Go West
Even if you don't have a home where the buffalo roam, you can still visit this world of majestic mountains and wide-open country. The following is a list of places and summer events where the history and traditions of the frontier are celebrated.
Buffalo Bill Cody Rodeo
Cody, Wyoming
July 1 - 4
This year marks the 81st anniversary of the Buffalo Bill Cody Stampede in Cody, Wyoming. This Western event has its roots in ranch contests and games as well as spectacle and drama borrowed from the world famous shows produced by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody.
Top cowboys come to Cody for the stampede, drawn by big purses and some of the best riding stock in the country.
Music in the Mountains
Big Sky, Montana
July 4 - Sept. 16
Not far from Yellowstone National Park in Big Sky, Montana, Music in the Mountains 2000 is a summer-long music and arts festival.
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| Randy Travis (AP) |
Bear Paw Festival
Eagle River, Alaska
July 6 - 9
Eagle River, Alaska plays host to the Bear Paw Festival, a light-hearted look at life on the last frontier. Featured events this year include the Miss Bear Paw pageant, a dog and owner look-a-like contest and an ugly truck contest.
Rib Cooking Contest
Reno, Nevada
August 31 - September 4
Hosted by John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino in Reno, 24 rib cookers are selected to compete i the Nugget Rib Cook-Off. Competing cookers sell ribs to the crowds over the four-day Labor Day weekend. Free nightly concerts are featured along with hundreds of craft booths and kids' activities.
Yellow Pine Harmonica Fest
Yellow Pine, Idaho
August 4 - 6
Located in Yellow Pine, Idaho, the 11th annual
Cowboy Hall of Fame
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City's National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center was conceived as a tribute to the men and women who helped establish the West as an integral part of America's cultural heritage. The center features exhibitions of Native American culture and history as well as artifacts of the cowboys who roamed the West.
Dodge City, Kansas
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| Wyatt Earp (AP) |
Today, the town pays tribute to its storied past with attractions including a gun fighter's museum and an old-style trolley.
Tombstone, Arizona
Another infamous Old West town is Tombstone. Tourists find themselves stepping back into the past as they witness a re-enactment of the shootout at the O.K. Corral or stroll along the boardwalks on Allen Street. Unwind at Big Nose Kate's, one of Doc Holiday's favorite haunts.
Rodeo Hall of Fame
Colorado Springs, Colorado
The sport of rodeo evolved from working cowboys and cowgirls honing their skills before they hit the trail. The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs honors the colorful past of this evolving sport.
Visitors are greeted by The Champ, a bronze statue of the legendary Casey Tibbs, a nine-time world champion.
The Hall is maintained by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. For a list of PRCA events, click here.
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| Yosemite National Park (CBS) |
For a complete list of public wildlife areas, try the National Park Service.
For other summer events across the West and across the world, go to Festivals.com. There you can search by state or topic.