Thread:61Storm/@comment-29709319-20190401001525/@comment-29709319-20190517023853

National Themes For May 17th: National Pack Rat Day, National Cherry Cobbler Day, National Graduation Tassel Day, National Walnut Day, National Endangered Species Day, National Defense Transportation Day, National Pizza Party Day, National Bike to Work Day, NASCAR Day, and 🇺🇸National Idaho Day.

📦National Pack Rat Day encourages us to take a look at ourselves and see if we have “Pack Rat” tendencies within us. A “Pack Rat” holds on to, collects or hoards (often unneeded) items. “Pack Rat” can be considered an apt nickname for a hoarder. They may develop problems with compulsive hoarding. There are problems which may arise from compulsive hoarding which includes cluttered homes, yards, vehicles and other spaces. Doing so may become dangerous for themselves as well as others.

🍒National Cherry Cobbler Day is dedicated to the delicious tart dessert that many enjoy with ice cream. In the United States, cobbler refers to a variety of dishes that consist of a fruit filling (cherry being a popular choice ) covered with a batter, biscuit or pie crust that is then baked. Some cobblers have both a top and bottom crust. Cobblers originated in the early British American colonies. It was because of the lack of suitable ingredients and proper cooking equipment that the English settlers were unable to make their traditional suet puddings, so to improvise, they covered a stewed filling with a layer of uncooked biscuits or dumplings. A cherry cobbler differs from a crisp as a cobbler lacks oatmeal. Sometimes the cobbler is topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

🎓National Graduation Tassel Day celebrates the accomplishments of every graduate! Auditoriums and stadiums will fill with proud family and friends excited to witness the commencement ceremonies of high schools, colleges, and universities. Tassels dangle from the mortarboards in the colors of their esteemed institutions. Gowns have been crisply pressed. Graduates, as your day arrives, square your shoulders, eyes steady on the future, pause to consider all your challenges to realize this moment. When your name is called, diploma in hand, move your tassel from right to left.

🥜National Walnut Day! Rounded, single-seeded stone fruits of the walnut tree, walnuts are a high-density source of nutrients, particularly proteins and essential fatty acids. Like other tree nuts, walnuts must be processed and stored properly. Grown for their seeds, the Persian or English Walnut and the Black Walnut are the two most common major species of walnuts. The husk of the walnut, which is peeled away from the shell at harvest, and contain juice which will readily stain anything it comes in contact with. The husk juice has been used as a cloth dye. The United States is the world’s largest exporter of walnuts. Ninety-nine percent of the nation’s commercial English walnuts are produced in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of California. Created to promote the consumption of walnuts, the first National Walnut Day was proclaimed in June 1949 by the Walnut Marketing Board. On March 3, 1958, a Senate Resolution was introduced by William F. Knowland and signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the first National Walnut Day, May 17, 1958.

🐾National Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for everyone to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species, their habitats and the actions necessary to do so. Every year you can participate along with thousands of others at events to celebrate National Endangered Species Day at wildlife refuges, zoos, parks, community centers, aquariums, botanical gardens, libraries and schools. Designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.” The act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973. The Act is administered by two federal agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). National Endangered Species Day was enacted in 2006 by the United States Senate.

🚨National Defense Transportation Day is a United States Federal Observance Day. A significant part of the U.S. economy is the vast network of transportation infrastructure. The cost of maintaining and investing in expansion is a constant balancing act. National Defense Transportation Day recognizes the importance of transportation and the people who support and protect the system in this modern era. As part of National Transportation Week, events and ceremonies will be held honoring and recognizing the importance of transportation in communities across the country. On May 16, 1957, Congress designated the third Friday of May each year as National Defense Transportation Day. In 1962, Congress included the whole week within which the Friday falls as National Transportation Week. A proclamation is signed each year by the current President of the United States.

🍕National Pizza Party Day millions of pizza lovers across the nation join in extolling the qualities of pizza. Celebrate by inviting friends and family to share a night of fun at your favorite pizzeria. Another way to celebrate is with a homemade pizza with fresh toppings or by having one delivered. In ancient Greece, Greeks enjoyed bread covered with oils, herbs, and cheese.In Byzantine Greek, the word was spelled “πίτα”, pita, meaning pie. A sheet of dough topped with cheese and honey, then flavored with bay leaves was developed by the Romans.The modern pizza had its beginning in Italy as the Neapolitan flatbread.The original pizza used only mozzarella cheese, mainly the highest quality buffalo mozzarella variant which was produced in the surroundings of Naples.It was estimated that the annual production of pizza cheese in the United States in 1997 was 2 billion pounds.The first United States pizza establishment opened in 1905 was in New York’s Little Italy.Pizza has become one of America’s favorite meals.

🚴🏼National Bike to Work Day! A growing number of various bicycle-related events will be held in communities nationwide during National Bike Month which includes National Bike To Work Day. In the United States, from the year 2000 to 2011, the number of bicycle commuters grew by more than 47 percent. National Bike to Work Day promotes the bicycle as a healthy and safe alternative for commuting to work. National Bike to Work Day originated in 1955 by the League of American Bicyclists and is endorsed by the American Medical Association.

