Finding the right fit for you and your family while on your vacation is key to really enjoying your vacation. Have fun and enjoy your stay!

This is an example of what you can find in the Cody Wyoming Visitors Guide —>>>

 Campgrounds within 52 miles of Yellowstone Park:

Absaroka Bay

– Located on the south end of Cody, Absaroka Bay features nice views of the Cedar and  Rattlesnake Mountains. Beck Lake  is basically right across the street. You can access Beck Lake park for walking or fishing with a short 3 minute drive or 10 minute walk. The Absaroka Bay camp site includes areas for tents, campers or RV’s.  Hot showers and laundry on site. The roads are blacktop, and the pads are gravel. Each site has green grass and a picnic table. Ice and WiFi on sight.  Located right across from Taco Johns, K-Mart, Beck Lake, McDonalds, and BK so you won’t go hungry! 2002 Mountain View Drive (top of hill, right beside Burger King) (800) 557-7440 (307) 557-7440. Website: http://www.cody-wy.com/indexF.htm

Ponderosa Campground

– This definitely offers the best location for those who want to tour the Cody area! The Ponderosa is within walking distance to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and to downtown shopping and dining. Lots of spaces. Full RV hookups that include cable TV and Wi-Fi, very clean laundry room, bathroom and showers. A lot of trees that offer shaded spots. Heated cabins and grassy tent areas also available. For the more adventurous stay in one of the Tepees! Gift shop, pool tables, video arcade and nightly rodeo shuttle. 1815 8th Street (307) 587-9203 http://codyponderosa.com/

KOA

– 3 miles from downtown Cody, the KOA has a lot to offer. Starting on Thursdays is Bingo, Friday is ice cream social time and Saturday is S’mores night! Everyday fun  includes the inground swimming pool, hot tub, separate wading pool for tots,  game room, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and sand volleyball court. Also nightly Rodeo Shuttle. On site amenities include, laundry room, restrooms and showers. All you can eat pancakes for breakfast. RV sites are gravel – Cabins and tent areas are also available. 5561 Greybull Highway (800) 562-8507 (307) 587-2369 http://koa.com/campgrounds/cody/

Parkway Trailer & RV Park

– Level sites, trees and some shade clean restrooms and showers. Nice laundry facilities electric, water and sewer. 132 w Yellowstone Ave (307) 527-5927

Yellowstone Valley Inn

– 18 miles west of Cody, 32 miles from Yellowstone. Camper and RV park is in desert area, entirely gravel, level sites, grassy areas for tents. Laundry, outdoor pool. hottub. Restaurant and Saloon on site. Wi-fi, Can’t be beat for its’ absolutely 360 degree amazing mountain views. Many extras http://www.yellowstonevalleyinn.com/

North Fork Campground

14 miles west of Cody first left past the reservoir.  This campground is a large grassy area right under Sheep Mountain on the north shore of Buffalo Bill dam. Bathrooms, picnic areas, fishing. Tents, campers RV’s . Awesome views. http://www.publiclands.org/explore/site.php?id=1511

Wapiti Campground

= For those who like to be right smack in the forest. You will be within walking distance of Shoshone River for easy access for bird or wildlife watching, fishing and hiking. 20 electric RV hook ups on the right side as you enter. Each spot includes, picnic tables, fire pits, bear boxes, (grizzly and black bear country – carry bear spray) outhouses, water spigots, fishing.  30 miles west of  Cody. on the Shoshone River 2225 HWY 14-16-20 – Look for signs. http://www.publiclands.org/explore/site.php?id=1545

Green Creek Inn

– Wapiti valley, 20 miles west of Cody. Quiet RV Park with full hookup sites -water/electric (30 & 50 amp) with sewer. Sites are level, wide and do not have any satellite TV obstacles. Guest coin-op Laundromat is available. A playground and  large grassy areas for family fun. Amazing views. Located just 30 miles from Yellowstone Park East Gate. Right off the highway but without the highway noise.. 2908 North fork Highway 877-587-5004 Call ahead – limited space and rooms  http://www.greencreekinn.com/

This is what I learned about this little town I live in. It’s amazing! There are so many things to do here that if I was vacationing I would absolutely come to Cody! Especially if I lived overseas or in a big City. Yellowstone is only 52 miles away.  What seems like a hour drive takes about two. The landscape is so gorgeous that you really don’t want to drive very fast or you may miss it. There are many things to see along the way too.

