"My Home- Cody, Wyoming" Top 5 Page for this destination Cody by KimberlyAnn

Cody Travel Guide: 113 reviews and 305 photos

I am so proud of my hometown. We travel a lot with our camper and when we come home, I always feel that this town is equal to the best, and better than most. We have so much to offer tourists! The best time of the year to visit is spring, summer, and fall. Be aware that summer is when we are most crowded with tourists, but some things we have to offer such as the nightly rodeo are only open during prime tourist season. If you choose the less crowded times of spring and fall, check with Yellowstone if you plan to visit the park to see what the plowing (spring) and fall closure dates are. You cannot drive into the park from our gate (East Gate-50 miles up a beautiful valley) in the wintertime. Cody is also a nice place to live. We are a town of about 9,520 people, and Cody is the county seat of Park County, which contains about 28,205 people. We are about 106 miles south of Billings, Montana. Cody, Wyoming lies at an altitude of 5,095', has an annual average temperature of 46 degrees F, and about 300 days of sunshine a year. We have no state or local personal income tax, no state or local corporate income tax, no state or local inventory tax, and our sales and property taxes are some of the lowest in the country. If you enjoy wide open spaces, and wish to get away from the crowds, then Wyoming is the state for you. We have an average of five people per square mile, with a population of barely 500,000 people in the entire state.

If You Only Have a Day

Buffalo Bill Historical Center

If you have a day to spend in Cody and see nothing else, be sure to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. In 2008 the BBHC partnered with the Smithsonium Museum in Washington D.C. Under this partnership the BBHC and the Smithsonian will share artifacts and artworks. On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center was presented with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service at a White House ceremony. This is the nation's highest honor for museums and libraries. In January, 2012, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center was listed as one of America’s “favorite museums for group travelers” by the National Tour Association, tying for third place. First place went to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, second place went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center tied with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for third place. The BBHC is a premiere museum, and even if you are only a little interested in museums, this is a don't miss. You may even be lucky enough to arrive during one of its special events such as the annual Indian Powwow that is generally scheduled for the third weekend in June, the annual Buffalo Bill Invitational Shootout generally around mid August, the Cowboy Musicians, Twilight Talks, or special exhibits.

While visiting the museum, try not to miss out on seeing our live bird program! I may even be present, as I am a bird handler for the program, one of my favorite things in life! In 2011, this educational and fun program, the Greater Yellowstone Raptor Experience was begun. The program features live birds of prey, plus a turkey vulture. If you visit the museum, be sure to look for us, as we not only offer programs, but can also often be seen with the birds in the garden, or within the museum itself. Ask us questions, and attend one of our programs. This is one of the highlights that you will long remember. If you wish to find out more about this program visit my travelogue, The Greater Yellowstone Raptor Experience. You may also enjoy my short video, Isham the Red-tailed Hawk’s Photo Shoot, which includes the hawk, and Melissa Hill, the assistant curator in charge of our Greater Yellowstone Rapter Experience educational program; my slide show, Meet the Greater Yellowstone Raptor Experience’s First 4-birds.; or short video, The BBHC’s Great Horned Owl’s Flight Lesson.

The Buffalo Bill Historical Center's Draper Museum of Natural History has begun the DraperNHMuseum's Channel on Youtube. You can visit this channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/DraperNHMuseum

My Purchases in Cody

Cody has a lot of shops dealing in Indian and Western items. These are a few of the Indian items I have purchased in Cody.

View this link for live web cams of Cody, that reload every 3 seconds:

http://www.codywy.org/webcam.htm

Pros and Cons

Pros:A small western tourist town that feels and is more real than touristy; with low crime, friendly people; and a beautiful, clean environment.
Cons:This is fine with me, however a tourist needs to know that the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park is closed to wheeled traffic in the winter.
In a nutshell:Cody is a small town snuggled up against the mountains, with lots to do and see. The locals are friendly and helpful and will try to make your stay an enjoyable one.

Intro Updated Mar 28, 2012
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Reviews (66)

Elegant Accommodations in a Downtown Hotels (12)

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A Nationwide Chain Hotels (12)

The King’s Inn is a two floor accommodation that was built in 1994, and remodeled in 2000. The inn is an adobe style... more travel advice

Luxury Hotel Hotels (12)

The Cody Hotel advertises itself as Luxury Lodging in the Heart of the American West. When I checked it out, I was quite... more travel advice

Love the Elk Statue in Front of the Inn - Cody

A Comfortable Inn Along the Road to... Hotels (12)

The AmericInn Lodge & Suites contains 65 smoke-free rooms and suites of different styles. The standard room has a choice... more travel advice

Shopping (10)
See All Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s Store
Nightlife (4)
See All Check This Out if You Are In the Valley
Restaurants (7)
See All A Small Restaurant In A Beautiful Valley
Things to Do (11)
See All Draper Museum of Natural History
Favorites (3)
See All So Nature is Calling
Off The Beaten Path (8)
See All A Scenic Drive to the Medicine Wheel

Travelogues (6)

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Comments (97)

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glabah Apr 6, 2011 at 10:44 PM

What? If you don't get hypothermia, then what is the point of getting in the water?: "Diving in Puget Sound" - Alki Point Tip by glabah
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Greggor58 Oct 24, 2010 at 2:58 PM

Your home town is surrounded by some pretty and natural,rugged country and loaded with lots of interesting and historical things to see and do.I enjoyed getting to know Cody a little! As a child I couldn't EVER get my hands on enough Louis L'Amour books.
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Nemorino Aug 28, 2010 at 1:09 PM

Detailed & informative tips on your home town! The 5 museums of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center all sound really impressive. Thanks for including the 1903-1908 stage coach stop and especially the insightful tip on the WWII Relocation Camp.
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Dester Mar 10, 2010 at 4:24 PM

So many great tips! I found some new places to visit and really enjoyed going back to some. You're a heckuva tip-writer!
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BruceDunning Aug 2, 2009 at 3:21 PM

The great wild west and its sons of history. Great comments.
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balhannah Aug 21, 2008 at 3:14 AM

Hi! Saw your profile and just thought I would say hullo, and that we visited your town on a Trafalgar National Parks tour. Enjoyed Cody and the National Parks.
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Islander029 Jul 22, 2008 at 9:26 AM

I don't believe that there are or ever were Jackalopes, but I do think its a fun thing. I remember some tv show I used to watch as a kid that had a Jackalope on it...do you know where I could get a postcard of that? thanks :)
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dodynettles Jun 23, 2008 at 11:21 AM

Kimberly, just wanted to thank you for your page on Cody, My husband is from Cody, and his family still lives there, it is one of the most awesome places I have ever been. Yellowstone is fantastic! I hope to retire there one day.
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Kaspian May 6, 2008 at 1:42 PM

Wow, great page--I would love to visit your hometown!! LOVE IT!! That Old Trail Town Museum is so cool I think I would faint! ....Yes, I'm a bit of a Wild West fan.
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RickinDutch Jan 29, 2008 at 9:18 AM

Nice job on your hometown. Didn't know teachers in WY could retire early and still eat! Must have taught in Alaska for a while? Birthday greetings from Kodiak.