🏎NASCAR Day! This day is a celebration of NASCAR drivers, celebrities, corporate partners, media and millions of fans coming together to raise funds for charitable causes. For more information, go to the NASCAR Foundation. Founded by the NASCAR Foundation in 2003 as a way to bring NASCAR family together to support the health and lives of children across the country.

🇺🇸Idaho's name origin remains a mystery. Idaho is the 14th largest U.S. state. Capital and Largest City: Boise, Nickname: Gem State, Motto: Let it be perpetual, State song: "Here We Have Idaho". Living insignia; Amphibian: 🦎Tiger salamander, Bird: 🕊Mountain bluebird, Raptor: 🦅Peregrine falcon, Fish: 🐟Cutthroat trout, Flower: 🌸Syringa, Horse breed: 🐎Appaloosa, Insect: 🦋Monarch butterfly, Tree: 🌲Western white pine, Inanimate insignia; Dance: 💃Square dance, Food; Fruit: Huckleberry, Vegetable: 🥔Potato, Fossil: Hagerman horse, Gemstone: Star garnet, Slogan: Great Potatoes. Tasty Destinations. Idaho has the 6th fastest growing population in the United States. Idaho's landscape is rugged with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the United States. The waters of the Snake River rush through Hells Canyon in Idaho, the deepest gorge in the United States. Idaho's highest point is Borah Peak, 12,662 ft (3,859 m), in the Lost River Range north of Mackay. Idaho's lowest point, 710 ft (216 m), is in Lewiston, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River. The Sawtooth Range is considered Idaho's most famous mountain range. Other mountain ranges in Idaho include the Bitterroot Range, the White Cloud Mountains, the Lost River Range, the Clearwater Mountains, and the Salmon River Mountains. Idaho's climate varies widely. Idaho can be hot, although extended periods over 98°F (37°C) for the maximum temperature are rare, except for the lowest point in elevation, Lewiston, which correspondingly sees little snow. Hot summer days are tempered by the low relative humidity and cooler evenings during summer months since, for most of the state, the highest diurnal difference in temperature is often in the summer. Winters can be cold, although extended periods of bitter cold weather below zero are unusual. Idaho's all-time highest temperature of 118°F (48°C) was recorded at Orofino on July 28, 1934; the all-time lowest temperature of -60°F (-51°C) was recorded at Island Park Dam on January 18, 1943. An early presence of French-Canadian trappers is visible in names and toponyms: Nez Percé, Cœur d'Alène, Boisé, Payette, some preexisting the Lewis and Clark and Astorian expeditions which themselves included significant numbers of French and Métis guides recruited for their familiarity with the terrain. Idaho, as part of the Oregon Country, was claimed by both the United States and Great Britain until the United States gained undisputed jurisdiction in 1846. From 1843 to 1849, present-day Idaho was under the de facto jurisdiction of the Provisional Government of Oregon. When Oregon became a state, what is now Idaho was in what remained of the original Oregon Territory not part of the new state, and designated as the Washington Territory. Between then and the creation of the Idaho Territory on March 4, 1863, at Lewiston, parts of the present day state were included in the Oregon, Washington, and Dakota Territories. The new territory included present day Idaho, Montana, and most of Wyoming. The Lewis and Clark expedition crossed Idaho in 1805 on the way to the Pacific Ocean and in 1806 on the return, largely following the Clearwater River both directions. The first non-indigenous settlement was Kullyspell House, established on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille for fur trading in 1809 by David Thompson of the North West Company. In 1812 Donald Mackenzie, working for the Pacific Fur Company at the time, established a post on the lower Clearwater River near present day Lewiston. This post, known as "MacKenzie's Post" or "Clearwater", operated until the Pacific Fur Company was bought out by the North West Company in 1813, after which it was abandoned. The first attempts at organized communities, within the present borders of Idaho, were established in 1860. The first permanent, substantial incorporated community was Lewiston in 1861. After some tribulation as a territory, including the chaotic transfer of the territorial capital from Lewiston to Boise, disenfranchisement of Mormon polygamists upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1877, and a federal attempt to split the territory between Washington Territory which gained statehood in 1889, a year before Idaho, and the state of Nevada which had been a state since 1864, Idaho achieved statehood in 1890. Idaho was one of the hardest hit of the Pacific Northwest states during the Great Depression. Prices plummeted for Idaho's major crops: in 1932 a bushel of potatoes brought only $.10 compared to $1.51 in 1919, while Idaho farmers saw their annual income of $686 in 1929 drop to $250 by 1932. In recent years, Idaho has expanded its commercial base as a tourism and agricultural state to include science and technology industries. Science and technology have become the largest single economic center (over 25% of the state's total revenue) within the state and are greater than agriculture, forestry and mining combined. Idaho is an important agricultural state, producing nearly one-third of the potatoes grown in the United States. All three varieties of wheat, dark northern spring, hard red, and soft white are grown in the state. Important industries in Idaho are food processing, lumber and wood products, machinery, chemical products, paper products, electronics manufacturing, silver and other mining, and tourism. The world's largest factory for barrel cheese, the raw product for processed cheese is in Gooding, Idaho and belongs to the Glanbia group. