Sheridan, WY

I really wanted to like somewhere in Wyoming. I like that Wyoming is "the equality state" (they were the first state to elect a woman governor), and I like the slogans "that's WY," "Wy Not?," and "square but fun." Although Sheridan was not on the original list, it seems like it was the nice in-between compared to what towns were we had already visited so I'm very thankful we had occasion to stop and visit some family. 

Sheridan's park and trail systems made the first good impression, and Main Street was popping! I was on the quest for some nice bread, which I found at a specialty wine and grocer just off of the main strip. All around town were metal statues, with a range in themes. Although largely cowboy-focused, there were plenty others, including three cheeky monkeys, that caught my eye. 

Our family (on Cameron's side), feel like they live in a rural neighborhood, and they have enough land for horses, yet they were only 10 minutes away on an easy road. Plus, it sounds like they can ride said horses into town via a hilltop trail. I wondered aloud if I would need to adopt cowboy culture, but they assured me that wasn't necessary to fit in. Cameron's cousin also emphasized that the town had a healthy percentage of remote workers (like us!) and heirs from well-known companies (not like us, but still interesting) that were contributing to the local economy, rather than detracting from it.  

The Good

• Active community, both in the sense that people are sporty/outdoorsy, but also that they are contributing members of their community. 
• Lots of town culture. I was bummed we'd be missing the post-Halloween pumpkin smash. 
• Large and well-maintained trail and in-town park system. 
• Safe, family-focused community that seems like a great place to grow up as a kid. Cameron's second cousin has a variety of activities he does (4H, hockey, STEM, soccer...), and per his mom, they're heavily subsidized by the community. 
• Although seemingly isolated, Sheridan has everything you would need, including basics like Walmart and an airport, while still having room for local and higher-end businesses to thrive.
• A sector of our family lives nearby, and although I've only recently met them, I have the feeling they'd be good family to live close to. 

The Bad

• It seems like a big enough community that we would find our niche, but as liberal non-ranchers I expect we'd be in the minority. We were listening to Wyoming Public Radio and it was clear the values of the community (ensuring elementary school students are eating locally raised beef and that the warmer autumn is making elk hunting more challenging) are outside of my general interests. 
• Virtually no diversity. This relates to the above comment, but I did not see a single non-white person. 
• There is a lot of outdoor recreation in the nearby vicinity, but big downhill skiing is relatively limited. Antelope Butte is nearby, and meets my minimum skiing requirements, but it's definitely less than ideal. 
• Like most of Wyoming, the immediate surroundings are largely grassy/shrubby hills that give the impression of being desolate and inhospitable, although there were more trees in Sheridan proper than we'd seen in most of the rest of the state.

The Verdict

Maybe. I want to do some further research about why Sheridan didn't make it onto my original list, and assuming nothing awful comes up, I'd like to revisit with a more discerning eye. Luckily, I think we'll have the excuse to re-visit the family in the not-so-distant future. 

We spent the night before Sheridan in the nearby National Forest. The sunrise on semi-snowy roads was pretty, but the surrounding landscape is barren-looking grassland.  (Sorry for the wet spots on the window shield; we were frozen in that night!)

This historical(?) thatch roof building within a large park complex was my first tip off that I might like Sheridan. 

Another tip off was all of the kids playing outside (and the blue waterslide in the background). 

The cowboy motif was prominent, but not necessarily off putting. 

The cowboys were offset by some other humorous art, including these cheeky monkeys. 

Downtown was full of cool looking buildings filled with all of the things I look for: interesting shops, varied restaurants, quirky art, and people! 

I didn't recognize whoever was playing at the Wyo Theater while we were visiting, but it looked like there was an ongoing lineup. 

I was bummed we were going to miss the post-Halloween pumpkin smashing. We also missed the weekly farmers market and the monthly art fair. 

In addition to the parks and trails, the river appears to be well used for summer rafting. 

I expect this seasonal ice cream stand also is well used in the summer. Although not pictured, many of the buildings and shelters within the parks advertised that they were paid for by an optional 1-cent tax. I appreciate seeing tax dollars at work.