The English Maximalista

Back in the beginning of April, Mr Maximalista and I had the notion to spend a few days up in Wyoming. Over the years, we have driven through this State a number of times, always struck by its wide open skies and long-reaching vistas.

But other than visiting Devil’s Tower in the early 2020s, our adventures in Wyoming consisted only of driving along I-25, always en route to other places. That was about to change.

Cheyenne is about a 3-hour drive from our house — the perfect distance to dip our toes into the Wyoming waters. There are a few other places we want to explore, which are farther afield, and will have to remain on the old bucket list for the time being.

We weren’t too sure what to expect from Cheyenne, knowing only that while it is the Capital of Wyoming, it is also a very small city. What would we find?

*****

As many of you may have guessed, our pursuits on vacations or mini-breaks align with our interest in history, culture, thrifting, and finding good food and used book shops. This trip was no different.

Mr Maximalista navigated whilst I drove Lady Penelope Northward-bound. Once in Cheyenne, we took an indirect route to our hotel, weaving our way to two Goodwills, their local Re-Store [Habitat for Humanity], an ARC thrift store, and the FABULOUS Christine & Co Flea Market. 

Antiques Malls are sadly a dying breed, so we were delighted to have found Christine’s. If that’s your thing, and you’re in the vicinity, I recommend you pop in. 

For dinner, we joined the early birds at The Albany, a low-key establishment with supper club vibes… and a surprisingly respectable wine list. I’m glad we got there early, because it got very busy later on. Mr Maximalista and I sat in a booth, the perfect aerie from where we could thoroughly enjoy people watching, as we ate our meal. (He had their Prime Rib; I had eggplant parmesan. Both were excellent.)

I suspect that because we visited during the work week, Cheyenne itself wasn’t crazy busy… something else I recommend, if you prefer to avoid hordes of fellow visitors. The downtown is small and pretty, with lots of street parking. I liked that there were sculptures by local artists dotted around.

We went to the State Capitol building first thing in the morning when no-one else was yet there, which was nice. Then we spent the rest of the morning wandering around the State Museum, which is just across from the Capitol, and I have to tell you, it was a lovely place to visit. Entrance is free, although of course they accept donations.

Lots of immersive and fascinating collections pertaining to Wyoming and the region. Again, highly recommend visiting.

To be honest, I doubt that we will visit Cheyenne again, unless it is for a very specific event. But I’m certainly glad that we visited when we did. Two full days were enough to cross everything off our list: we had a lovely time.

Lots of love,

M xo