When planning your vacation itinerary, leave the attractions everyone else visits for last. Instead, focus on seeking out the hidden gems that others tend to overlook.

We have more than a few of those in Wyoming, starting with a national monument that not many people realize even exists. Located in the southwest corner of the state, you'll find it in the high desert amid hills and sagebrush that hide one of the richest archaeological finds in the country. It's a beautiful and fascinating place, and one of the most underrated attractions in the U.S.

There's a big butte filled with prehistoric history just off US-30 in the southwest corner of Wyoming.

Fossil Butte National Monument is located at 864 Chicken Creek Road just off US-30 outside of Kemmerer.

It's an intriguing place where countless artifacts have been found that paint an incredible picture of how different things used to be in the Cowboy State millions of years ago.

Though the area is now an arid high plains desert, it used to be a vast sub-tropical region.

You can spend hours inside the visitor's center.

It's brimming over with loads of the fossils that have been found here.

Many are of aquatic creatures such as fish...

...crocodiles...

...turtles...

...seashells, and many plants that seem sorely out of place in Wyoming.

And it's not only fossilized sea creatures that have been found here. Birds, bats...

...and insects are equally represented.

What's more, fossils of previously undiscovered species are being unearthed every day.

In December 2017, this specimen of a new species of insect was put on display.

If you're up for a hike, there are footpaths on the monument grounds leading up to the hills. You can also accompany a ranger to visit an active excavation site.

Though the landscape of the area is just below the lush green of the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Grand Teton National Park, it's starkly different, but still striking all the same.

There's even an old, abandoned cabin that used to serve as a home to one of the earliest fossil hunters in the state.

Known as Haddenham's Cabin, this tent-like structure was where David C. Haddenham stayed during the summers he was searching the area for fossils back in 1918.

Fossil Butte National Monument is one of those experiences that are as fascinating and fun as they are educational.

Have you visited Fossil Butte? What was your favorite part?

If you want more overlooked attractions to add to your must-see list, you'll want to take this Short Hike That Leads To One Of The Most Underrated Natural Attractions In Wyoming.