Locals in Laramie
Authentic places to stop between Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain National Park
Author
Tori Peglar
Tori is the co-brand and content director of National Park Trips. She specializes in writing inspiring national park travelogues, foodie adventures and personal, heartfelt stories of people who shape our culture.
In 2018, Tori was recognized for her work with National Park Journal, winning three first-place awards for the Grand Canyon edition of the magazine. Later the same year, Tori was honored as a Folio: 100, a list of the top innovators, entrepreneurial thinkers, and industry-disruptors in magazine media.
Before joining National Park Trips, Tori worked for her alma mater as director of marketing for the CU-Boulder Alumni Association, developing and executing campaigns for national and local events and programs. She led an award-winning creative team of six and served as editor of the Coloradan magazine, which won two first-place national awards in 2011 and 2014 for magazine excellence, as well as two regional first-place awards and a second-place award in 2011-14.
Tori’s travels have taken her across the globe and she has lived in Hong Kong, Kenya, Ecuador and Nepal. Some of her favorite national park experiences are hiking the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon, taking the trail down to the Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point, snowshoeing to Lone Star Geyser in Yellowstone and doing Rocky Mountain’s East Inlet Trail with her family. When she’s not in search of a story, she loves spending time with her family and skiing, running, biking, backpacking and traveling.
My Stories
Laramie, Wyoming’s Traveler Trivia
Be a traveler rather than a tourist. Get the behind-the-scenes stories on everything from comic heroes to outlaws in the Laramie area.
Flaming Gorge Country’s Desert Oasis
Head to the Flaming Gorge to cool down in a stunning setting.
3 Estes Park Locals Share their Favorite Spots
Three local entrepreneurs share their recommendations and why they love their town next to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Keeping Up With South Fork, Colo.
West of Great Sand Dunes National Park
6 Adventures in Colorado Springs
Between Rocky Mountain and Great Sand Dunes National Parks
Rafting the Desert West’s Best River Stretches with OARS
Here are tips to incredible raft trips for families, thrill seekers and those just looking for relaxation amid some of the country’s best scenery in Utah and Colorado.
Sand-Filled Stay in Alamosa and San Luis Valley
Base in Alamosa to tackle the top 6 things to do in and near Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, plus two quirky side trips.
Ridgeline Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado
A visit to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park is one thing, but a stay at Ridgeline Hotel transforms it into something extraordinary.
Best of Colorado Road Trip Featuring 5 National Park Sites
Fantastic towns, high peaks and national park sites dominate this 1,354-mile tour through Colorado.
Utah and Colorado National Parks Road Trip
Explore some of the country's most amazing red-rock landscapes and soaring granite peaks on this 1,140-mile tour including 5 national park sites.
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5 Stops on Arches National Park’s Scenic Drive
Don't miss the best roadside stops inside this national park filled with natural stone arches.
Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park and Yellowstone Road Trip
See wildlife and natural wonders on this Rocky Mountain to Yellowstone road trip
New Mexico and Colorado National Parks Road Trip
Stunning landscapes, culture and adobe villages await on this 2,121-mile trip starting in El Paso, Texas. See multiple national parks in both Colorado and New Mexico.
6 Things to Do in Estes Park
Here are six tips on what to do in Estes Park during your Rocky Mountain National Park vacation.
Can I Bring My Dog to Rocky Mountain National Park?
Dogs are prohibited on all trails and in the backcountry. Leashed dog are allowed at parking lots, roadside areas, picnic areas, and campgrounds.
Enjoy the Ride in Trinidad, Colorado
Scenic drives, stunning landscapes and strolls through a historic downtown await in Trinidad, Colo.
Vernal, Utah’s Hidden Gem says, “Welcome to Dinosaurland”
You’ll dig ancient animal history in Vernal, Utah, located close to Dinosaur National Monument.
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4 Ways to Relax in Steamboat Springs
Don't miss these top sights in one of Colorado's most authentic modern cowboy towns on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area
Visit the "cradle of Colorado."
Dinosaur National Monument on the Colorado-Utah Border
A massive piece of protected land at the northern state border of Colorado and Utah, sits Dinosaur National Monument which at first glance looks like a barren desert wasteland. But dig deeper and it becomes one of the world's richest dinosaur deposits.
Family Fun in Westminster
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Historic Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado
Stay at one of the Southwest’s iconic hotels two blocks north of the station for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and one hour from Mesa Verde National Park.
Why Reusable Water Bottles Are Important
Here are 5 tips from EcoVessel on why drinking water from a reusable water bottle is so essential both on and off the trail.
Visit Colorado’s National Parks Virtually
You don’t have to visit Colorado’s national parks in person to experience their spectacular views and trails.
A Grand Timeline from Red Rocks to Vineyards at Colorado National Monument
Just 30 miles from the Utah border, Grand Junction sits in the heart of Colorado’s red-rock country. It was named after the Grand River, which was renamed the Upper Colorado River in 1921, and the junction of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. How has it gone from a western backwater to the heart of Colorado’s outdoor recreation and wine country? Here’s how it has evolved into what it is today.
6 Romantic Things to Do in Rocky Mountain Park
A relatively close getaway for those living in the Denver area, Rocky Mountain National Park and its two gateway towns offer a number of romantic ways to spend time together. Here are some of our favorite activities to do as a couple.
Sand and Sun at White Sands National Park
Play in the giant sandbox of white gypsum in New Mexico
Bordering Food and Fun in El Paso, Texas
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7 Things to Take on your Colorado National Park Vacation
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Whispers in the Wilderness
Photographer Erik Stensland book pairing his photographs of Rocky Mountain National Park with his reflections on the power of nature.
Native Experience at Wind River Hotel & Casino
Wind River is a midpoint stop between Rocky Mountain Park and Yellowstone, and is the closest casino to Yellowstone Park, Grand Teton, and Jackson Hole.
Moab's Top Seven
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Closest Train Service to Rocky Mountain National Park
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South Park National Heritage Area
In the center of Colorado, the story of the West has been preserved, much as the settlers found it. Follow our itinerary from Denver through South Park and back.
Top 9 Colorado Hot Springs Soaking Spots
Colorado is blessed with naturally-heated mineral waters.
Stones that Hold Secrets
Discovered in the sands of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, oddly shaped stones play rock music.
Behind the Scenery of Rocky Mountain National Park
Pull back the curtains of history to find out how Rocky Mountain National Park came to be.
Erik Stensland, the Light Catcher
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The Mighty Arvada, Denver's Satellite Olde Town
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