Blog Post #43 - Written December 3, 2025
Stay: July 22-24, 2025
We wouldn't have stopped in Casper Wyoming if Megan's brother hadn't lived there (of course, he got a new job and left right before we got there, so we didn't actually see him, but we got to hang out and play with his family anyway!), but we really enjoyed it and it was one of those places that I could totally see living and enjoying. It's small enough to feel rural and real, but big enough to have everything you could need. Megan reminds me that we visited during the warm summer and she doesn't want to live through winters there haha, so it probably won't happen, but it looked like a good place to raise a family.
The night we arrived we helped Megan's brother's wife, Mindy, pack boxes and load up their Uhaul moving crates. It felt good to be part of an Elder's Quorum move again! :)
We stayed at the Fort Caspar campground, which was nothing special as far as campgrounds go. Megan took the kids to the Fort Caspar Museum next door with her parents (surprise! they were also visiting Casper at the same time to help her brother's wife pack and move) while I worked. They learned about the history of Casper and the conflict between the white settlers and native americans. They enjoyed the dioramas and playing in the replica forts.
The next morning we took the kids and their cousins to the Werner Wildlife Museum (free btw). It was so cool! We (or at least, I) learned lots about the taxidermy process and saw some pretty amazing specimens. It was a good time, very informative, and the kids really enjoyed their scavenger hunt.
After a quick lunch, we took all the kids to the Casper Children's Museum (part of ASTC reciprocity program) and had a grand 'ole time there. We somehow only ended up with pictures of me playing with bubbles haha, but I promise the kids played and had fun too š¤£
After that, we joined Mindy at her ward's (LDS church congregation) Pioneer Day celebration for some pizza and swimming at the local water park! I know, it was a full day. But so much fun to play with family :)
Video: Q conquered his fear of the
big water slide and he LOVED it! He also loved cheering on his brother, so cute!!! :)
D loved swimming with grandpa.
And the boys loved playing with their cousins.
Megan's parents came over to our trailer each night to do bedtime with the kids and play games with us after the kids went to sleep, which was a lot of fun. We don't get the chance to "have people over" very often as you might imagine!
The next day (July 24th - Pioneer Day) we went to the National Historic Trails Center with Mindy and her kids and Megan's parents. It was a really neat, informative museum about the approximately 500,000 pioneers that emigrated westward in the mid to late 1800s. They have a lot of good exhibits, some interactive, to understand why and how all of these people crossed the great plains to settle the west. Live was tough for them, but they were incredible, and ingenious! I was especially impressed by the
Mormon Odometer. It never ceases to amaze me how creative and industrious our ancestors were!
Megan and I also spoke at length with a volunteer who refurbishes leather saddles there. It was fascinating to hear his story and learn about his trade. Speaking of volunteers, we learned that although the Center is operated by the BLM, it is run by volunteers, many of whom are actually LDS Senior Missionaries. The LDS Church supports the Center largely because of the shared history of the Mormon Trail.
They have this cool "living sculpture" diorama presentation thing that spins around with life-like sculptures telling the stories of different pioneers.
The kids loved all the little mini covered wagons of course.
And after the museum we went to a nearby park/playground for a picnic lunch. It was on the banks of the Platte River, which was a major part of the pioneer trails, both as a guide and obstacle.
After lunch we visited the local library for some chill book reading time . . . but then found their innovation center and decided to build a wind-powered car instead! :)
Casper (and Wyoming in general) might get a bad rap for being boring with nothing to do, but we had a great time there. It's all about your attitude and the people. It was so fun to see family :)
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