Location: Cody
Top Things to do in Cody
10 Things to Do in Cody That You Shouldn't Miss
Cody, named for its legendary founder, Buffalo Bill Cody, remains as full of Old West adventure as it was during the days when Bill himself roamed Wyoming. Serving as the Eastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park, Cody is just a few miles away from pristine wilderness where actual buffalo can still be seen. The town attracts tourists and cowboys alike with reenactments of famous shoot-outs, restored frontier buildings and with the Cody Stampede, which the town hosts every July 4.
Restaurants in Cody
1. Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Hours: Mar 1 – Apr 30: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily May 1 – Sep 15: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily Sep 16 – Oct 31: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily Nov 1 – 30: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily Dec 1 – Feb 28: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday – Sunday Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s days Since 1927, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West has been committed to the greatness and growth of the American West, keeping western experiences alive. The Center of the West, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, weaves the varied threads of the western experience-history and myth, art and Native culture, firearms, and the nature and science of Yellowstone-into the rich panorama that is the American West. The Center of the West has been honored with numerous awards, including TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence for four years running.
Reviewed By travelingandkids - USA
If you are short on time, in just a couple of hours, you could cover the highlights from this museum. It would provide a nice overview of Buffalo Bill, Native American culture, western art, historic guns and so much more!
2. Teton National Forest
Overall Ratings
5 based on 434 reviews
A popular forest for hikers and backpackers; you can even take a week-long horseback riding tour.
Reviewed By Barbara R - Erie, Pennsylvania
Breathtaking beauty, so majestic that pictures will never do them justice. We drove through the Tetons from our visit to Yellowstone. Looking back I wish we would have stayed longer. The time of the day we were there was very busy and crowded and the sites tha we stopped at were filled with cars and many other tourists circling around hoping to find a place to park. Really a place that should be explored!
3. Museum of the Plains Indian
Overall Ratings
5 based on 227 reviews
Reviewed By Tom K
Great job by this museum of neither falsely glorifying or denigrating either side, while telling historically and culturally accurate stories of the Plains culture and the impact white expansion had. This is an experience both educational and enjoyable.
4. Cody Firearms Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 551 reviews
Reviewed By casacontenta2 - Greeley, Colorado
by far the greatest collection of firearms in the west. Looked up makes and types, even has air rifles from over the world, a must see for those that want to learn more about firearms.
5. Shoshone National Forest
Overall Ratings
5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By Wayne K - Hamilton, New Zealand
Between Yellowstone East entry and Cody so you can't miss if you are out that way. Quite different landscapes from the park or other areas. Looks like the country from the Cowboys and Indians movies we watched as kids. Amazing stuff.
6. Draper Natural History Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 147 reviews
Part of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, this museum features highly interactive exhibits that highlight geology, wildlife and human presence in the Great Yellowstone region.
Reviewed By Cedar880 - Fairfield, Connecticut
Everything is wonderful about the Draper Natural History Museum at Cody's world famous Buffalo Bill Museum but we especially enjoy the daily raptor shows. A variety of raptors are introduced by their knowledgeable handlers both inside and out, depending on the weather. This time we met a Turkey vulture (strictly speaking not a raptor), a peregrine falcon (fastest animal on the planet) and a golden eagle. The Draper also features dioramas of native wildlife and ecosystems. And so much more. Don't miss it!
7. Cody Dug Up Gun Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 425 reviews
Stroll through history while viewing over a thousand of relic guns & other weapons from many different time periods and locations including “America’s War of Independence, The Gold Rush Era, The U.S. Civil War, The Old West & Indian Wars, World War I, The Roaring 20’s and World War II”. The Cody Dug Up Gun Museum is one of Cody, Wyoming’s newest attractions and a great look at history for the whole family. Open to the public in the spring of 2009. The museum is a proud sponsor of the Cody Gunfighter’s Show at the world famous Irma Hotel (just steps away from our museum!) We are members of the Cody Chamber of Commerce and enthusiastic supporters of Cody’s historical attractions. Open 9:am – 9:pm - 7 days a week from May through September *WE ARE CLOSED FOR THE WINTER SEASON, SEE YA'LL AGAIN IN MAY OF 2018*
Reviewed By holmz - Big Lake, Minnesota
This was a very cool, unique display. Guns have been dug up/found all over the world, and they display them along a timeline, often with other items that have been found next to them (buttons, coins, etc.). It's run on a donation basis, so technically you could go for free...but don't! Give 'em some cash to keep it going, it's definitely worth the time.
8. Cody Nightly Rodeo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 269 reviews
Real live western family fun! See cowboys and cowgirls compete in all the classic rodeo events from bronc riding, bull riding, roping and more.
Reviewed By writedesign - Eagle Point OR
Great! We’re country folks but haven’t been to a rodeo in a long time. I have mixed feelings about rodeos... they’re hard on stock and people. This rodeo had the best stock we’ve ever seen. Super well fed, non-scarred. The events were more than complete, and some unique ones. It opened with a lively girls’ equestrian team on beautiful mounts. That was followed with a too long Jesus invocation... starting with the cowboys and ending with a prayer to our leaders in Washington. La la la la la.... I was very distressed by the audience reaction to the National anthem. About 70% were not putting their hand on their heart. Then I realized both my veteran husband and I had forgotten we were wearing baseball caps! Shame on us. OK, back to rodeo. It was very inclusive of girls and kids. There was a female riding a saddle bronc! Females rode heifers. Barrel racing had categories for youngsters, even an under 5 category!! That may have broken the 88 second record. Kids from the audience were called into the arena for a calf event. A clown did the hilarious 5-person Village People skit ‘YMCA.’ It was so startling, I thought it might spook the stock and looked. There was a large bay staged for the saddle bronc event that was wild-eyed about it. The cowboy scheduled to ride him was patting his neck and calming him!!! A bond between them, until the chute opened and the horse did what he was bred to do, throw the cowboy.
The rodeo was $20 each, tickets sold all over town and at the gate. We took the rodeo bus, which picked us up at our RV park. Made acquaintances with couples that had never been to a rodeo so it was interesting to hear their excitement. The next night, my husband wanted to go again.
9. Buffalo Bill Dam
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 740 reviews
Reviewed By Deb W - Denver, Colorado
The Buffalo Bill Dam is beautiful in the morning sunlight! There were some interesting facts at the parking area. Was wondering though where the actual visitor center was. Maybe we missed it.
10. Old Trail Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 810 reviews
Buildings have been reconstructed on the original site of the town, offering visitors a chance to walk through history.
Reviewed By Festie - Birmingham, United Kingdom
It was a great sense of history, though without the old people. The town is well set out and there is a natural progression round it. I would have liked to see more of the buildings set out was they would have been rather than just a shell, but still it was a very enjoyable experience and one well worth stopping for.
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