Some people visualize the perfect escape as a boot-wearin’, gun-slingin’, tabacco-spittin’, horse-ridin’ adventure in the Wild West. Although time travel isn’t an option (yet), taking a tour through the American Old West is, so why not entice your imagination, see new terrain and hear great stories with a trip rich in frontier heritage? Taking a vacation on your home turf helps you keep expenses in check, too.

From the Sonoran Desert to the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, plan to visit some of West’s historic landmarks this summer.

Arizona

Arizona is full of Old West history and fun. Start in southern Arizona and visit Tombstone, where you can learn about the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral and decide for yourself who the true villains and heroes were. Hit the mining towns of Douglas and Bisbee as well, then head north to historic Wickenburg, Prescott and Jerome, which feature real-life ghost town stories and gorgeous scenery. Don’t miss Sedona and Flagstaff, and end your Arizona tour at one of the natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon. According to TravelGuard, a new study found that the ancient canyon may actually be 70 million years old, opposed to the previously assumed five to six million years.

South Dakota

The great plains of South Dakota housed some of the Wild West’s most memorable events. At the Wounded Knee Museum, you can see artifacts and hear personal accounts about the infamous Wounded Knee Massacre, the last “battle” of the American-Indian Wars. This is where more than 150 Lakota men, women and children were murdered by the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment in a conflict about land disputes.

North of Wounded Knee is Deadwood, home to a classic Old West landmark: the exact spot where Jack McCall killed Wild Bill Hickok. Although the original No. 10 Saloon was burned down, much of its original furniture is preserved in the new Saloon No. 10 where it exists as a museum, bar and gambling hall.

Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park affords visitors an up-close encounter to frontier life. Yellowstone is home to the world’s largest collection of geysers and probably the most famous, Old Faithful. Preserved since 1872 as America’s first national park, the protected grounds of Yellowstone house wild grizzly bear, bison, elk and wolves. Visit the lake area’s historic sites: the fishing bridge, lake village and fishing bridge museum. Explore the archeological sites in Mammoth and tour Fort Yellowstone. Whether you prefer hotel treatment at Old Faithful lodge or want to camp by RV or tent, Yellowstone is brimming with activities and attractions. Absorb yourself in the natural wonders and history of the park to get a feel for how frontier life used to be.