Waiting in Casper, Wyoming

While my van was in the body shop, I had to fight the urge to leave Casper and head back into the mountains. There were still hikes I wanted to do, but the repair timeline kept shifting because of parts delays, and I was terrified of being out of cell service when the shop finally called to say the van was ready. So instead of disappearing into the wilderness, I decided to see what Casper had to offer.

And honestly? Casper turned out to be a pretty cool place.

I spent a couple of days visiting the museums at Casper College, starting with the geology museum. Seeing dinosaur fossils that were actually discovered in this area was strangely moving. When you're a kid obsessed with dinosaurs, you imagine them in some distant, exotic place—not standing where you're standing. But the world was different then, and those creatures really did roam what is now Wyoming. Looking at those fossils, I kept thinking, “Wait… this was right here.” That realization never stops feeling a little surreal.

The geology collection was equally fascinating. They had rocks, minerals, and gemstones from Wyoming and from around the world, and it brought me right back to high school. Geology was one of those subjects I genuinely loved—I was probably the kid doing extra work just because I found it interesting. Walking through the exhibits felt like reconnecting with a forgotten hobby.

Next was the wildlife museum, which ended up being another highlight. One large section is dedicated entirely to animals native to Wyoming, and it was incredible to see so many of the creatures that are roaming the landscape around me all gathered in one place. They also had exhibits featuring wildlife from around the world, including a taxidermy polar bear that absolutely stopped me in my tracks. I’d only ever seen polar bears from a distance at zoos, so I never really understood their scale. I remember walking back over to the grizzly bear exhibit afterward and thinking, “Seriously? It’s that much bigger?” The thing was enormous.

Another day I visited a local nonprofit arts center that felt like a cross between an activity center, studio, and museum. They host art classes, community meetups, and mixed-media workshops, and the whole place had a wonderfully creative energy. The standout for me was a metal sculptor who made pieces entirely from found objects. Every sculpture was beautiful, but what struck me most was that they made me want to create something myself. I loved the idea of taking discarded items and turning them into art.

I also spent time at the Veterans Memorial Museum, which was humbling. Uniforms, mess kits, beds, equipment, and artifacts from different periods of American military history filled the building, each item representing real people and real lives.

That museum led me to one of the more unique experiences in town: a self-guided driving tour of the old World War II air base. The concept was fantastic. You follow a map, stop at different locations, and call in to hear audio stories about each site. I’ll admit it was a little chaotic doing it alone—driving, navigating, and dialing numbers at the same time isn’t exactly relaxing—but the tour itself was excellent. I wish more places did this, especially national parks. Reading a pamphlet while trying to take in a landscape never feels ideal, but having the history narrated while you’re looking at the place? That’s brilliant.

And yes, I also spent an inordinate amount of time at the gym and, more importantly, in the shower. After days of living out of the van and spending nights in parking lots, having access to a long, hot, steamy shower felt borderline luxurious. I definitely took my time appreciating it.

All of this happened against the backdrop of waiting for news about the van, trying not to stress too much about something I couldn’t control. In the end, I’m glad I stayed. What started as an inconvenient delay became a few unexpected days of exploring, learning, and reminding myself that sometimes the detours turn out to be destinations worth seeing too.Read more