Winter Adventure in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country
Winter has come to Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country! We’ve had a couple of good snowstorms this year, and as I write, the snow is falling outside my window. I’ve got a fire in the fireplace and a hot cup of tea… what a cozy day!
But if the idea of snow shifts your attention to what you can do outside, then there are countless hours you can spend enjoying the fresh air and sunshine here! Skiing, snowshoeing, skating, wildlife watching – you name it, it’s here. From Yellowstone National Park to the Beartooth Mountains to the community events happening this winter, there’s no end to the ways you can enjoy winter.
Consider this – Cody is home to the Yellowstone Quake Junior A Hockey team, and they’ve got home games clear through February! January 13-15 and 19-21, and February 3 and 10-12, come on down to the Riley Arena for some fast paced hockey action.
One of the best places in the world to go ice climbing is right here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country! Every February for the past 13 years, we’ve hosted ice climbers from all over the country who gather for the Waterfall Ice Festival. The falls on the South Fork of the Shoshone River are incredible, and if you’d rather watch than climb, there are several spots along the road where you can view the climbers’ progress. Contact Don Foote at 307-899-9937 for more information.
And of course, there’s Cody’s own ski area, Sleeping Giant. The folks who run this community-owned ski hill have worked hard to create fun events for the entire family. For example, March 9 Sleeping Giant is putting on a “Buffalo Jump”, and a Calcutta the next day. The prices are amazingly reasonable, and the crowds are minimal. Join the fun!
Meeteetse has its own winter festival – the 4th Annual Ice Fishing Derby is February 18 and 19, and folks from around the region compete to see who can pull the biggest and best fish out of Sunshine Reservoir. There’s a chili cookoff, hot drinks, and warm-hearted people to balance out the winter cold. To get more information, contact Meeteetse’s Visitor Center at (307) 868-2454.
And if you’re more inclined to stay inside during these warm winter months, we’ve got more than enough to keep you busy. In addition to our Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which can entertain anyone for days, and the newly opened Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center, there are community concerts, the Missoula Children’s Theatre will be in town in January, and Northwest College’s Jazz Festival takes place at the end of February. For a detailed calendar of events, visit our website.
If you’re visiting from out of town and are looking for a great getaway ideas, the www.yellowstonecountry.org site has a “Travel Deals” page that lists all sorts of really cool packages – places to stay while you play here in the winter. Check it out!
I guess it’s time for me to warm up my tea – mine has gone cold as I’ve been writing this. I hope to see many of you taking part in the many fantastic events going on here in Buffalo Bill’s Cody/Yellowstone Country this winter!
Until next time, I’ll be lovin’ life in Buffalo Bill’s Country!
Corrie N. Cody
