scenic Byway, explore tribal lands, and attend vibrant powwows such as the Black Hills Powwow in Rapid City. In Wyoming, the Wind River Reservation hosts summer powwows for the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes, while sacred sites such as Devils Tower and the Medicine Wheel National Historic Site provide profound connections to Native traditions. North Dakota showcases the colourful history of the Plains tribes at powwows, vibrant Indigenous gatherings centred around dance, music, and family celebrations. These events traditionally serve as occasions where one Indigenous nation welcomes and honours others, featuring vibrant dances, music, and meaningful traditions. Idaho, home to the Coeur d’Alene, Nez Perce, and Shoshone-Bannock tribes, offers unique experiences like the Shoshone-Bannock Festival Powwow and a journey along the Sacajawea Historic Byway, highlighting the stories and traditions of Native American culture. 

Wildlife

Experience a wildlife haven for yourself, with each state offering unique opportunities to observe and connect with nature. Idaho boasts incredible wildlife attractions such as the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise and Yellowstone Bear World, a drive-through park where you can see bears, wolves, bison, and elk up close. North Dakota’s diverse landscapes teem with birds, deer, elk, and buffalo, making it a paradise for nature photography. South Dakota’s Custer State Park is home to a 1,300-head bison herd, while its birdwatching opportunities include spotting bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and burrowing owls. Wyoming, with its vast national parks and wilderness areas, shelters moose, mule deer, and elk, along with more than four hundred species of birds. The Great American West offers unforgettable wildlife experiences, whether it is observing grizzly bears, soaring falcons, or majestic bison herds in their natural habitat.

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