Things to do while visiting Cody, Wy
Cody is a town full of history, beautiful terrain, and plenty of opportunities to see incredible wildlife! Here is a list of a few things to do while visiting Cody, from a local.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West:
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West consists of five museums that are affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, meaning they share artifacts and resources. My favorite museum is the Draper Museum filled with information about the wildlife in the area categorized by elevation. It is an interactive layout that allows you to move up and down in elevation with the displays, enter beaver habitats, or hear the sounds of elusive animals that you may never encounter in the wild.
Buffalo Bill Dam:
6 miles west of Cody, the Buffalo Bill Dam was once the highest dam in the world. When it was finished in 1910, it was one of the first concrete arch dams built in the United States. Because of its construction, farming and ranching was made possible in the surrounding area. The dam is the source for irrigation of more than 93,000 acres.
It is not uncommon to be able to see water surging out of the reservoir beneath you while you walk across the the 325 feet tall dam. There are gates that release water from the reservoir into the canyon toward Cody. It is a beautiful canyon with a winding road (Hwy 14) that follows along the river.
White Water Rafting:
The Shoshone River is the river that flows in the canyon along Highway 14. There are several white water rafting agencies based out of Cody. White water rafting is an exillerating experience! I have went several times and love sitting at the front of the raft. The front is a great spot if you enjoy rowing and facing the water head-on!
The guides are trained to read the water and keep the party safe. Depending on how everyone feels, there are multiple “routes” along the river that have varying difficulties. There are also several stretches of river that are a little slower. These give a great opportunity to look up and see the canyon from a completely different perspective than the road.
East Gate of Yellowstone National Park:
If you follow the highway for 50ish miles, you will run into the East Gate of Yellowstone. After becoming the first national park in 1872, visitors have been able to visit amazing thermals, beautiful waterfalls, and see some of the most incredible wildlife sitings.
With the entirety of Yellowstone spanning over two million acres, there are an incredible number of things to do both outdoors and indoors. Due to the thermal nature of much of the park, most of the areas visitors can explore are either paved or made possible by board walks which makes much of the park very accessible.
Drinks on the Patio at the Chamberlin Inn
Local artists are commonly hosted here! Wednesday nights the last time I checked.
The Chamberlin Inn is a unique location in Cody. There is an elegance met with the historic nature of this building that provides an experience unlike any other.
With a bar just inside from the patio, you can enjoy drinks without missing a thing. They also serve flatbread pizzas from a local pizza truck. I personally went to school with one of her sons, so we are talking very local!
If you are looking to find a room or want to check out their menu, you can visit their website here!
Sitti’s Table: Gourmet meals inspired by the Middle East and Mediterranean
Sitti’s table is a local favorite! It has a seasonal menu that brings authentic flavors unlike the steak and potatoes you are going to run into at every other restaurant here. You should definitely try one of the steak houses while you are here, but if you have a few days and would like to diversify your experience, this is the place to go!
I personally love their coffees. The coffee itself is delicious and is always prepared correctly (which I appreciate being that I was a barista for multiple years). Beyond the coffee itself, they have exotic flavor profiles for specialty lattes that are spectacular.
More information Here!
Ranches along Highway 14
Along Highway 14, there are a number of ranches you can stay at and use as your base camp.
Cody Stampede Rodeo
This list wouldn’t be complete without listing the Cody Stampede Rodeo. The History of the Cody Rodeo can be tracked all the way back to Buffalo Bill, who founded the town. You may know him for his Wild West Show! You can find more information about this history here.
I have gone a handful of times and it is truly an experience. Many of the athletes are local but there are incredible amount of international athletes that travel all the way specifically to come to Cody to compete, which makes for an incredibly competitive pool of athletes.
I grew up with many of these athletes and have been around the people who handle the livestock. These animals are treated like athletes themselves and are a cherished part of the Rodeo.
If you have never gone to a rodeo before, this will probably blow your mind!
Family or Couples Portraits:
Of course, you might have noticed you are on a photographer’s website. While you visit Cody, make sure to make time for photos in our beautiful area! I have taken photos of families visiting from two different states, destination weddings from across the country, and couples taking bridal portraits on their way to Yellowstone.