FAMILY FUN ADVENTURE GROUP

If you live by the motto "the family that plays together, stays together," Casper is sure to be a memorable stop on your next family vacation. With kid-friendly shopping, sports, education, and exploration opportunities galore, everyone will be entertained from the moment they stretch their legs until they rest their heads on their pillow.

For future Einsteins, Casper is a wonderful laboratory. Interact with dinosaurs and learn about Wyoming's unique geology at the Tate Museum. Kids can also enjoy the critters and natural science exhibits at The Science Zone, conveniently located in the Sunrise Shopping Center. Kids and parents alike will be viewing the stars like Galileo after a visit to the Casper Planetarium; while a jaunt to the Werner Wildlife Museum will educate the family about wildlife indigenous to Wyoming as well as specimens from all around the world!

If your little sports stars are excited to venture out into the crisp winter air, zoom up Casper Mountain to Hogadon Ski Area. Whether they dream of being the next ski star, or catching some air on their snowboard, Hogadon's the place to play! Only 20 minutes from town, the mountain offers other great options, too, like cross-country skiing around the Casper Nordic Center, or snowmobiling over 45 miles of groomed trails. For some chilly indoor fun, opt for some blade time at the Casper Ice Arena. Do the kids seem like they have enough energy to climb Everest? Let them try scaling the rock-climbing wall at Old Town Family Fun. And if the snow isn't piled too high, take a stroll in the crisp, fresh air along the nearby Platte River Parkway, a 10-mile long trail that connects many community parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas. And the most exciting weekend of the year for sports enthusiasts - young and old - happens when the Wyoming Shootout comes to the Adventure Capital!

If the arts are more your cup of tea, then wrangle your little Rembrandts over to The Nicolaysen Art Museum and Discovery Center, which offers over 25,000 square feet of galleries and a hands-on art studio for the kids. Or swing by Pottery By You, where the entire family can create their own special heirloom souvenirs. Families will also enjoy gazing at all the Christmas lights on the streets of downtown Casper and beyond. Don't forget to head east on 2nd. street - the lights in the park across from the hospital are breathtaking!

When exploring downtown, a trip to the stylish Toy Town boutique is a must. And who can resist the lure of homemade chocolates? Be sure to drop by Donell's Candies, a Casper tradition for over 50 years.

Young cowpokes will find it easy to get into the pioneer spirit at The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, which tells the trials and triumphs of the West's early settlers through a unique series of interactive exhibits. Or step back in time to a real frontier experience at the Fort Caspar Museum. Weather permitting; visit Independence Rock (west of Casper via Highway 220). This landmark monolith on the Oregon Trail became a register to the pioneers who stopped to carve their names there.

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It's up bright and early for a day of fun in the snow! There's snowgear to be found for the entire family at Mountain Sports, then it's up the mountain for an all-day adventure! Head off to explore Casper Mountain's 40 miles of snowmobile trails, while the kids decide whether skiing or snowboarding will be the highlight at Hogadon. Take a break from the chilly temp with lunch in Hogadon's restaurant and lounge. Snuggle up to a crackling fire with a burger, a steaming cup of hot chocolate and stories of everyone's morning!

Ready for a little more activity? Head to the Casper Ice Arena for an afternoon of skating. It's an indoor adventure with an outdoor flavor! See if mom and dad can keep up with their budding Olympic champions! Once everyone has had their fill of the cold, warm up with a Mexican fiesta at Guadalajara. The kids will be happy to munch on chips and salsa, and mom and dad will be happy to spice things up with fajitas and an authentic margarita!

Bring the family together for a unique dining experience at 303, one of Casper's finest choices for dinner. Start with an amuses-bouche, continue with a mouth-watering Steak Taboo, and finish with Bananas Foster flambéed table side! Afterwards, adventure back to Casper Mountain to visit the Casper Nordic Center for some peaceful night skiing. Take a few turns round the 1.2 kilometer (.07 miles) lighted loop, available every night until roughly 9 pm.

Finish out your perfect weekend with a movie at any of the four Downtown Movie Palaces or the Eastridge Movies 4 Dollar Saver. Enjoy a comedy for the whole family, or send the kids off to a G-rated show and treat mom and dad to something with a little more action!