Cody Wyoming Vacation

Cody Wyoming Vacation

Probably the best bet is to make it a combined Yellowstone and Cody Wyoming vacation. We had the opportunity to workamp in Cody, spending our time off seeing the sights of legendary Cody and Yellowstone, our first National Park.

During a summer Cody Wyoming vacation, there is plenty to see and do in this charming western town. Take in the nightly Cody Rodeo for family fun. Or plan your visit around the biggest Cody event of the season - the Stampede Rodeo and a great 4th of July parade.

Be sure to allow at least a day in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Better yet, devote two Cody Wyoming vacation days to give the center the time it deserves.

The impressive Buffalo Bill Historical Center consists of five museums in one:
the Whitney Gallery of Western Art,
the Plains Indian Museum,
Draper Museum of Natural History,
the comprehensive Cody Firearms Museum,
and of course, the Buffalo Bill Museum where you can learn about the town's namesake, Buffalo Bill Cody.

More about western legends can be found on the Trolley Tour, which departs daily from Buffalo Bill's very own hotel, the Irma.

Even if you are not a serious shopper, be sure to allow time for the interesting and varied shops in Cody - fun browsing and some great deals. There are lots of good restaurants as you stroll along.

Be sure not to miss the excellent musicians at Dan Miller's Cowboy Music Revue. The tunes and heartfelt banter make the audience feel right at home.

53 Things to See and Do on a Cody Wyoming Vacation

As you can tell, there is plenty to do right downtown on a Cody Wyoming vacation. But venture a bit further down the road to the Buffalo Bill Dam and then the State Park with campsites set along the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Keep heading west along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway for about 50 wonderfully scenic miles and wildlife viewing -- all the way to the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Take time to see this magnificent first-ever United States National Park. Take your time to drive the park roads - the scenery is fantastic, and wildlife abounds. While we were workamping in Cody, we drove into the Park repeatedly since there is so much to see.

Get out and walk all the boardwalks through the thermal basins. See the numerous geysers, hot springs, colorful pools and fumaroles. Stop in the Visitor Centers to see the films. Be sure to pay a visit to the Old Faithful Inn to see the historic building along with the famous geyser.

Opportunities for fishing, hiking, white water trips and ranger programs abound. There are several campgrounds in the park. There is a lot of ground to cover.

Our best advice for a Yellowstone vacation is to allow as much time as you can (probably more than you think) and do some planning to get oriented to the park roadways and sights. The National Park Service maps and newsletter are a start. Spend some time on the Yellowstone NPS website, and stop at a Visitor Center for suggestions.

Since we were staying in Cody, we often drove into the park via the East Entrance and later in the day drove through the Lamar Valley to exit via the Northeast Gate. We then returned to Cody via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, an absolutely breathtaking road. The timing worked well, since we usually hit the Lamar Valley and Chief Joseph during prime wildlife viewing hours of dusk.