There are hundreds of great activities, adventures and authentic western towns to explore, within 100 miles of the mountain trails.

Check out the little town of Shell Wyoming, population 50 and home to The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch. One of North America’s largest working cattle and Riding Guest ranches, located on 300,000 acres. www.thehideout.com. The favorite local watering hole is the quaint country store and café called “Dirty Annie’s, on Hwy 14 East heading toward Shell Canyon. Dirty Annie’s offers fishing licenses, Wyoming souvenirs, fast café style food and a small convenience store. Owner Jim is a Scot and boosts an impressive mustache many Scotsmen would be jealous off. Dirty Annies is a very nice place to eat a great breakfast to start the day. www.dirtyannies.com

If you are looking for antique go visit The Treasure House of Ed Smith located next to Dirty Annies.

Also located in Shell is the historic Old Shell Lodge. The lodge dates back to 1892 and is made entirely of native River Rock.

Across the Post Office and next to The Shell Store or Old Shell Lodge there is The Antler Inn, a great little café & bar that offers aside great hamburgers, beer, loads of hunting pictures, antlers and the owner of the bar Al Martin is a vivid outdoorsman, rifle and bow hunter. The Antler Inn offers a unique and colorful Wyoming picture.

Stop by and say hello to Peter De Cabooter and the gang at The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch. They offer a wealth of knowledge about Big Horn County attractions and events. Meet Ramon Castro, the head wrangler at The Hideout who started over 1500 young horses and trained many more. Ramon participated in the Extreme Mustang Makeover placing first in Reining and Cattle Work. Comes winter time Ramon trains owner-horses with the assistance of Shawn Kelly and Marijn Werquin. www.thehideout.com

Shell is home to Ann Hanson, one of the better known Western Painters. Her studio is located across The Hideout entrance. www.annhanson.com

If you really want to dine in style and quality make a reservation at The Trapper Creek Lodge & Supper Club right on the property where you have your horses. Call 307.765.9900 for Heather. Trapper is open Wednesday through Saturday, except when there are weddings. www.trapper-creek-guest-ranch.com

Also located in the Bighorn Basin are some of the largest and most important dinosaur track sites in North America. Two particularly active sites in Shell Valley are Red Gulch Dinosaur Track site and Gypsum Springs Dinosaur Track site. Both are full day adventures and local guides even offer the chance to dig for your very own dinosaur bones. Some of the best fishing in the west can be had around here at the many lakes, streams, and creeks. Animal lovers in your group will enjoy the abundant and diverse wildlife. Check out a complete list of wildlife on the State of Wyoming's Game and Fish webpage: http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/index.asp

Other Wyoming towns to check out include the charming Cody, WY (Rodeo Capital of the World), 70 miles west along highway 14 or Sheridan Wyoming, Cowboy Capital of the World, just 80 miles east along highway 14. Cody is home to the Cody Nightly Rodeo from mid June to mid August and features several great restaurants, antique stores and art galleries as well as the Buffalo Bill Museum. Plan for a full day when visiting either of these great old western towns.