The Smith house. Weird but absolutely fascinating to see. Your driving along in the Wapiti Valley and taking in the mountain vistas. The views are phenomenal,  when all of a sudden looming to the left of you, sitting on a hill is this weird monstrosity of a house.  The Smith Mansion.

And you’re thinking WTH is that? If your wondering the same thing here is some information about the Smith house. I found Sunny Larsen’s web site, very interesting to know that she is in the process of restoring it.

The History- Francis Smith began construction  of the mansion in 1973 with a dream. He wanted  to create a home that would naturally fit into the beautiful Wapiti Valley, ie: all wood and majestic. Well, Mr. Smith died in 1992 while working on the mansion and it was not finished and stood for a long time untouched. His granddaughter, Sunny Larsen is the new owner and is currently restoring the Mansion. She has created the Smith Mansion Preservation Project. Amazing! Click on the picture above and read more about the Smith Mansion Preservation Project.

Ok, back to the story. As I was researching Cody I found out that Cody has a little more than 800,000 visitors each and every year. Visitors that stay in Cody for one – ten days just to take in the views and visit Yellowstone. That is a lot of people! I’ve run into people regularly, who when they find out that I actually live here start asking me a ton of questions. Where is the best place to eat? How long does it take to tour the museum? Where’s the post office?

Well, now it was my turn to ‘play tourist’ and ask the questions. I literally drove all over Cody visiting all the hotels, motels, restaurants, gift shops, white water rafting shops and smoke shops. I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which is absolutely lovely, I visited all the city parks and I drove up the NorthFork Hwy through Wapiti Valley to the east gate of Yellowstone and renewed my seasonal pass.

I met some lovely business owners who were more than happy to show me around and offer me vital information,  and then I  had some business owners and employees who were so busy yapping with their co-workers or on their cell phones who completely ignored me without any kind of acknowledgment that they ever saw me. Interesting.

I didn’t mention the negative things in my book,  giving the place the best write up, as minimal as it was, that I could. I focused on the positive highlights and avoided the personalization of my visit as much as possible.

Yes, it has been an adventure and a fun one at that. As for the Amazon Publishing process? Well, it was difficult at first but somehow I got through it. The next one will be much easier I’m sure. The next one? Yes, I will be doing a Red Lodge Visitor Guide, a Northfork Hwy tour and then the big one, Yellowstone Visitor Guide book. I’m stoked! Hopefully it won’t take me 4 or so months to get it done!

About Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide - This book was created for Amazon Kindle users and app users who prefer to carry their libraries in their pocket or have their books ever ready on the desktop, laptop, iPhone, iPad or Android. The Kindle form makes it so easy for readers to navigate throughout the book to find the information they need fast.

The Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide book is a handy little reference guide for anyone that is new to Cody. If you want to go sightseeing but don’t know where to begin, I highlighted all of Cody’s attractions. The book has vital information about each place, a short narrative describing what they will see or do, with phone numbers and addresses of each place. The only thing missing in the book is a map of Cody, but, I am working on breaking up the major sections of Cody and will update the book before the 2012 vacation season starts. So a digital map will be available.

Sometimes the unexpected happens, like a tire blowout or engine trouble. If you need a mechanic, the Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide will help you to find one fast! The Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide is a handy dandy little reference guide showing you all that Cody has to offer. Stuck without a RV spot? Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide can help you with that! Need a cheap place to lay your head? Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide will tell you the best spots in town. Want something old and historical? How about a 5 star uppity up hotel? A wonderful updated historical Inn? Yup! Got that too.

The Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide leaves out very little, except the local fishing hot spots! But, that will also be available in the 2nd edition, Spring of 2012. (Working on that)

So, if a Cody Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park trip is in the cards for you, pick up Cody Wyoming Visitor Guide and start planning your trip. Map out the many attractions and historic sites you will not want to miss.

On Sale Now at Amazon.com

Aside from it’s historical significance and mouth watering food, the Irma Hotel and Restaurant is best known for it’s Cherry Wood Bar. Currently valued at $100,000+ the famous bar was a gift given to Buffalo Bill from Queen Victoria in 1900. 

