Have yourself a wild adventure for Valentine's Day with your special someone by going on a getaway to visit the scenic territory of Yellowstone National Park and the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse that neighbor it. Without the summer tourist crowds, winter is a great time to experience this wonderland as if the place was your own personal playground. Enjoy some one-on-one time enjoying the sights and sounds of the region with your Valentine.
“Nature is the star performer in the winter, when couples can view the starry skies, wandering wildlife and winter landscapes in quiet solitude,” Ryan Hauck, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, a large swath of the Shoshone National Forest and about half of Yellowstone National Park, told ageekdaddy.com. “No matter what their shared interests, couples can find endless inspiration in the frosty quiet of the forests and valleys and the historic streets of downtown Cody.”
In addition to the splendor of nature's scenery, couples visiting Cody during the pre-summer quiet season will find plenty of ways to enjoy each other’s company. Here are some ideas:
- Sharpen skills together. Cody Yellowstone stages periodic special events such as this four-day Winter Photography Workshop in late February. Led by two celebrated outdoor photographers, the workshop includes accommodations at the historic Irma Hotel, instruction and field trips into the frosty wilderness.
- Observe frosty critters at sunrise. Get up early, grab a coffee and drive along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway towards Yellowstone with binoculars handy. The early-morning hours and dusk are two of the best times to see animals in the wild. There are numerous places to pull off the road to scope for bison, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and even moose.
- Act like a couple of kids in a candy store. Literally. The Cowtown Candy Company celebrates sweet nostalgia in the form of hand-dipped truffles, homemade fudge as well specialty sodas and unique gifts. Couples with a taste for authentic sweets will find a distinctive selection at the Meeteetse Chocolatier. Owned by a one-time cowboy, the store’s celebrated concoctions include raspberry, peanut butter and even jalapeno truffles.
- Cross country ski through the forest. Work off the calories along the classic tracks and skate lanes along the Shoshone River at Pahaska Tepee near the East Gate to Yellowstone National Park. Or head to the remote Wood River Valley Ski Touring Park. Skis as well as snowshoes can be rented at outfitters in town or at the Sleeping Giant Ski Area.
- Make it a Date Night at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The acclaimed museum stages periodic date nights such as a Sangria and Tapas evening. The celebrated museum also hosts Cody Culture Club evenings with talks about a variety of Cody topics.
- Or make it a date night with a twist (or olive). Sip on a cocktail and listen to live music at the Chamberlin Inn. The romantic boutique inn serves inventive cocktails and snacks and stages live music on Friday nights in its cozy Spirits Lounge.
- Shop for the perfect new painting. Art is a tradition in Cody, and couples will find numerous art galleries and one-of-a-kind stores and antique shops overflowing with a wide range of art and home décor. In addition, museums like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and By Western Hands have a wide selection of Western-style creations for purchase.
- End the day with a beer crawl. Hops-loving couples can sample local brews at numerous downtown locations such as Pat O’Hara’s Brewing Company, Cody Craft Brewing and the Millstone Pizza Company and Brewery. Be safe! Stay at one of the many hotels right in downtown Cody and walk to each location.