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is the largest Department of Energy facility in the country by area. Idaho also is home to three facilities of Anheuser-Busch which provide a large part of the malt for breweries across the nation. Today, Idaho's largest industry is the science and technology sector. It accounts for over 25% of the state's revenue and over 70% of the state's exports. Boise is the home of Micron Technology, the only U.S. manufacturer of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips. Hewlett-Packard has operated a large plant in Boise since the 1970s, which is devoted primarily to Laser Jet printers production. The state's numerous river basins allow hydroelectric power plants to provide 556,000 MWh, which amounts to about three-fourths of Idaho's electricity generated in the state. The Idaho State Board of Education oversees three comprehensive universities. The University of Idaho in Moscow was the first university in the state (founded in 1889). It opened its doors in 1892 and is the land-grant institution and primary research university of the state. Idaho State University in Pocatello opened in 1901 as the Academy of Idaho, attained four-year status in 1947 and university status in 1963. Boise State University is the most recent school to attain university status in Idaho. The school opened in 1932 as Boise Junior College and became Boise State University in 1974. Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston is the only public, non-university 4-year college in Idaho. It opened as a normal school in 1893. Idaho has four regional community colleges and several private institutions. Central Idaho is home to one of North America's oldest ski resorts, Sun Valley, where the world's first chairlift was installed in 1936. 1️⃣Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County, Idaho, United States. Among skiers, the term "Sun Valley" refers to the alpine ski area, which consists of Bald Mountain, the main ski mountain adjacent to Ketchum, and Dollar Mountain, adjacent to Sun Valley, for novice and lower intermediate skiers. Bald Mountain, or "Baldy," has a summit of 9,150 feet (2,790 m) and a vertical drop of 3,400 feet (1,035 m). With its abundance of constant pitch terrain, at varying degrees of difficulty, coupled with its substantial vertical drop and absence of wind, Baldy has often been referred to as one of the better ski mountains in the world. The treeless "Dollar" at 6,638 feet (2,023 m) has a moderate vertical drop of 628 feet (191 m). The term "Sun Valley" is used more generally to speak of the region surrounding the city, including the neighboring city of Ketchum and the Wood River Valley area winding south to Hailey and Bellevue. A few things to do in Sun Valley: Skiing. Baldy's 13 chairlifts, including high-speed quads, have a capacity of over 23,000 skiers per hour. With an average of 3,500 skiers per day, Sun Valley has kept the lift lines to a minimum, a rarity among major resorts. Also Dollar Mountain for novices, a great place for children. Mountain Biking. Sun Valley and Stanley are home to more miles of buffed singletrack than any destination in Idaho. The huge trail variety makes the Sun Valley and Stanley area the perfect place for beginner to advanced riders to explore the surrounding Pioneer, Smokey and Sawtooth Mountains. River Rafting. Idaho is the Whitewater State. A number of river rafting companies offer 1 to 5 day trips on the Salmon River of No Return just north of Sun Valley. Fishing. Idaho in general is a mecca for fly-fishing. Nearby walk and wade options include the Big Wood, Big Lost, Little Wood, Copper Basin, Silver Creek and the headwaters of the Salmon. You will find a variety of fishing guides in the area who offer Walk and Wade trips. 2️⃣The Bannock County Historical Museum houses exhibits, objects, and records relating to Bannock County and Pocatello's history. Historic exhibit themes include trapping and trading, Oregon Trail, the railroad, medical practices, general store, the military, Victorian parlor, Japanese Shrine, photography studio, prohibition police evidence, fire-fighting, local printing, ranching and farming, a Holladay Overland Stage Co. stagecoach, horse tack, Shoshoni and Bannock ethnographic objects and photographs, local archaeological specimens, our unique donor wall, a research archive, and much more! The Museum was built entirely with donations as part of Idaho's Centennial Celebration in 1990. It operates under the direction of the Bannock County Historical Society (celebrating 95 years as an organization!) with support from Bannock County. 3️⃣Sawtooth National Forest is a National Forest that covers 2,110,408 acres (854,052 ha) in the U.S. states of Idaho and 4% is in Utah. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On August 22, 1972 a portion of the forest was designated as the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA), which includes the Sawtooth, Cecil D. Andrus–White Clouds, and Hemingway–Boulders wilderness areas. The forest is managed as four units: the SNRA and the Fairfield, Ketchum, and Minidoka Ranger District. The forest also contains the Albion, Black Pine, Boise, Boulder, Pioneer, Raft River, Smoky, Soldier, Sublett, and White Cloud mountain ranges. Sawtooth National Forest contains land cover types which include sagebrush steppe, spruce-fir forests, alpine tundra, and over 1,100 lakes and 3,500 miles (5,600 km) of rivers and streams. There are two visitor centers, one at the SNRA headquarters north of Ketchum and one at Redfish Lake. There are also forest's ranger stations. There are more than 81 campgrounds in the forest, with 12 in the Fairfield District, 6 in the Ketchum District, 25 in the Minidoka District, and 38 in the SNRA. Most of the campgrounds are on a first come first served basis, while some can be reserved. Visiting distant backcountry areas requires accessing hiking trails and then backpacking or horseback riding into remote destinations. Free permits are required for use of the wilderness and