Itinerary: A Girls Trip to Cody Yellowstone

Girls Away! Three Fun-Filled Days in Cody Yellowstone That You and Your Girlfriends Will Love

There’s nothing quite like a getaway with the girls, but choosing a destination that appeals to the shoppers, adventurers, explorers, museum-hoppers and foodies in your group can sometimes be a challenge. 

Situated in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, the destination of Cody Yellowstone will appeal to everyone in your friend group. With a wide array of restaurants, accommodations, attractions, adventures – as well as the world’s first national park – every friend in the group will find something to love about this classic Western vacation destination. 

Here are some ideas for three memorable days with the girls, including a day downtown, a day for adventure and day in Yellowstone.

Be a Poster Girl

Don’t forget to post! Let your other friends know about all your great adventures – and make them a little jealous – by posting on all your social media channels with these hashtags: #CodyYellowstone, #CodyWyoming, #BuffaloBill, #Yellowstone, #ThatsWY.

Stay

If you like it luxe, choose The Cody Hotel. Situated just a short distance from downtown, this is the place to be if you like upscale hotels and a little pampering. Rent a suite with a jetted jacuzzi tub and fireplace for an extra treat. 

If you want charm and to be able to walk to the shops, you’ll want to stay at the Chamberlin Inn. This historic boutique inn features artfully decorated one-of-a-kind rooms, including some that accommodate several people. Wind down after a long day with a cocktail in the cozy garden. 

If you like expansive views and quiet nights K3 Guest Ranch Bed & Breakfast is a good choice.  Formerly a working cattle ranch, K3 treats its guests to a Western breakfast cooked over an open campfire. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, stay in a sheepherder’s wagon. 

Explore more accommodations here, and learn more about the guest and dude ranches of the East Yellowstone region here.

Eat and Drink

Breakfast:

If crepes and fresh-roasted coffee sound like an ideal way to start the day, The Station by Cody Coffee is the place for you. This lively restaurant – formerly a gas station – is a great place to gather and discuss the day’s adventures. The Station is a great option if there are vegetarians and gluten-free eaters in your group. 

When your stomach is rumbling for a classic bacon, egg and biscuits breakfast, head to Granny’s Restaurant. Granny’s is also a good option for a homestyle dinner, with choices like meatloaf and apple dumplings.

Coffee aficionados will love Rawhide Coffee Co., a charming coffeehouse on Sheridan Ave. You and your friends can sip on your lattes and iced coffees while planning the adventures of the day. This is a sit-and-stay-awhile type of place, so if anyone must catch up on work stuff, this is a good place to set up shop, do your work thing quickly and then get on with the day’s fun. 

Lunch:

Sitti” in Lebanese means “grandmother,” and it was co-owner Porter Koury’s grandma, cookbook author Marie Koury, who inspired Sitti’s Table, an award-winning, celebrity-attracting eatery. The restaurant serves creative, fresh-made, Lebanese-inspired lunch fare, and it has attracted the likes of celebrities Guy Fieri – who featured the restaurant on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” – and actor/comedian Will Ferrell. Get there early. Tables in this tiny eatery fill up fast. 

Heading into the park or out for an adventure? Pick up a sandwich or salad to go at The Breadboard. Sandwiches are on fresh-baked bread, and there are plenty of options for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free eaters.  Like to spice it up? Try The Stoker, with turkey, jalapeno bacon and pepper jack cheese. 

Fans of locally harvested food will find terrific menu options at the Hickory Street Bistro in Powell, the region’s agritourism hot spot. 

Dinner:

One of Cody’s most popular nighttime restaurants is Trailhead Bar and Grill. The owners put a Western spin on their Northern Italian-inspired menu. While the pizzas are divine, diners will also find an array of creative choices like a gluten-free three-seed salad and charcuterie board for two. The Fungi pizza is a Trailhead fan favorite. 

Sometimes only tacos, tortillas and margaritas will do, and if that’s the vibe, steer your friend group to Zapata’s. Sit on the street-side deck. It’s a great spot for watching people stroll along Sheridan Ave. 

If you like some music with your meals, check out Blanca Tatanka, one of Cody’s newest dining hot spots. With fresh greens, handhelds, small bites and Wagyu beef specialties, there are plenty of food choices. And if you visit on a Wednesday or Friday night, you’ll be treated to live music as well. Try the trio of Wagyu beef sliders, with caramelized onions, goat cheese and bacon jam. 

