SIX REASONS FOR A FALL VISIT TO CODY YELLOWSTONE

A visit to Yellowstone National Park and surrounding communities like Cody, Wyoming is quite a haul from the Motor City but is well worth the drive. While it is often more convenient to make a road trip during the Summer, especially if you have children who are off from school, if you can make the time for a fall visit it is well worth the trek. Here are six reasons why you should make the effort to go on a Fall visit to the Cody Yellowstone area:

Fewer Visitors 

Traffic drops off when the kids go back to school. As long as most school districts follow the traditional calendar and have long summer breaks, most families will be back to their routines by September. Enjoy the scenic views without having the jostle with crowds!

Great Weather 

Warm – but not too hot – daytime temperatures followed by cooler evenings are typical in Cody Yellowstone. Low humidity and few rainy days help to temper the extremes as well. 

Bears are Hungry 

 The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is known for its grizzly and black bear populations, and as winter approaches these species kick their caloric intake into high gear as they prepare for hibernation. That means opportunities to spot them as they fatten up for the season. 

Elk have Other Things on their Minds 

Male elk court prospective mates by shrilly bugling and challenging other males to battle. Fortunate visitors can receive quite the show – from a safe distance, of course – as the bulls look to expand their harems. 

Fish are Biting 

Cody Yellowstone is renowned for its fishing. While seasoned anglers will tackle trout action in the streams in and around Cody on their own, novices might want to hire a fishing guide for their first foray. Fly fishing shops also offer maps and advice. 

Style and Art 

The most prestigious event of the year, Cody’s Rendezvous Royale is staged the third week of September. The event includes the nationally known Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale with Western-themed art, a quick-draw event, auction, Western fashion show, seminars, studio tours and a ball. 

Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as areas inside of Yellowstone National Park and the valley east of the entrance. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.

THREE AFFORDABLE WAYS TO BE A COOL DAD

Spring is here and before you know it so will be Summer weather. That means long days with energetic kids to entertain. Warm weather opens up all kinds of cool, fun, affordable (and educational) ways to utilize the "Great Outdoors" for making kids really happy. Here are three ideas that have kids learning life skills while also having a good time which will allow you to be a cool dad without breaking the bank to do it.

Take them geocaching 

Geocaching is basically a cross between orienteering and treasure-hunting. Essentially, you use GPS to guide you to caches of “treasure”. You can choose a geocaching route just for fun. Most of the time, however, there’s an element of exploration. That could mean finding out more about the local area or learning more about a topic (or both). 

The popularity of geocaching means that no matter where you live, you can probably find established geocaching routes somewhere nearby. If not, or if you want more, or if you just fancy something different, it’s easy to make your own. You can then integrate them with whatever your kids have been learning at school (or not, it’s up to you). Click here to start a search for a geocaching trail near you.

If you really want to push your kids, you could take away their phones and make them use just old-school paper maps and compasses. That could really help to develop their ability to navigate. 

Go fishing 

Fishing is one of the classic summer family activities. It’s also full of fun science and problem-solving strategy. For example, you could challenge your kids to tell you why you chose that particular spot for fishing. That could cover both safety and the types of fish you’re likely to find there (so ecology). 

You could also teach them the science (and history) behind the equipment they’re using. For example, one popular setup for bass is the Texas rig. Today, all bass fishers know it. When it was invented, however, it was a stroke of genius. You can push them by having kids compare different types of equipment for example the Texas rig versus the Carolina rig. 

 Grow your own food and cook it 

Even if you’re in a tiny apartment, you can still give your kids some kind of gardening experience. For example, you could have them grow herbs in a pot and sprouts on a window ledge. That’s a really cool way to teach them about the differences between growing in soil and hydroponics. 

Then when you take your kids grocery shopping, make it a fun experience for them and you. Go when you have time to take things slowly and explain to your kids not just what you’re doing but why. For example, why are you choosing some items of fruit and vegetables but not others? Why are you buying some items fresh and others dried, canned and frozen? 

Finish off the lesson in the kitchen by helping your kids to learn the science behind cooking. This is a whole lot of fun. It can also set them up for a lifetime of healthy eating and shrewd budgeting. Also, it’ll teach them how to help you out in the kitchen sometimes!