can be obtained at trailheads. Group size is restricted in the wilderness, open fires are not permitted in some high-use areas, and visitors are expected to follow Leave No Trace practices. There are abundant trails throughout the forest, with over 700 miles (1,100 km) in the SNRA, 440 miles (710 km) in the Fairfield District, and 341 miles (549 km) in the Minidoka District. Two National Recreation Trails are found in the forest, the Fishhook Creek Boardwalk at Redfish Lake and the Wood River Nature Trail at the Wood River Campground. All-terrain vehicles are allowed on over 500 mi (800 km) of forest roads and some trails, but access may be restricted depending on season and environmental conditions. The Sun Valley area has an extensive network of mountain biking trails. Hunting and fishing are popular recreational activities permitted throughout the forest, provided that proper permits are obtained and the applicable rules and regulations are followed. Hunting and fishing licenses are available from the state of Idaho through the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The SNRA is the primary destination for mountain climbers and rock climbers within the forest. Thompson Peak and Hyndman Peak are two popular peaks to hike to, and Mount Heyburn is a popular rock climbing destination. Opportunities for rafting and kayaking on the upper Salmon River with conditions range from flatwater to class IV whitewater. Water levels are highest during snowmelt in spring and early summer. The large lakes in the Sawtooth Valley, including Redfish, Alturas, Pettit, and Stanley lakes, have developed boat accesses. Redfish Lake has a lodge with a marina, restaurant, and various activities. There are numerous hot springs distributed across the forest and open to public use. A few have developed tubs, including those in the Baumgartner Campground. Winter activities include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Sawtooth National Forest is home to four of Idaho's scenic byways, three of which intersect in Stanley. Idaho State Highway 75 is designated as the Sawtooth Scenic Byway for 115.7 mi (186.2 km) from Shoshone north to Stanley. Highway 75 from Stanley to Challis and U.S. Route 93 from Challis north to the Montana border are designated as the Salmon River Scenic Byway for 161.7 mi (260.2 km). Idaho State Highway 21 is the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway for 130.9 mi (210.7 km) from Stanley to Boise. The City of Rocks Backcountry Byway follows a series of roads for 49 mi (79 km) around the Albion Mountains and through the City of Rocks National Reserve at the southern end of the Albion Mountains. 4️⃣The City of Rocks National Reserve, also known as the Silent City of Rocks, is a United States National Reserve and state park in the southern part of the Albion Mountains, bordered on the east by the Raft River valley and to the north by the Snake River valley. Elevations rise from 5,650 feet (1,720 m) where Circle Creek meets the reserve boundary to 8,867 feet (2,703 m) at the top of Graham Peak to the north. It is widely known for its rock climbing and rock formations. The rock spires in the City of Rocks and adjacent Castle Rocks State Park are largely composed of granitic rock of the Oligocene Almo pluton and Archean Green Creek Complex. The City of Rocks is a popular rock climbing area, with over 1,000 traditional and bolt-protected routes. Climbers in the region refer to the area as simply 'The City'. California Trail wagon trains of the 1840s and 1850s left the Raft River valley and traveled through the area and over Granite Pass into Nevada. Names or initials of emigrants written in axle grease are still visible on Register Rock. Ruts from wagon wheels also can be seen in some of the rocks. The Shoshone and Bannock tribes hunted the buffalo that once roamed in the City of Rocks area and gathered the nuts of the pinyon pine trees. City of Rocks was designated a National Reserve, a unit of the National Park Service, in recognition of the nationally significant geological and scenic values of its rock formations and the historical significance of the California Trail. Rock formations in the reserve developed through an erosion process called exfoliation, during which thin rock plates and scales sloughed off along joints in the rocks. The joints, or fractures, resulted from the contraction of the granite as it cooled, from an upward expansion of the granite as overlying materials were eroded away, and from regional tectonic stresses. The granite has eroded into a fascinating assortment of shapes as high as 600 feet (180 m). The upper surfaces of many of the rocks are covered with flat floored weathering pits known as panholes. The most notable panhole is located on top of Bath Rock and is continuously filled with water from rain or snowmelt. 5️⃣Minidoka National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in the western United States. It commemorates the more than 9,000 Japanese Americans who were imprisoned at the Minidoka War Relocation Center during the Second World War. Located in the Magic Valley of south central Idaho the site is a remote high desert area north of the Snake River. It is 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Twin Falls. The site is administered by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Minidoka War Relocation Center was in operation from 1942–45 and one of ten camps at which Japanese Americans, both citizens and resident were interned during World War II. Under provisions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, all persons of Japanese ancestry were excluded from the West Coast of the United States. At its peak, Minidoka housed 9,397 Japanese Americans, predominantly from Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. The Minidoka name was applied to the Idaho relocation center in Jerome County, probably to avoid confusion with the Jerome War Relocation Center in