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Wild West Vacation Was Well Worth the Wait
Country Discoveries, Jan/Feb 2001
Reprinted with permission

For as long as she can remember, reader Kerri Mountain of Commodore, Pennsylvania had dreamed of seeing the West. And as you'll see from her diary, this camera-slingin' traveler's trip was everything she'd hoped for.

Tuesday, June 6

Danielle took me on a tour of Sheridan, known worldwide for its handcrafted leather products. Our first stop was the famous King's Saddlery (184 N. Main St.), which is also home to the Don King Western Museum, a vast collection of Western memorabilia ranging from Indian baby boards to Colt pistols.

The store's thousands of saddles - ranging from basic Western saddles to incredibly elaborate silver-covered Mexican models - were as interesting as the museum. I was surprised to learn that a handmade King saddle starts at $2,500!

Thursday, June 8

Danielle and her children joined me for a picnic at Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site, about 20 miles south of Sheridan. This fort was one of three that protected the famed Bozeman Trail. (This historic site is near the small town of Story, featured on page 14 of the Sept/Oct 2000 Country Discoveries.)

We returned to Sheridan on dirt roads that wind through rugged mountain peaks. Our last stop was the Trail End State Historic Center. Located in a residential area of Sheridan, this mansion used to be owned by John B. Kendrick, a former Wyoming governor and U.S. Senator. With virtually no one else around, I waltzed silently around the home's enormous ballroom.

Friday, June 9

I left Sheridan and drove west through the Big Horn Mountains on U.S. Alternate Route 14. For a gal accustomed to the close, rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, all that open land and sky made me feel awfully tiny. . .

All too soon, it was time to fly home. But the beauty of the West will live on in my memories for years to come.

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