Just east of Yellowstone National Park, the town of Cody is a virtual museum of western mythology. Its Irma Hotel, which Buffalo Bill built in 1902 and named after his youngest daughter, stages mock gunfights in the street each night, after which visitors go inside and have a drink at its majestic cherrywood bar (given to Cody by Queen Victoria), then sit down for a meal of buffalo ribeye or prime rib. Beyond its mighty hotel, Cody has a number of eateries where you can taste the west without the folderol — BBQs, steak houses, a cafe that features sourdough pancakes and buffalo burgers, and a number of terrific Mexican restaurants. In that last category, a little place called Noon Break 2 Go has long been known for its pyrotechnical Code 10 Chili as well as a repertoire of New Mexican food made with chilies from the Mesilla Valley.
Wyoming joined the Union in 1890, as the West was becoming America's favorite fantasy. More than any other destination, the "Cowboy State" continues to embody the salubrious frontier culture...
