America’s Top Cowboy Destinations

We just love the San Francisco Chronicle‘s recent article, “Round Up Your Inner Cowboy — or Girl,” which mentions five great Western-inspired destinations. If you ever have the opportunity, visiting these places sounds like a great time. Just be sure and wear your cowboy boots!

First on their list is Gene Autry’s Museum of the American West. Located in Los Angeles, California, the museum has a lot to offer visitors — television show and movie props, the Colt firearms collection and more.

Next up is in Bly, Oregon: the Aspen Ridge Resort. The article describes this as a “rustic-yet-comfortable resort.” So just what makes it a great cowboy destination? Aspen Ridge Resort is a working cattle ranch, and you can go hiking, fishing and horseback riding. Resort guests can even “pitch in with real ranch duties.”

Another destination that made its way on the list is the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Shingletown, where the article says you can witness the “true ‘wild’ west” by taking a multiple-day pack trip. On these pack trips, which can last two or three days, you get to see wild horses. They note that on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Wild Horse Sanctuary is open to the public, so if you’re not planning on doing a pack trip, this is a good opportunity to view the wild horses.

The last two destinations on the list are Old Tucson Studios (in, you guessed it, Tucson, AZ) and the Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop in Carmel Valley. A film set, Old Tucson Studios was built as a replica of Tucson in the 1860s and you may have seen it used as the background in a Western. This is a great place for studio tours, trail rides and watching shows, according to the article. Lastly, Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop is recommended for its “delicious home-style food” and great cowboy decor.

These sure are great cowboy destinations. Again, nice list, SF Chronicle! And we may be a little biased, but we think Allens Boots is another great cowboy destination. If you’re ever in Austin, Texas, be sure and stop by our store to shop for cowboy boots, cowboy hats and Western wear.