Queen Victoria was a friend and a fan of Buffalo Bill. She valued and admired Buffalo Bill’s charisma and generosity as he put on Wild West shows free of charge for the orphans of Great Britain and France. His stunning and awe inspiring shows where quite the adventure of the day, drawing in mass crowds overseas with his daring western stunts. Buffalo Bill gained many fans and admirers as they witnessed the stunning – never before seen - Native American horse manuvers and gallent performances.

The Cherry Wood bar was made in France and then transported to New York by steamer. From New York it traveled by rail car to Red Lodge Montana. From Red Lodge it traveled 2 weeks over mountains and rivers on a horse pulled freight wagon before it was finally delivered to Buffalo Bill in Cody. Quite the trip in those days.

In the early days, the Irma Hotel’s restaurant was once a bar room that featured billiards, booze and cards. The bar room is gone and has been replaced by a stunning dinning area that offers you a full relaxed dinning atmosphere. The popular Prime Rib Buffet (the best in town) is served during the summer season and has something for every taste bud. You can also enjoy the breakfast and lunch buffet before you set out for Yellowstone National Park.

When in Cody Wyoming, make sure you stop in and tell the staff at the Irma Hotel Hello. You are welcome to browse the halls, restaurant and lounge to look at the historical architecture and capture the feel of the west as it was. The hotel offers guests true authentic rooms including Buffalo Bills original suite where he stayed after his many Wild West tours. The historical rooms have been restored and modernized for convenience and relaxation.

In addition to the Buffalo Bill Suite you could book a stay in either the Jimmy Tuff Suite, Caroline Lockhart Suite, Vern Spencer Suite or Henry Dahlem Suite. Each suite holds it’s own little piece of history. Room 35 is also frequently requested as it’s become known as the most ’haunted suite’.

The Irma Hotel has its share of disembodied footsteps, unexplained  noises and dark shapes ‘caught out of the corner of my eye’  tales from regular patrons. Apparitions have been seen in various parts of the old hotel including the dining room. Rocking chairs rock by themselves, strange voices call your name and unseen spirits walk the halls in the Irma Hotel. WAPS (Wyoming Area Paranormal Society) did two investigations on the Irma Hotel and were not disappointed.

Hold on to your hats, your wallets and your ladies.

Besides the residential spirits that roam the halls of the Irma you can find a few residential gunfighters shooting it out in the streets. Starting at 6pm, Monday thru Saturday, the Cody Gunfighters are going to thrill you with their old fashioned gunfight! Comedy and guts meet in the street as the good guys and the bad guys (and ladies too) battle it out. 

Make it a point to stop in the Irma hotel. Step into the era of older charm and grace.

I love to watch the seasons change and spring is my favorite time of the year. I enjoy feeling the air blowing warmer and seeing the green grass sprouting new life onto the dry and barren land. Brown lifeless  trees regain their life again with new leaves and happy robins building nests. The sounds and smells of spring are just around the corner.

This year I plan to do more traveling into Yellowstone, up the Chief Josephs highway, Cooke City and Red Lodge. It’s been several years since I just traveled for pleasure and to film what ever caught my eye. A rare black wolf evaded me a few years ago on Chief Josephs Highway as I fumbled to insert batteries into my camera. (For some reason it just eats batteries even when it’s off) So this year I purchased a JVC Camcorder and will be ready. That elusive black wolf won’t catch me offgaurd again!

Bears Will Be Looking For Food

While we are anxiously awaiting the full effects of spring, Yellowstone Park is already active with grizzly and black bears scouring for food. With so much snow in Yellowstone, far more than in the last 10 years, finding food will not be so trouble free. Bears generally look for the ’easy’ meal such as; dead rotting carcasses of elk or buffalo that have died during the winter, berries (not out yet) and roots (that will be deeply buried this year). Of course there are the small and plentiful animals such as rabbits, moles or mice that can be caught fairly easy but would not very gratifying to a hungry bear. I am guessing that bears will be more extremely aggressive this year as they hunt, find and protect their precious food stashes.  

For those of us in the Cody area who are awaiting the opening of the East gate on May 6th, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some quiet peaceful times in the park and perhaps spot some early bear activity. The snow is still plentiful but crews are working diligently to remove it from the trails and roads. According to the Cody Enterprise, Sylvan Pass has about 22 feet of snow with 30 foot drifts. More than we have seen in previous years!

