North of town, the National Museum of Wildlife Art traces the trend's roots with an impressive collection of Western masters such as Russell, Catlin and Rungius. The road leads into the Star Valley, a 50-mile stretch of vale surrounded by national forests. Indeed, the area's stellar attraction is the Star Valley Cheese Company at Thayne. Stops here allow chances to see a working cheese factory and sample the goods at a homey cafe. Anglers often lunch here and tell tall fish tales.
Pristine water is another of the area's draws.
The waters turn on and off at regular 18-minute intervals. The cold gushes of water, so pure they don't require chlorination, have refreshed Afton with crystal-clear libations since 1957. A bottle or two of the natural water might be a good idea for the final reaches of Highway 89. South of the tiny town of Smoot, the road exits Wyoming, zips into Idaho and heads toward Salt Lake City. The terrain takes on a desert-like demeanor, no more fully experienced than at Fossil Butte National Monument, an hour's side trip east near Kemmerer.