Have time off? Visit Wyoming!

Featured Photo: South Pass City during the summer of 2019

Cheyenne, Wyoming— As part of National Plan for Vacation Day on Jan. 28, the Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) is offering travelers inspiration to plan their next vacation to the Cowboy State in 2020.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, more than half of American workers (55%) failed to use all their time off last year. That is a stockpile of 768 million unused vacation days just in 2018, of which 236 million were forfeited completely. Luckily, WOT offers easy-to-use tools to help American’s plan their next trip, including custom itineraries, travel guides and inspirational travel stories throughout the state.

Recently named one of “CNN Travel’s 20 Best Places to Visit in 2020,” in the world, Wyoming offers countless opportunities to experience its western charm, diverse landscapes, and rich culture. Some notable reasons to visit in 2020 include:

Home of the Women’s Vote

As the nation marks its centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, on Sept. 6, 2020, Wyoming will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first woman in the world to cast a ballot under full civic equality to men.

To honor the first vote by Laramie’s Louisa Swain, visitors can experience historic sites, such as Cheyenne’s newly restored State Capitol Building and South Pass City, and must-see exhibits throughout the year including the “Women in Wyoming” exhibit at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody and more. Jackson will also mark 100 years since the town became the first to be governed entirely by women.

For more information on Wyoming’s role in women’s suffrage history and ways visitors can mark the historic year, visit: travelwyoming.com/wyoming-womens-suffrage.

Upcoming Anniversaries and Attractions

• Just east of Yellowstone National Park, Cody will celebrate many anniversaries throughout 2020, including the 125th anniversary of the original townsite of Cody, 110th anniversary of the Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center and 75th anniversary of the closing of Heart Mountain WWII Confinement Site, where visitors today can learn more about their experience and lives at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center.
• As one of the most popular national parks in the U.S., Yellowstone will commemorate the 150th anniversary of naming Old Faithful Geyser. With more than 10,000 hydrothermal features, Yellowstone National Park offers incomparable natural beauty.
• In May 2020, the charming town of Dubois will open the National Museum of Military Vehicles – the largest private collection of military vehicles in the United States.
• Nestled near the Bighorn Mountains, Sheridan will mark the 90th year of the Sheridan WYO Rodeo in 2020. Starting the week of July 6, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo offers the ultimate western experience, including rodeos, Pow Wows, street dances and much more. Sheridan is a favorite of artists including Ernest Hemingway, who famously said “There are two places I love: Africa and Wyoming.” In 2020, Sheridan it will serve as one of the venues for the International Hemingway Conference.

With many upcoming anniversaries and attractions, 2020 is the ideal time to visit Wyoming. For more inspiration on planning a vacation, visit travelwyoming.com.

Each year, the National Plan for Vacation Day takes place during the last Tuesday in January as a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year. For more information, visit projecttimeoff.com. Travelers should also be aware of REAL ID during their trip planning. For more information, visit www.tsa.gov/real-id.