Jerome, Arkansas. Construction by the Morrison-Knudsen Company began in 1942 on the camp, which received 10,000 internees by years' end. Many of the internees worked as farm labor, and later on the irrigation project and the construction of Anderson Ranch Dam, northeast of Mountain Home. The Reclamation Act of 1902 had racial exclusions on labor which were strictly adhered to until Congress changed the law in 1943. Population at the Minidoka camp declined to 8,500 at the end of 1943, and to 6,950 by the end of 1944. On February 10, 1946, the vacated camp was turned over to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which used the facilities to house returning war veterans. The Minidoka War Relocation Center consisted of 36 blocks of housing. Each block contained 12 barracks (which themselves were divided into 6 separate living areas), laundry facilities, bathrooms, and a mess hall. Recreation Halls in each block were multi-use facilities that served as both worship and education centers. Minidoka had a high school, a junior high school and two elementary schools - Huntville and Stafford. The Minidoka War Relocation Center also included two dry cleaners, four general stores, a beauty shop, two barber shops, radio and watch repair stores as well as two fire stations. The U.S. Army opened military service to Japanese-Americans in 1943. Enlistees from Minidoka accounted for 25% of total volunteers and Minidoka suffered more casualties, male and female, than any other camp. The Minidoka Internees created an "Honor Roll" to acknowledge the service of their fellow Japanese-Americans. Although the original was lost after the war, the "Honor Roll" was recreated by the "Friends of Minidoka" group in 2011 following a grant from the National Park Service. The internment camp site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 10, 1979. A national monument was established in 2001 at the site by President Bill Clinton on January 17, as he invoked his authority under the Antiquities Act. 6️⃣Shoshone Indian Ice Caves and Museum. The museum contains Indian (Shoshone) artifacts, gems, and minerals of local and world interest. The Ice Caves are located 16 miles north of Shoshone on US Hwy. 93, and they are actually lava tubes that are 1,000 feet long and vary between 8 and 30 feet in height. Air currents flowing through the tubes result in the ice, since the currents cause subterranean water to freeze. Even in the heat of summer, the ice remains permanently frozen, maintaining a temperature between 24 to 32 degrees year-round. These caves are a natural wonder of the world. During their 45 minute to 1 hour walking daily tour trained tourvguides explain the geologic, volcanic, and historical background in these large lava ice caves. These tours are a 3/4 mile hike and a total of 160 stairs going down into the caves (that means 160 going back up). Currently it is the largest volcanic cave in the world open to the public. Things you need to know: please wear hiking shoes and bring a light jacket as temperatures in the cave are below freezing. And if you forget your jacket there are "courtesy coats" hang on hooks outside the gift shop for visitors to borrow as they enter the caves. No flashlight is needed. And no animals are allowed on the tour (Service dogs allowed with proper ID only). Shoshone Indian Ice Caves and Museum are only open from May to September. 7️⃣Castle Rocks State Park is a public recreation area encompassing 1,692 acres (685 ha) in Cassia County, Idaho. The state park is located in Big Cove at the base of Cache Peak in the Albion Mountains. It is next to the Albion Division of Sawtooth National Forest and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the border of City of Rocks National Reserve. Activities: Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, horseback riding, world-class rock climbing and ice climbing, bird and wildflower watching, snowshoeing, cross country skiing. 8️⃣Boise Art Museum (BAM) is located at 670 Julia Davis Drive in Boise, Idaho, and is part of a series of public museums and cultural attractions in Julia Davis Park. It is the permanent home of a growing collection of contemporary realism, modern and contemporary ceramics, as well as the largest public collection of works by acclaimed Idaho outsider artist and bookmaker James Charles Castle. The museum also features major traveling exhibitions and installations throughout the year. The museum began as the Boise Gallery of Art, opening in 1937 through a partnership between the Boise Art Association, the City of Boise and the Federal Works Progress Administration as a space for people living in the Boise area to see local artists, traveling exhibitions and artwork on loan. The museum's original Art Deco and Egyptian Revival building was renovated in 1972 and again in 1988 when the name was changed to the Boise Art Museum and the museum increased focus on the development of a permanent collection and educational programming. In 1997, the museum was expanded again to include larger administrative offices, storage, a distinctive sculpture court, sculpture garden and educational studios. Today the Boise Art Museum is the only AAM accredited museum collecting fine art in Idaho and functions as a center for fine arts in the Treasure Valley. Collecting began under the Boise Art Association in 1934, who began amassing their collection before the Boise Gallery of Art had begun construction. The first work purchased by the Association was a painting by Harvey Gregory Pruscheck, for a cost of $100, after the painting was in their exhibition in the Boise Hotel (now the Hoff Building). Another early donation, the oil painting Mustard Field by Fanny Dike Burns, came in memory of the artist after the painting was included in a show in May 1933. By 1955, the small collection included works from different artists including Walt Disney. The 1960s saw an increase of interest in development of the collection