Vedauwoo

Vedauwoo (pronounced VEE-duh-voo) is a state recreation area in Medicine Bow National Forest 30 minutes from Cheyenne on the way to Laramie. My siblings and I fondly remember climbing and camping here when we lived in Cheyenne, and it was one of the reasons we were excited to move to Wyoming. It's full of these boulder mountains, some small some huge, with desolate/cactus/wildflower/brush prairie in between. We only explored the very outskirts because Stockton and Claire won't let us go any further, but someday I hope I can show Austin the awesome hiking inside the park! 

(My mom surprised me with this hat that she knew I had my eye on months ago...classic mom gift! Thank you!!)

It was so fabulous. We went there on the day my mom was leaving, which was perfect because it's on her way home. I'm so glad she could come with us. Natalie and Jack both packed their backpacks with everything they could think of, including the big yellow ropes which were a huge hit while climbing.

We love Mimi!

They all had a blast roaming around, feeling like real explorers. And this is just the outcrop area - there are so many more cool areas to dive into some day!

Claire just wanted to be on a rock, even if it wasn't as high as the others. She would shriek until I put her down on some sort of rocky surface.

We were all sad when Mimi had to leave but what a fun way to send her off!

We went again a few days later because Austin still hadn't gone, and he immediately understood why I have been so excited about taking him there. It is so cool right off I-80 between plains and hills...all of a sudden there's this random mountainous bouldery forest and it is awesome.

"the hot tub"

Nebraska has its own beauty but true nature didn't feel very accessible from Lincoln. I'm loving being this close to such cool WILDERNESS. And we just looked it up: Estes Park/RMNP is less than two hours away!!!! We have to plan a camping trip ASAP.