By Debi Lander
mail@floridanewsline.com
The allure of the West can be strong. I’d heard that Cody, Wyoming, founded by namesake Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896, exceeds expectations. The authentic downtown, surrounded by wide-open landscapes, soaring mountains, and many Western-style activities, sounded terrific. And it was.
Cody frequently appears in national media “best lists,” with Travel & Leisure Magazine naming it “One of the Most Beautiful Towns in the U.S.” and “A Top Art Town.” The only negative I can think of is that Cody is somewhat difficult to get to for Easterners. I flew into Denver and took a bus. I could have flown to Billings or Cody, but the cost is higher. Once you arrive, you will want to stay.
I began with a Cody Trolley Tour to learn a little history and get a grasp of the town’s layout. Much of downtown is walkable. I wanted to learn about the famous showman Buffalo Bill Cody, so I headed to his original hunting lodge, where a reenactor told his tales. The Pahaska Teepee Lodge rests near the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone. When visitors traveled by horse and carriage, they’d spend the night at the lodge before going into the park. Cody wisely chose the location, as do many travelers today. The old lodge remains a tourist attraction, but you can stay on the property.
The town’s spectacular attraction is the Buffalo Bill Center for the West. The complex includes five museums under one roof: Whitney Western Art Museum (a Smithsonian affiliate), Plains Indian Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, and a research library. It’s so large that the admission (just $23) covers two days. You’ll see just a fraction of the 100,000 Western American artifacts, including exceptional paintings and sculptures, taxidermy animal displays, Buffalo Bill memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and videos. For a truly enriching experience, sign up for one of the museum’s Exclusive Tours, led by an expert curator. The tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the archives and allow you to tailor your visit to your specific interests.
Nearby, the Heart Mountain World War II Interpretive Center offers insight into a dark corner of U.S. history: the incarceration of 14,000 Japanese American citizens following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Another day, I explored the Firearms Museum. While I’m not a gun enthusiast, I have to admit I found these guns and rifles fascinating. I followed a timeline of their development and enjoyed seeing famous people’s firearms. The engraved details on some of the side plates look like works of art. Then, I went off to the Cody Firearms Experience, where I shot two guns at the indoor range. The facility maintains copies of many historic weapons, and I chose a 1795 Flintlock musket and a Gatling Gun. Firing the Gatling made me feel like a mobster; however, the musket was the most thrilling. My instructor loaded the gunpowder and the ball, and then I aimed and fired — with the gunpowder igniting close to my face.
I recommend dinner at the Cody Cattle Company while listening to live Western music. Then, walk over to the Cody Rodeo Fairgrounds. Rodeos run every night in the summer. First come the bucking bronco riders, then cattle roping, barrel racing, and lastly, the bull riders. What a fabulous show!
Lastly, I took a full-day bus trip to Yellowstone National Park. One day is not enough to see the geysers, bubbling mud pots, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The bison were plentiful and easy to spot. Bears were fewer, but I saw about eight to 10, just not up close!
If your inner cowboy is calling, head to Cody. (Information: https://www.codywy.gov)
Visit www.bylandersea.com to read more of local travel writer Debi Lander’s stories and travel tips.
Photos courtesy Debi Lander
Buffalo statue in Cody, Wyoming.