as the Boise Gallery of Art increased exhibition programming and hired its first professional staff. A 1963 donation by Robert V. Hansberger of six oil paintings was the largest donation the Association had received to date. Adding to other gifts and donations earlier that year, it included Halcyon Days by Flavin Gabral, House for Rent and Precarious Position by Michael Frary, Sierra Grande by Richard Haines, Duet by Dan Lutz and From Hilltop by Eric Sloane. In 1967, the Association acquired Silvertone 17 Inch Portable Television, an assemblage by Edward Kienholz. In 1969, the Boise Junior League had donated six works of art to the Boise Art Association, including a work titled Primaevus by artist Jimmie Faulkner and the marble sculpture Age of Innocence by Alfred Kober. In the same year, Louise Odencrantz of New York donated her collection of more than 100 dolls from various cultures after an exhibition where the dolls were allowed to be handled by children from the general public. In 1979, the Idaho Commission on the Arts gave the Gallery $2,000 to buy Idaho art, which they used to buy Last Black Triangle by Boyd Wright, as well as works by David Wharton, Charles Crist, and a commissioned work by Montana artist Dana Boussard. In 1980, the Gallery received donations from both the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, of a work by Sam Francis, as well as the estate of the wife of Reginald Marsh, of four of the artist's works. The Boise Art Museum began actively collecting in 1988 under curator Sandy Harthorn, who helped develop the permanent collection to 1,200 objects in 1991 and to 3,500 by her retirement in 2015. The museum's collecting mission focuses on 20th century realism and ceramics from American, Northwest and Idaho artists. The collection has, however, amassed objects from across the United States, Europe and East Asia as growth of the collection has relied largely upon donations from artists, galleries and collectors. In 2000, the Museum received 23 works of contemporary realism from Peter and Eileen Norton. These works, most created in the 1980s and early 1990s, were selected to compliment the collection of American realism previously donated by Sun Valley art collector Glenn C. Janss. This came after a donation of 166 works by American, Australian, British and Asian artists John Takehara. In 2002, Wilfred Davis Fletcher donated 117 artworks to the Museum, a gift valued at over $1 million. The collection consisted mostly of contemporary abstract works and was well received as a compliment to the existing collection of realism. 9️⃣The Fort Hall Replica takes you back to the 19th Century world of explorers, trappers, fur traders, Native Americans, pioneers, gold seekers, and common folk. It is a wonderful display of period lifestyle and replicates one of the northwest’s earliest fur trading forts. At Frontier Town there are twelve historic replica buildings of the early days of Pocatello. You will find a saloon, bank, court house, church, a one room school house, and at Dr. Beans office it is posted that you can have a broken arm set for a mere seventy five cents. On the same location as the fort is a wonderful park area with shelter and stage for Dutch oven dinners, mountain men presentations and dances. Adjacent to the fort complex is their zoo comprising of animals native to the area including grizzly bear and buffalo. Nearby you will also find the Bannock County Historical Museum. The Fort Hall Replica and Frontier Town, Zoo Idaho, and Aquatic Center are all located at the Ross Park Complex. https://www.visitpocatello.com/the-fort-hall-replica/ 🔟The Crystal Gold Mine Tour, near Kellogg, Idaho was one of the first hard rock mines in the Silver Valley. Worked during the 1880’s; closed by hiding the mine, it was rediscovered in 1991, reclaimed in 1996, and opened as a tourist historical attraction. The work was all done in candlelight by hand. The guided underground tour explains how they drilled with "Hand Steels" using "Single Jacks" and "Double Jacks" (Hammers), how they traced the quartz vein using 1880 methods, how they tested the vein for gold. Beautiful stalactite crystals of smithsonite in an array of colors coat the walls. Gold and wire silver can still be seen in the quartz vein. The mine hillside was blasted down to hide the mine, leaving tracks, mine car and tools inside, a sure sign that they intended to come back. However, they did not, and the mine stayed hidden and lost for over a hundred years. In the 1960’s the mine portal was exposed during the building of Interstate 90. In 1991, the owner saw water seeping out of the hillside. Hoping it was a spring; he dug into the portal and discovered more of the mine. The property owner put a piece of plywood over it. 1996, it was sold to a retired miner Bill & Judy Lane, who uncovered the rest of the mine and rejuvenated it as a tourist attraction. While cleaning out the mine and scaling the ribs, Bill discovered some high- grade gold ore that was left behind. There is no record of how much gold or silver was taken out of the mine. Crystal Gold Mine can be reached by taking Idaho Exit 54 on Interstate 90 to the Miner's Memorial (located on the North side of the freeway). Turn left (west) on Silver Valley Road, and go two miles. 