Gillette

Gillette, located in Wyoming's northeast corner, is the gateway to Devils Tower National Monument, the country's first national monument, as well as the ideal halfway point between Yellowstone National Park and South Dakota's Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Gillette is centrally located in an area where vast amounts of American coal, oil, and coalbed methane gas are being developed. The city bills itself as the "Energy Capital of the Nation", owing to Wyoming's supply of nearly 35% of the nation's coal. However, a drop in coal use in the United States has resulted in a drop in the local economy, prompting some local officials to seek other industries or employment opportunities. The city is a regional center for media, education, health, and the arts, as well as a major economic hub for the county.

Gillette, home to CAM-PLEX, the largest multi-event facility in the western United States, provides numerous opportunities to enjoy live music, rodeos, theater, and much more. If you want to avoid the crowds, take a short drive to Durham Buffalo Ranch, one of the county's largest privately owned bison ranches. Summer tours are available to view the ranch's nearly 3,000 bison. Your trip would be incomplete unless you sampled Gillette's burgeoning culinary scene.

With over 70 restaurants and Wyoming's first meadery, you're sure to find something to your liking. Gillette is close enough to Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower to serve as a home base for day trips. Visit the Eagle Butte Coal Mine, the Rockpile Museum, and the Gillette Brewing Company while you're there.