In the summer of 2025, my mother and I traveled to Wyoming to visit my aunt and her boyfriend. We spent eight days there, doing many fun, enchanting activities. Most of our time was dedicated to hiking and exploring the Rockies’ charming beauty. Some places we hiked were Blueberry Mountain and the Sacred Rim Trailhead. Besides hiking, we went to my aunt’s boyfriend’s parents’ house for dinner. There, we had pasta and salad, which was absolutely delicious. We also had a small picnic at Fremont Lake, a serene place for swimming. Two more activities we did were mountain biking and chilling at my aunt and her boyfriend’s house.
Our trip in Wyoming was one of the best times of my life. For the first time, I was not only outside my home state of New York, but I was in a new world full of astonishing wonders. One thing I’ll say about Wyoming is that it’s vastly different from New York. I was already aware of that before packing my things for the trip. However, Wyoming was much more distinct than I had imagined. There are many things that make it different from New York. Location’s one of them, but the differences go far beyond that.
In Wyoming, You’ll See Nothing But Countryside
Wyoming’s a very rural state. While that’s also true of New York, Wyoming has fewer cities and much more countryside. It’s perfect for my aunt because she’s much more of a nature person. However, I’m someone who likes living in cities. Because of that, Wyoming wouldn’t be the best place for me to live in.
While I’m not a fan of living in rural settings, Wyoming’s landscape is heart-stopping. Plus, there’s an advantage to it. While New York is known for clogged highways, there’s none of that in Wyoming.
Wyoming is Drier, Much Drier
The above image is kind of an over-exaggeration. However, it depicts how dry Wyoming is compared to New York. Growing up in New York, I’ve only been exposed to humid weather. Some people hate it because it makes it harder to cool off on hotter days. However, I’ve never minded the humidity. What I did mind was my lips becoming very chapped in Wyoming due to the dry weather. When going out west, be sure to bring some chapstick! Also be sure to bring a sweater, even if it’s going to be 75 degrees. 75 degrees without humidity isn’t the same as 75 degrees with humidity.
Wyoming’s Temperature Swings Are No Joke
I recently mentioned that 75 degrees in Wyoming is nothing like 75 degrees in New York. Well, let me tell you. It may be 75 degrees on a given afternoon in Wyoming. However, the instant the sun sets, the temperature suddenly plummets to 30 degrees. As someone who didn’t grow up out west, that was a wild thing to experience.
Wyoming’s huge temperature swings are the result of its geographic location. There are no oceans or major lakes to control its temperatures. Because of that, hot and cold have the freedom to turn Wyoming’s air from a furnace to an ice rink. In New York, that’s not the case. Its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes prevents hot and cold temperature swings from dominating the air. The average daily temperature range in New York is 10 degrees, sometimes 15 or 20.
New York’s Much Greener, Literally
One of my biggest Wyoming impressions is how different its colors are from New York. Throughout my life, I’ve only been exposed to grass and trees full of blooming green leaves. The moment I realized that nothing but mountains have grass in Wyoming, bafflement consumed me.
For the most part, Wyoming’s ground is dirt, dry bushes, and tumbleweeds. While the dry bushes and tumbleweeds are nice elements, they’re not as stunning as grass.
Commuting In Wyoming Is Essentially A Road Trip
One of Wyoming’s craziest things is longer drive times. While the closest grocery store in my hometown is three minutes away, the closest one in the small town where my aunt and her boyfriend live is 15.
Whenever my mother and I went somewhere in Wyoming, we were in the car for hours. I can’t complain, though. The magnificent mountains and ravishing countryside prevented me from getting bored.
In Wyoming, You Get Airports Like This
That’s not something you’ll find in New York. If you were to fly into the state, chances are, you’re more likely to see skyscrapers or houses, which are pretty, but aren’t as nice to look at while waiting for your plane to land. I’d much rather stare at the Rocky Mountains instead of the Empire State Building, or the three-story buildings that make up the heart of my hometown.
You Only Get To See Mountains From New York Mountain Peaks
In New York, there are major mountain parks where people can hike and capture some astonishing scenes. My hometown is located near the Adirondacks, one of the biggest mountain areas in the state. Other major New York mountain ranges are the Catskills and Appalachians.
When you reach the peak of one of these New York mountains, the outstanding things you’ll see are even more mountains. That’s not a bad thing, though. Mountains are gorgeous to look at, especially in the fall.
But if you were to hike a mountain in Wyoming, your peak view would look like this.
Very different from what you’d find in New York. I remember my breath being taken away when I saw those plains and valleys for the first time. They may not be the same as New York’s mountains, but they’re definitely a great scene change.
Lastly, Wyomingites Are Much More Conservative
Let me make one thing clear; Wyoming isn’t a liberal state. I learned this the day I stepped foot onto its soil. Everyone and their mama has Trump flags hanging from their houses, and lots of people carry guns since Wyoming grants them the freedom to do so.
New York can be conservative as well. If you live in a small rural town like me, you’ll find some Trump supporters. However, you won’t find people carrying guns like in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s a very alluring place. In some aspects, I like it better than New York. In other cases, I find New York to be more exquisite. I look forward to going back to Wyoming someday. When I do, the first place I’ll hit up is Yellowstone National Park!