1️⃣1️⃣Lawson's Emu-Z-Um Museum! The Emu-Z-Um is a family friendly historical museum about the early settlement of Owyhee county and southern Idaho. The museum collections include artifacts from the late 1800's and early 20th century, that were used by Owyhee county pioneers and other early Idaho settlers. There are diverse collections of everyday items including period clothing, antique kitchen gadgets, early vehicles, frontier farming and ranching implements, mining equipment, Native American artifacts and much more. The collections will give you a glimpse into how Idaho's early settlers and miners lived, worked, and played. Located in Southwest rural Idaho, near Grand View, a 60 mile drive Southeast of Boise. The museum is located on the South side of the Snake River along the South Alternate branch of the Oregon Trail. Travel back to see an authentic replica of an early 1860’s town with wooden sidewalks, and picture-perfect storefronts. You can even visit the town jail. (I really don't like it when I can't put a pic with these because I think they help promote it. Anyway, this would be my pick of a historical museum of collection of everyday items. There was one pic of two walls of floor to ceiling shelving with nothing but glass bottles of every size, shape and color on them. That is a definite must see for me.) 1️⃣2️⃣Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a U.S. National Monument and national preserve in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho. It is along US 20 between the small towns of Arco and Carey. The protected area's features are volcanic and represent one of the best-preserved flood basalt areas in the continental United States. The Monument and Preserve encompass three major lava fields and about 400 square miles (1,000 km2) of sagebrush steppe grasslands to cover a total area of 1,117 square miles (2,893 km2). The Monument alone covers 53,571 acres (21,679 ha). All three lava fields lie along the Great Rift of Idaho, with some of the best examples of open rift cracks in the world, including the deepest known on Earth at 800 feet (240 m). There are excellent examples of almost every variety of basaltic lava, as well as tree molds (cavities left by lava-incinerated trees), lava tubes (a type of cave), and many other volcanic features. A series of fissure vents, cinder cones, spatter cones, rafted blocks, and overlapping lava flows are accessible from the Loop Drive, 7 miles (11 km) long. Wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and wild animals can be seen by hiking on one of the many trails in the monument or by just pulling over into one of the turn-offs. More rugged hiking opportunities are available in the Craters of the Moon Wilderness Area and Backcountry Area. 🍃The Visitor Center is near the monument's only entrance. Various displays and publications along with a short film about the geology of the area help to orient visitors. Ranger-led walks are available in summer and cover topics such as wildlife, flowers, plants, or geology. Self-guiding tours and displays are available year-round and are easily accessible from the Loop Drive. 🍃A paved trail less than 1/4 mile (400 m) long at North Crater Flow crosses the North Crater Lava Flow, which formed about 2200 years ago, making it one of the youngest lava flows on the Craters of the Moon Lava Field. This lava is named for the purplish-blue tint that tiny pieces of volcanic glass on its surface exhibit. Good examples of ropey, jagged, and some block lava are readily visible along with large rafted crater wall fragments. The rafted crater wall fragments seen on the flow were once part of this cinder cone but were torn away when the volcano's lava-filled crater was breached. A 1.8-mile-long trail (2.9 km) includes the 1/2 mile (800 m) overlook trail but continues on through the crater and to the Big Craters/Spatter Cones parking lot. 🍃Devils Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments (also called monoliths or cinder crags) that stand in cinders. Like the blocks at stop 2 they were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off during an eruption of lava. A 1/2 mile-long (800 m) paved loop trial through the formations and trees of the "orchard" is available. 🍃Inferno Cone Viewpoint is on top of Inferno Cone cinder cone. A short but steep trail up the cinder cone leads to an overlook of the entire monument. From there the Spatter Cones can be seen just to the south along with a large part of the Great Rift. In the distance is the over 700-foot-tall (>200 m) Big Cinder Butte, one of the world's largest, purely basaltic, cinder cones. Further away are the Pioneer Mountains and beyond the monument are the White Knob Mountains, the Lost River Range, and the Lemhi Range. 🍃Big Craters and Spatter Cones sit directly along the local part of the Great Rift fissure. Spatter cones are created by accumulations of pasty gas-poor lava as they erupt from a vent. Big Craters is a cinder cone complex less than 300 feet (91 m) up a steep foot trail. 🍃Tree Molds is an area within the Craters of the Moon Wilderness where lava flows overran part of a forest. The trees were incinerated but as some of them burned they released enough water to cool the lava to form a cast. Some of these casts survived the eruption and mark the exact location and shape of the burning trees in the lava. Both holes and horizontal molds were left, some still showing shapes indicative of bark. The actual Tree Molds area is a mile (1.6 km) from the Tree Molds parking lot and picnic area off a moderately difficult wilderness trail. The Wilderness trail also leaves from this parking lot, and extends nearly 6 miles (9.7 km) into the wilderness area before gradually disappearing near The Sentinel cinder cone. The 1.8 miles (2.9 km) Broken Top loop trail encircles the youngest cinder cone in the monument and can be done separately or as part of a longer trek on the Wilderness trail. A pull off on the spur road leading to the Tree Molds area presents the Lava Cascades, a frozen river of Blue Dragon Flow lava that temporarily pooled in the Big Sink. 