Yes spring is in the air and I am excitedly awaiting its arrival!

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With this guide discover the best outdoor activities, lodging, dining, and entertainment offerings in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks areas.

From the Back Cover

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AA meets at 1220 12th Street every night at 8 pm and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6 pm. AA also meets Monday – Saturday at noon and Sunday at 9 am. Newcomers and out o towners welcome!

Women’s Meeting – Saturday 10 am

Open meeting, public welcome Monday 6 pm and Friday 6 pm.

587-3024 for more information

It works if you work it. While your out touring the country there is no need to miss an AA meeting!

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Other Meetings:

Cody Al-Anon – Are you struggling with someone else’s drinking? Maybe Al-Anon can help. Been there done that! Friday 8 pm a in the basement of US Bank 1132 Beck Ave. Enter through the parking lot door. 587-2857 for more information.

Cody Narcotics Anonymous – Mondays 7 on Assembly of God Church basement- 1532 Bleistein Ave

Overeaters Anonymous – Call for the nearest location 307-899-4741

A cow elk gives birth right next to the Administration building at Yellowstone National Park headquarters in Mammoth Hot Springs! 

You can see how wildlife and people can live together harmoniously.  And I figure it is one of the few places in the Yellowstone area where a cow elk can safely have her calf without it being eaten immediately by a grizzly or a wolf! 

Ugh come on! Maybe if I pull this string like thing…

Maybe this position will help.

Yeah I know who your daddy is.. I’ll kill the bastard if I ever see him again!

It’s all instinct now

Oh yes a safe delivery! Who IS that nosey man taking pictures?

Up and at ‘em little one

How little and vulnerable

Alright Mom quit pushing!   Hey!     Quit!     I’m still wet

Ughhh Grrrrr Told you!

What?   Are?   These?    THINGS?    Whoa…  LEGS!   I   got   legs!

Hey what’s up mama? Mother and baby bonding

Kinda getting the hang of it.. hey lady whatch ya eating?

Dang right I’m hungry… that’s hard work. Ahhh love you too mom!

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When you don’t want to go out for an all day hike Beck Lake is the perfect spot to get away for an hour or more. Here you can enjoy quiet peaceful surroundings along with some amazing scenic Cody views. 

There is a walk way that surrounds both lakes so you can walk, jog, or bike along one or both. There are other things you can do at Beck Lake, fish, walk, jog, picnic, bike, swim or just kick back at the much shaded picnic area and enjoy.  Beck Lake is dog friendly so you can take your best buddy for a nice long walk around the lake, like my best buddy below.

Beck Lake closes to vehicles @ 9 pm.

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 Worship and Church Services in Cody

Baptist

First Baptist Church
Across From Dairy Queen 587-3687

Sunday School…….. 9:45 am
Sunday Service……. 11 am
Sunday Evening…… 5 pm
Wednesday  …………6:30 pm 

Grace Baptist Church
4 South Fork Rd / West Cody Strip & South Fork Road 587-6262
http://www.gracebaptistcody.com/

Sunday School……. 10 am
Sunday Services ….11 am
Sunday Evening …..6 pm
Wednesday …………6:30 pm

New Hope Southern Baptist Church
2202 Cougar Ave

Sunday School……… 9:45 am
Sunday Services ……11 am
Wednesday ………….6:30 pm

Yellowstone Baptist Church
99 Southfork Rd  587-5995

Sunday School …………..9:45 am
Sunday Services …………11 am
Sunday Night ……………..6:30 pm
Wednesday ………………..6:30 pm

Bible

Cody Bible Church
2137 Cougar Ave 527-4488

Sunday School ………..9:45 am
Sunday Services ……..10:45 am
Wednesday……………. 7 pm

Wapiti Valley Church
3122 North Fork Highway 587-4789

Sunday School ………….10 am
Sunday Service …………11 am
Wednesday ………………7 pm

Catholic

St. Anthony of Padua
1333 Monument Drive 587-2567

Saturday Latin Mass……………. 8:30 am
Saturday Regular Mass………… 5 pm
Sunday Latin Mass – 1st Sunday of Month 11″30 am
Sunday Mass ………………………8 & 9:30 am
Daily Mass Mondays 7:30 am / Tues – Fri 8:30 am
Holy Days ………………………….8:30 am & 5:30 pm

