johnson county
Snow Adventures
A perfect place for a winter family getaway! Candy Moulton walks you through their family trip and paints a picture of what to expect when visiting our beautiful country.
a blast from the past
By Candy Moulton
The high country of the Bighorn Mountains is an inspirational place that I’ve visited on several occasions as a guest at Paradise Guest Ranch. My first trip there started with a few days at the ranch before I took off with a small group for a three-day horse-packing adventure. We rode all day through the high country before settling into our mountain camp not far from Frying Pan Lake.
Horseback riding, fishing, cooking over an open fire, and sleeping in tents was a perfect way to experience this part of Wyoming that I had never before visited. I’m used to darkness, but I will say those nights in the Bighorns provided some really spectacular star gazing. And the fishing was astonishing.
the home of longmire
The community holds a big celebration – Longmire Days – in the summer, and on occasion some of the show’s actors and certainly Johnson with his iconic old green pickup are present for the annual Christmas parade. Leaving the museum, we head back down the main street to the Bucking Buffalo, where oo la la we found enough Longmire gear plus boots, hats, and clothing to make any cowgirl drool.
For dinner we went to Pie Zanos, the perfect place for a family gathering because of its children’s menu.
the perfect end, to a perfect trip
On our last evening in Buffalo we decided on dinner at Winchester Steakhouse since we had all worked up quite an appetite. Back at the Occidental, we capped off the evening listening to the local musicians. It was a great way to end the trip. Our long weekend getaway was another bead in the string of family adventures we have had. I’m already looking forward to our next trip.
Candy Moulton has written 15 Western history books and articles for magazines throughout the West. The family home is in Encampment, Wyoming.