Buffalo, WY

The fine-dining room of the Occidental Hotel, a candlelit steakhouse trading in Wyoming beef and bison done properly. You can book the old Stockmen's bank vault for a private two-top, a only-here kind of date-night seat. The dressed-up dinner in a town of saloons and diners.

A bright breakfast-and-lunch cafe overhanging Clear Creek, part of the Occidental complex and a town fixture since the 1920s. Handmade biscuits and gravy, French toast and bison burgers are the draws, eaten to the sound of the creek below. The classic morning start before heading up into the Bighorns.

A wood-fired pizza and pasta spot that earned a spot on a national diners-and-dives TV show for its blistered pies. The crust is the star, but the pastas and salads round it into a full meal. The go-to when the family wants pizza rather than another steak.

A no-frills Mexican kitchen turning out carne asada burritos, lengua tacos and breakfast burritos that locals swear by. It is the spot for genuine, generous Mexican food in a town built on Western fare. Cheap, fast and a welcome change of register.

A Main Street Thai kitchen serving pad thai, lo mein and curries, a rare dose of Southeast Asian cooking in cattle country. It fills the gap when you have had your fill of beef and want something brighter and spicier. Reliable, fresh and unexpected for the town.

A family-friendly steakhouse named for the old emigrant trail, plating elk, beef and bison with a gift shop attached. It is the relaxed, kid-welcoming counterpart to the Occidental's formal room, the place for a big Western dinner without the white tablecloth. Hearty portions and a Wyoming game menu.

A cheerful cafe and gift store doing artisan sandwiches, soups and freshly baked pies for a lighter midday meal. It is the spot for a quiet lunch and a slice of pie when the diners are packed. Easy, homemade and friendly.

A quick sandwich shop building subs, wraps and salads with genuine vegetarian and gluten-free options, a rarity in cattle country. It is the easy grab-and-go for a trail lunch or a lighter, plant-leaning meal. Fast, fresh and accommodating.

A nearly thirteen-mile trail that runs the length of town along Clear Creek, starting paved and flat at City Park before fraying into rougher off-road paths toward Mosier Gulch. The in-town stretch is an easy, stroller-friendly walk or ride; push further and it climbs into the foothills. The backbone of Buffalo's outdoor life.

A horseshoe loop in the Bighorns above town that strings together riparian meadows, rocky slopes and a handful of alpine lakes including Sherd and Rainey. At around eight miles with moderate climbing, it is the area's classic day hike into the high country. Lakes, wildflowers and big views without a brutal grade.

A demanding backcountry route into the high Bighorns leading to a broad meadow at the foot of Blacktooth Mountain, passing lakes including Highland on the way. It is a backpacker's trail, long and high, rewarding the effort with some of the range's grandest alpine scenery. For strong hikers chasing the big country.

The bar at the heart of the historic Occidental Hotel, a classic Western saloon with a long bar, bullet-scarred ceiling and live music several nights a week. The Thursday bluegrass jam is the local institution, drawing pickers and a packed room. The closest thing Buffalo has to a nightlife scene, and a good one.

A downtown brewery pouring its own beers in a relaxed taproom, the anchor of Buffalo's small craft-drinking scene. It is the easy stop for a pint and a flight after a day in the mountains, mellower than the saloon. Local, friendly and central.

A surprisingly rich regional history museum, a national-medal winner, telling the story of the Johnson County Cattle War, the frontier military, Native American and Basque heritage of the area. Its depth and quality outstrip what you would expect of a town this size. The best rainy-day stop and a genuine primer on the contested history of this corner of Wyoming.

A family entertainment center along the creek with games and activities plus a kitchen turning out smoked meats, soups and sandwiches. It is the go-to when the kids need to burn energy and the family needs feeding in one stop. The most kid-focused outing in town.

An 1880 frontier hotel on Main Street whose guest list runs from Butch Cassidy and Calamity Jane to Theodore Roosevelt, restored down to the pressed-tin ceilings. The saloon still has its long bar and the bullet holes punched into the woodwork and ceiling. Wander the lobby and museum-like halls even if you are not staying; the building is the soul of Buffalo.

A narrow, boulder-choked canyon in the Bighorn foothills where a rough road threads beside the creek past waterfalls and towering cliffs. It is a dramatic back way up into the mountains, popular with climbers, anglers and anyone after the kind of scenery you usually have to hike for. High-clearance vehicles only on the canyon road.

A big natural lake just north of town wrapped in open ranch country and local legend, long a draw for trout and walleye fishing and a sunset paddle. The water sits stark against the sage with the Bighorns rising behind, a quiet spot to fish or just watch the light. A favorite of locals more than passing travelers.