Cody, WY

I had read about Cody and though it would be fun to visit the famous Irma Hotel, watch a gunfight, and enjoy a buffalo burger.   There are tourist places galore at the NW entrance to Yellowstone, but I was hoping for a touch more authenticity by traveling down the road to Cody, about 100 miles from the park.

We educated the kids on Buffalo Bill Cody, an famous impresario of the late 19th Century.  His touring Wild West Show was known far and wide and solidified Cody's celebrity status.  He was one of the most widely known people of his era.  His show introduced the world to the sharpshootin' Annie Oakley.

Cody built the Irma Hotel to attract and entertain folks traveling to Yellowstone and the west.  It anchors a charming downtown full of shoppes, restaurants, and outfitters.

As we entered the central business district, we heard gunshots.  Karen wasn't sure if  a buffalo burger was worth the risk.  I assured her it was the tail-end of the nightly gun-fight, replete with cowboys and saloon girls in period costumes.  This all takes place before a decent-sized crowd on a wide street adjacent to the hotel. 
While I was disappointed the kids missed the action, I didn't let it deter us from waiting for a table at the boisterous restaurant. Stuffed animal heads adorned the walls and the large, wooden bar anchored the room.  The joint was jumpin', as I'm sure it is every night, immediately following the show.

We all enjoyed buffalo burgers and fries, and the quirky atmosphere of tourists in this landmark diner (OK, I'll admit I didn't officially interview the others)