The key to having a perfect winter holiday is planning. If you’re thinking of skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling or ice climbing in Cody and the nearby areas, then preparation is key. This is a key holiday travel season, so it’s best to make travel plans and book accommodation early. If you can travel in early December or early January instead of the peak Christmas period, then you might make some savings.

One of the most important things is to have the right clothing. It may be cold outside but that doesn’t mean that you have to freeze. Long underwear (top and bottom), wool or wool blend turtleneck sweaters and socks, ski pants, warm hats and gloves will make the difference between icy misery and a wonderful time. A lightweight, water-repellent parka will top off your outfit.

Check the options for eating near where you are staying. You might want to prepare your own food, but if you don’t you will need plenty of variety. In Cody’s restaurants, you can enjoy not just steaks (this is cattle country), but wonderful cuisine from around the world.

Finally, make sure you take any essential medications and an ATM or credit card. That way you will be prepared for any emergency that might arise.

Living in Wyoming where several of the biggest and best professional rodeos are held it seems like we are all fans of this exciting event.  In the past several years we have had the pleasure of watching a local cowboy have big success in the bull riding event. Now his younger brother is an up and coming competitor in the saddle bronc competition. It has given us a sense of pride to watch the success of these two Powell boys so determined to be contenders in the rodeo arena. Equally impressive, the third brother who is not a rodeo competitor, is serving our country in his second tour of duty in the Middle East. These brave and couragous men were recently together at a rodeo event in Casper.

Check out the story and watch the video at http://charliescowboyblog.blogspot.com/

To learn more about Rodeos in Cody, Wyoming click here

Born in 1846, Buffalo Bill grew up in Kansas. A Civil War soldier and a scout during the Plains Wars, he claimed to have done several other jobs. Apart from hunting buffalo, he was most famous as a showman. After appearing in others’ shows for a number of years, he founded Buffalo Bill’s Wild West in 1883. This was a touring circus show with performances, races, sideshows and appearances by colorful Western figures.

The town that’s named after him was founded in 1895. Buffalo Bill had passed through the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming in the 1870s and liked what he saw so much that he returned almost 20 years later to found a town. Buffalo Bill had a colorful life and was involved in many business ventures, many of which eventually failed. He died in 1917 in Denver, Colorado. His name lives on as a symbol of the old West and in shows such as Annie Get Your Gun.

To get a glimpse of what life was like for the pioneer farmers, visit Powell, named for explorer Major John Wesley Powell. This is an agricultural area, which is made lush by the waters of the Buffalo Bill Dam. The Homesteader Museum is a great place to stop and see memorabilia from Powell’s early history. You can even try out the caboose!

Explore other aspects of the area’s early history in Meeteetse. This is a great place to see wildlife and to roam the areas walked by Buffalo Bill, Butch Cassidy, Amelia Earhart and others. Now famous for ranching, Meeteetse also boasts a mining ghost town.

And let’s not forget Yellowstone National Park itself. The eastern entrance is a scenic route, while the park itself is full of natural wonders, including Old Faithful, beautiful waterfalls and the Yellowstone Grand Canyon.

On Friday, November 14 the two-time Grammy Award winning “Riders in the Sky” will perform a special concert in Cody. Christmas the Cowboy Way will begin at 7:00 pm at the newly remodeled Wynona Thompson Auditoruim. The Chamber has partnered with local lodging properties and are offering two  tickets for the show plus overnight lodging for 2 for $99.00.  That is a such a good package!|

We invite you to come to Cody spend the night (or two) and enjoy these Grand Ole Opry members as they sing your favorite holiday tunes. 

Tickets are available by calling 307-587-2777.

For many, fall is their favorite season. The hunters anxiously await the cooldown as they prepare to “bag the big one”. The landscape is everchanging as the leaves signal the season with bursts of gold, red and orange, the geese head for warmer locations and the Big Horn Sheep return to lower ground to entertain onlookers.

Although you can’t watch a rodeo or take a raft trip this time of year there are still lots of things to do. Take a drive on one or all of the three scenic drives in the area that each offer wildlife watching, beautiful fall follage and breathtaking vistas. Visit the five museums of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, shop the local merchants for unique western furnishings and art, enjoy wonderful restaurants, visit a spa or see a movie. The lodging is very affordable and we still have our western hospitality hats on! Come see us!

The Buffalo Bill Museum looks at the personal and public lives of William Frederick Cody, Buffalo Bill. Find out about cowboys, dude ranching, life on the frontier and the Wild West. There’s information about Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show which ran for 30 years and traveled around the world. William Cody was also famed as a hunter, so it’s fitting that the Cody Firearms Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of American firearms.

You can’t look at the history of the West without considering the Plains Indians. The Plains Indian Museum charts the traditions, cultures, lives and histories of the Plains Indians then and now. Most of the collection consists of artifacts from the Cheyenne, Shoshone, Crow, Arapaho and Lakota from the 1880-1930 period.

Other museums within the Buffalo Bill Historical Center are the Whitney Gallery of Western Art. This museum has a wide range of works by respected artists. It’s currently closed for refurbishment and will reopen in June 2009. However, a temporary gallery is open on the lower level. The Draper Museum of Natural History opened in 2002 with the aim of presenting a wider perspective on the American West.

Explore Buffalo Bill’s Historical Museum and many other museums located in Cody, Wyoming

Horseback is a great way to explore the region. You can take a guided tour or spend a day at a dude ranch and ride out from there. With miles of trails, there’s always somewhere to explore. The Shoshone National Forest and Yellowstone National Park are just two of the possible destinations in this area. This is a mountainous area, so consider doing some rock climbing as well.

Not all the fun activities are on land; there’s also plenty to do on the water, such as fishing for trout or spending half a day floating through the Shoshone River Canyon. If you prefer your thrills on four wheels, then consider some off road excursions through the hills and gorges. Even the winter months won’t cramp your style, as there are plenty of winter sports on offer in Cody and neighboring towns.

The tour includes a wealth of information about Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley, as well as the thrilling bank robbery by the Hole in the Wall gang in 1904. See where the Crow Indians lived, visit the DeMaris hot springs and view the wildlife (mostly deer, with the occasional bear) as you go past.

Other sights on the tour include:

• the historic downtown area
• the Irma Hotel
• Buffalo Bill Dam
• the rodeo grounds
• the west’s largest model railroad, Tecumseh Miniature Village
• pioneer homes, and more

You can even hear clips of Buffalo Bill himself. Don’t miss this tour.

Just driving to the area is an experience in itself, as you can pass through scenic routes and towns such as Powell and Meeteetse. Once you’ve arrived, it’s time to start seeing the sights. Don’t miss the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. With five museums, it will take you a while to see everything that’s on offer. Luckily your admission ticket is valid for two days, so you won’t have to miss anything.

If you’re visiting between July and September, then don’t miss the Cody Nite rodeo, held nightly. It’s a thrill a minute, especially when it’s time for the final bull riding event. Earlier in the evening, watch out for gunfight reenactments at the Irma Hotel. It’s your chance to experience the Old West.

Wyoming is great for those who love the outdoors, so consider exploring the area on horseback, taking a half day fishing trip or checking out the wildlife. You won’t be disappointed with your vacation in Yellowstone Country.