Christian

Church of Christ
1826 Stampede Ave  587-3311

Sunday Services: Bible Study ……10 am 
Services ………………………………..11 am & 6 pm
Wednesday Bible Study ……………6:30 pm

Cody Christian & Missionary Alliance
147 Cooper Lane East  587-3418

Sunday Early Worship  ……………8:45 am
Sunday Services…………………… 11 am
Sunday School…………………….. 10 am
Monday – Divorce Care ………….7 pm
Friday    - Celebrate Recover…. 6 pm 

Cody Christian Church – New Beginnings
2637 Sheriday Ave 527-7431

Sunday School………….. 9:30 am
Sunday Services ………..10:45 am

Heart Mountain Cowboy Church -
Boot Jeans & Hats
948 Rd 7 Powell, Wyoming 548-6564

Tuesdays ………….7pm

Living Word Family Church
1701 Sheridan Ave – Holliday Inn 250-3832

Sunday Services ………..10 am

Mountain View Community Church of God
2926 Big Horn Ave 587-5437

Sunday Services…………….. 10:30 am
Sunday Childrens Church ….11 am
Sunday Evening Services ….7 pm
Wednesday …………………….7 pm

Episcopal

Christ Episcopal Church
Yellowstone Hwy (Codys West Strip) 587-3849

Sunday Services: ………..8 am & 10 am
Tuesday   …………………  12:05  pm     

Fellowship

Assembly of God “Loving God and One Another”
1532 Bleistein Ave    527-7339
http://www.codyassembly.org/

Sunday Services: ……….11 am & 6:30 pm
Wednesday ……………… 7 pm

Victory Fellowship Church
3219 Sheridan Ave 527-6231

Sunday Services…….. 10:30
Childrens Church…….10:30

Latter Day Saints

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
1719 Wyoming Ave 587-3855
1500 Heart Mountain St 587-4840

Sacrament Meeting…………… 9 am
Sunday School………………… 10:20 am
Primary ………………………….10:20 am
Priesthood Meeting …………..11:10 am
Young Women’s Meeting ……11:10 am
Wednesday Service  ………….7 pm

Luthern

Christ the King
1207 Stampede Ave 587-3025

Sunday Service: ………….9 am
Sunday School :…………. 10:15 am

Trinity Luthern Church
3401 Sheridan Ave  587-2436
http://www.codytlc.org/

Sunday School …………….9:15 am
Sunday Services………… 10:30 am

Methodist

Cody United Methodist Church
1405 Beck Ave 587-4430

Early Worship…………… 8:30 am
Sunday School …………..8:30 am
Sunday Services ………..11 am

Nazarene

Cody Nazarene Church
808 Skyline Drive 587-4397

http://www.codynaz.com/

Sunday Services ………….11 am

Pentecostal

United Pentecostal Church
#5 Nez Perce Drive  587-7511

Sunday Service …..10:30 am & 6 pm
Wednesday…….. …7:30 pm

Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church of Cody
2025 23 Street  587-2647
http://www.codyfirstpresbyterian.org/

Sunday Early Music …………9:15 am
Sunday Services…………….. 9:30 am

 Scientology

Christian Science Society of Cody
901 Sheridan Ave   587-0754

Sunday Services: ……………………10 am
Wednesday – Reading Room ……..2 – 4 pm
Saturday 2 – …………………………..4 pm

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Stunning high definition cinematography captures the sweeping beauty and extraordinary natural wonders of two of America’s premier National Parks. Llama trekking, wolf watching and geyser gazing are just a few of the out-of-the-ordinary activities that await you in Yellowstone. Go Inside Grand Teton National Park to saddle up for a working dude ranch, feel the rush of whitewater rafting and witness a staggering array of wildlife in America’s Eden.

(more…)

Our author, a longtime resident of the American West, hits all the highlights, from Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Teton National Parks to small old-west towns. He’s checked out all the best hotels and restaurants in person, and offers authoritative, candid reviews that will help you find the choices that suit your tastes and budget. You’ll also get in-depth advice on planning an active vacation to the area, recommendations on planning a successful family vacation; and (more…)

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