The AARP National Spelling Bee will be held Saturday, July 13, 2013 in Cheyenne, Wyo.

In response to requests from previous spellers, we have added a "pre-Bee" workshop on Friday, July 12. The free workshop, "Gray Matters: Training the Grownup Brain," is open to the public and will feature interactive sessions that explain the impact of food, fitness, fun and relationships on brain health, and answer your questions. The workshop begins at 9 a.m. Mountain Time Friday, includes lunch, and concludes at 1 p.m.

In addition to the "Gray Matters" workshop, spellers and registered guests are invited to an opening reception for the Bee from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. Take part in a just-for-fun warm-up spelling exercise, and enjoy some refreshments before heading out for a night on your own.

LOCATION: The AARP National Spelling Bee will be held at Little America Hotel and Resort. Discounted room rates are available to AARP members who call the hotel at 1-800-445-6945 and ask for the “AARP” discount. The Gray Matters: Training the Grownup Brain workshop and opening reception for spellers on Friday will be held at the Cheyenne branch of the Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave., Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Other events:

• The schedule for a fully-narrated Historic Trolley Tour of Cheyenne is available at www.Cheyenne.org. The season begins early May and runs through the end of September.
  
• Weekdays: 1 1/2 hour tours leave at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4 pm, with stops at the Depot Museum, Nelson Museum of the West, Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming State Capitol Building, Botanic Gardens, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, and the Historic Governors' Mansion.
  
• Saturdays: 10 am tour and 1:30 pm tour. Sundays: 1:30 pm tour (includes free stop at the Old West Museum).
  
• Tour cost: $10 adults, $5 children (ages 2-12) or $15 Trolley Plus Adult Pass, which includes admittance to the Old West Museum, Nelson Museum, and Depot Museum.

There are free events happening in downtown Cheyenne Friday evening. We encourage you to contact Visit Cheyenne (cheyenne.org or 1-800-426-5009) to learn more about events and attractions in the area. They also provide free lodging assistance that fits your needs.

Cheyenne is 90 miles north of Denver at the intersection of Interstates 25 and 80. Cheyenne Regional Airport has Frontier and United Airlines flights operated by Great Lakes Aviation via Denver International Airport. Some spellers have enjoyed the drive from Denver, which usually takes less than two hours and provides a nice view of the Rocky Mountains.

If you want to expand your visit to include some of the great historical sites, state and national parks in our state, Wyoming Tourism can help you make the most of your trip.