What to Do

Downtown Day:

Sheridan Ave. is a meanderers’ dream, and you and the girls can spend an entire day trekking up and down Cody’s famous main street. 

Put on your walking shoes and keep your credit card handy. Be sure to stop at Proprietress, with functional bar sets, adorable tea towels and plenty of gifts; Mtn Girl Wyoming, with Western fusion clothing, gifts and home décor and Pretty Pink Buffalo, a woman-owned boutique with boots, accessories and all kinds of Wyoming-inspired clothing. 

If you’re shopping for something to remind you of your adventure in Cody, stop at the Cody Country Art League, featuring arts and crafts created by local artists. Or pick up a gift from the Wyoming Buffalo Company, family owned-and -operated by three generations of Wyoming women. 

When you and your friends have had enough retail therapy, learn a little more about the destination at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, with five museums under one roof. Since you will be heading into the park, we recommend you visit the Draper Natural History Museum, with innovative exhibits about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. 

Then cap downtown day with a leisurely glass of wine in the museum’s garden.

Adventure Day:  

Whether you and your friends want to get physical with a hike, horseback ride or a rafting trip, or if you prefer something a little more culturally experiential, you’ll have a lot of choices here.

Outdoor rec:

You can raft the Shoshone River with Wyoming River Trips, co-owned by Elyse Guarino, an outdoor educator with a commitment to responsible recreation. Or take a horseback trail ride at the Bill Cody Ranch, one of the largest riding facilities in the region. There are endless hiking trails around Cody as well. Stop at Sunlight Sports and grab a trail map and chat with the friendly staff about your best options. Or you can arrange your own personal hiking guide with Hiking Buddy. 

Experiential adventures: 

If you and your friends are feeling artsy, take a one-day workshop and learn to bead pillows or make wooden spoons with artisans at By Western Hands. If you’re feeling feisty, you might want to test your shooting skills at the Cody Firearms Experience, with an indoor shooting range where you shoot your choice of replica guns from the Old West. Or, take a guided Exclusive Tour with a staffer from Buffalo Bill Center of the West, who will provide a deeper understanding of the exhibits on display in each location. 

Yellowstone Day: 

You’ve made it to Yellowstone day. We recommend you and your friends get up early, gas up, stock up the car with snacks and water, power up with some coffee and breakfast to go, pick up some lunches from The Breadboard and head out via one of the two Scenic Byways from Cody to Yellowstone. 

Enter the Yellowstone National Park northeast gate via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. This curvy, stunning route climbs Dead Indian Pass with dramatic vistas of the Clarks Fork Canyon and Sunlight Basin before entering the park in Lamar Valley, known as “America’s Serengeti” because of the abundance of wildlife. 

Keeping in mind that Yellowstone’s roads form a “figure 8” pattern, you’ll be entering the park at the upper loop. From there, you have choices. We recommend a drive through Lamar Valley and stop at Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces before turning south towards Norris Geyser Basin. Then head across the top of the upper loop to Canyon Village and be sure to stop at the Lower Falls overlook of Artist Point. Continue south towards Yellowstone Lake and stroll the elegant lobby of Lake Yellowstone Hotel, the oldest hotel in the park. Then head out of the park over Sylvan Pass and through the East Gate for the 53-mile drive back to Cody along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway. 

Tips: Download a free app called TravelStorys for GPS-triggered audio tours of the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Also, there are numerous ways to route a one-day tour of Yellowstone National Park, so follow your group’s interests. If you want to see geysers and other thermal features, visit the Upper Geyser Basin and walk the boardwalk that circles Old Faithful as well as nearly 150 other geothermal features. If you love history, don’t miss the Visitor Centers and other stops such as the Museum of the National Park Ranger. 

Back to Cody: 

After a three adventure-filled days in Cody Yellowstone, cap your fun with stroll along the Sippin’ Trail and discover why Cody was named for the best small town beer scene in the U.S. Download the free Sippin’ Trail app and enter your stops along the way for free prizes that will be mailed straight to your home after you return. 

Ready to get your girls’ trip out of the group chat and into the Wild? Get your free vacation guide today and start planning!