Go West!
As spring draws near, many families are starting to dream about and plan for their summer road trips. The Wild West, idealized and depicted in countless films and stories, holds the greatest draw for many of these journeys. If you’re heeding the call of the frontier this summer, be sure to check out these wild western locales.
Calico, California
Any Wild Western road trip is incomplete without a stop in a genuine, frontier ghost town, and Calico is one of the best for family friendly fun. Founded in 1881 as a silver mining camp, Calico was abandoned in 1904 and has since been preserved as a county park. About one-third of the original structures are still standing, alongside a number of carefully reconstructed replicas. There’s plenty to do, here: you can send the kids around the town on a narrow-gauge mining train, pan for gold (and keep what you find), and tour the mine. With knowledgeable park staff on hand to answer your questions, you’ll be sure to learn a lot and have fun, too!
Bodie, California
While Calico may have the activities, Bodie is the king of Western ghost towns when it comes to legendary status. At its peak population of 10,000, Bodie had a mile-long main street with nearly 65 saloons, replete with all the expected shootouts and stagecoach robberies. Abandoned long ago and currently maintained as a state park, Calico receives about 200,000 visitors annually.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Canyonlands National Park is the Wild West in its still-wild form. This sprawling desert expanse covers over 500 square miles, much of it never disturbed by human visitors. For the adventurous, hikes in the “Island In The Sky” District offer stunning views that easily rival the Grand Canyon (sans the rimside lodges and RV parks). There’s even a century-old cowboy camp in Chesler Park, although it’s a committed hiker who makes it out that far. While not the most kid-friendly place, Canyonlands offers the purest Western experience.
Deadwood Historic District, South Dakota
Deadwood was founded when General Custer found gold on the site, leading to a gold rush that gave birth to this famously seedy town. Visited in its heyday by the likes of Wild Bill Hickock (who died there), Deadwood has been recreated with authentic street lighting and storefronts. Unlike many boomtowns, Deadwood still has many permanent residents, and a thriving gaming industry, making it a popular Western destination.
Monument Valley, Utah
This iconic landscape is practically synonymous with John Wayne and the Marlboro Man, but no matter how many times you’ve seen it on film, it still takes your breath away. Rising sharply off the flat desert floor, the three famous “mitten” buttes evoke an alien landscape that will leave you in awe. Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Nation Reservation, and is run by residents of the reservation. While it’s one of the most affordable attractions of its kind, there are few amenities of any kind near this remote outpost, and visitors would be wise to bring plenty of water, fuel, and food.
Pages Cited
http://www.calicotown.com/
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509
http://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm
http://www.utah.com/monumentvalley/
