Travel Trends: Cowboy Core Travel

City life has its benefits. An established and thriving infrastructure can mean greater convenience and access to amenities, information, and multi-cultural experiences. Still, the high population density and concrete landscapes can feel restrictive, even prison-like, when combined with the repetition of beige offices and fluorescent lights — no wonder so many people are scouring travel sites for last-minute vacation package deals.

A westward travel trend, motivated by the desire to escape the city's gray-scale lifestyle, is sweeping across the travel sector. Rugged mountain ranges, picturesque plains, and proximity to nature provide a stark and welcome contrast to the sometimes claustrophobic state of city life. 

For many, traveling west, even for a little while, represents an opportunity to chase and embrace their authentic selves, to reflect and participate in a transformative adventure. Specifically, travelers want to experience the independent, resilient, and self-reliant station of the romanticized American cowboy. Are you ready for cowboy-core travel? 

What Is Cowboy Core?

Cowboy core travel is about experiencing a niche lifestyle and aesthetic. The popularity of television shows like Yellowstone is driving the resurgence of the cowboy and Western fantasy. More than that, however, is a desire for simplicity and clarity following collective trauma.

Cities, despite being well-populated, thrive on anonymity, leading to a lack of community. That mental isolation can overwhelm even the best of us, promoting a desire for connection and self-aware authenticity.

The cowboys on TV and in stories are always self-assured, tough, and confident. They have an inspiring, purpose-driven love for the land and a connection with nature. Their strength of will and genuine self-awareness directly correlate with their relationship to the land, its thriving life, and their tight-knit communities. 

It's natural to desire that level of connection, to want to reconnect with yourself and an ancestral way of life. Cowboy core is a trend linked to the spirit of America and serves as a pathway to mental freedom and health for many.

Which Destinations Are Embracing the Trend?

So, if you want to embrace the cowboy spirit, where should you book your last-minute vacation package? If popular TV shows inspire you, consider Wyoming or Montana. Wyoming cities like Jackson or Sheridan offer stunning natural scenery or rich history. Jackson provides rugged charm and access to Grand Teton National Park. Sheridan has many historical buildings and an authentic cowboy feel. Montana is home to Missoula, which is close to Yellowstone's filming locations. The city also offers a mix of Old West history and modern Montana culture.

If you're interested in the Southwest, consider last-minute vacation packages to a top Arizona resort or Texas. Arizona is home to Tombstone, the Bird Cage Theatre, and the Old Tombstone Western Theme Park. Texas is home to Fort Worth and Houston. Fort Worth has the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and Billy Bob's Texas Honky-Tonk. Houston has strong ties to ranching and rodeo traditions, specifically the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Ready To Embrace Your Inner Cowboy or Cowgirl?

Maybe it's time to treat yourself. Give yourself a break from the concrete and isolation of city life. Cowboy core travel is an opportunity to embrace community, nature, and yourself. Find affordable last-minute package deals westward, and search for the fresh air of the American West. Are you ready? I know I am. 

See our favorite hotel deals in the western U.S.

By: Damian Ray