🍃Cave Area is the final stop on Loop Drive and, as the name indicates, has a collection of lava tube caves. Formed from the Blue Dragon Flow, the caves are a half-mile (800 m) from the parking lot and include: Dewdrop Cave, Boy Scout Cave, Beauty Cave, and Indian Tunnel. The caves are open to visitors but flashlights are needed except in Indian Tunnel and some form of head protection is highly recommended when exploring any of the caves. Lava tubes are created when the sides and surface of a lava flow hardens. If the fluid interior flows away a cave is left behind. Entering caves requires a free permit. Backcountry hiking is available in the Craters of the Moon Wilderness and the much larger Backcountry Area beyond. Only two trails enter the wilderness area and even those stop after a few miles or kilometers. From there most hikers follow the Great Rift and explore its series of seldom-visited volcanic features. All overnight backcountry hikes require registration with a ranger. No drinking water is available in the backcountry and the dry climate quickly dehydrates hikers. Pets, camp fires, and all mechanized vehicles, including bicycles, are not allowed in the wilderness area. Skiing is allowed on the Loop Drive after it is closed to traffic in late November because of snow drifts. Typically there are 20 inches (51 cm) of snow by January and 25 in (64 cm) by February. Cross-country skiing off Loop Drive is allowed but may be dangerous owing to sharp lava and hidden holes under the snow. Blizzards and other inclement weather may occur. 1️⃣3️⃣Historical Museum at St. Gertrude. Their mission is to preserve the rich heritage of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, Camas Prairie, Snake River, Salmon River and surrounding areas. View special exhibits, including the stories of the Benedictine sisters, the Nez Perce people, Polly Bemis and Buckskin Bill. Discover the Rhoades Emmanuel Gallery – rare, exquisite Asian and European artifacts dating to the 14th century. Collections: ✨The Nez Perce (or Nimiipuu): The Museum’s Nez Perce collection consists of cornhusk bags, a beaded cradleboard, moccasins, and objects from the Nez Perce War of 1877, which had its initial skirmishes only two miles from the Museum. ✨ Geology: Sister Alfreda Elsensohn, founder of the Museum, was a science teacher at St. Gertrude’s Academy. In 1931 she received a geological collection that had originally come from the U.S. National Museum (now a part of The Smithsonian) in 1910. This collection plus additional acquisitions from other sources has produced an extensive collection representing a vast array of minerals not only from Idaho but from around the world. Included in the collections are fossils from a variety of areas, geodes, varieties of basalt, varieties of quartz, opals, garnets, gold, and many more. ✨ Medical Collection: The Benedictine Sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude opened the first hospital in Cottonwood in 1930. Our Lady of Consolation Hospital was later to become the current St. Mary’s Hospital. Dr. Wesley Orr was the first physician at the hospital. Today, the Museum exhibits Dr. Orr’s collection of medical instruments and equipment used at the hospital; they date from about 1900 and were used until the 1950’s. Some of the artifacts include: a replica of a lab (1930); a needle sharpener (1940); a Dare hemoglobinometer (1922); a Burbick rhythmic constrictor (1940); a fetal monitor (1900); and a tonsillectomy chair. ✨The Chinese in North Idaho Collection: The Chinese first arrived in Idaho in the 1860s to work the newly discovered gold fields. They were excellent miners and were especially efficient at mining an area previously thought to be exhausted of gold. The money they earned in America would make them wealthy due to the extreme poverty in China at the time. Since most planned to return to their homeland, the Chinese maintained much of their culture in the mining camps in their language, food, clothing, and recreational activities. The artifacts in this exhibit connect the lifestyles of the Chinese in the mining camps and towns of north central Idaho. ✨ Pioneer Life Collection: Men and women worked from dawn to dusk to survive and make a living. Occupations included ranching, farming, mining, carpentry, and merchandising. Daily life involved cleaning, washing, cooking, food preparation, and childcare. The Museum has a vast array of artifacts reflecting pioneer lifestyles. They include a cobbler’s bench with sewing machine, shoe lasts, and leather tools, a Hoosier cabinet with a variety of old bowls and serving pieces, a kitchen work table (circa 1900), a dining table (circa 1920), a harness buck (1914), saddles, bridles, branding irons, handmade tools (1834), clocks, dolls, butter churns, kitchen tools, and lanterns dating to 1865. ✨Religion and Monastery of St. Gertrude Collection: A unique part of the Museum’s collection tells the story of the Benedictine sisters of Idaho including three founding sisters of the Monastery of St. Gertrude, who came to this country in 1882 from Switzerland. Their journey to Gervais, Oregon (1882-1884), to Uniontown, Washington (1884-1894), to Colton, Washington (1894-1907) and ultimately to Cottonwood, Idaho (1907-present) is a most compelling story. The courage and foresight of the founding Sisters exemplifies the true pioneer spirit of the westward expansion. ✨The Rhoades Emmanuel Gallery:'The Rhoades Emmanuel Memorial is a collection of exquisite Asian and European artifacts. Some Asian items date from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and European artifacts from the 18th century. Sam Emmanuel donated the collection when his wife, Winifred Rhoades, passed away. Winifred was a renowned organist of the silent movie era that had grown up on the Camas Prairie. The collection is in pristine condition and reflects some sixty years of serious collecting. The Museum also holds artifacts pertaining to education, military and weaponry, mining, music, photography, technology, textiles, and much more. 1️⃣4️⃣The Sawtooth Botanical Garden has something for everyone in the many gardens and spaces that comprise their grounds. Whether you are looking for inspiration for your own garden, want to relax surrounded by the beauty of native plants, or see what’s being taught in the educational beds, there is a space for you to enjoy. ✨Their Mission: The Sawtooth Botanical Garden is a community resource showcasing native and cultivated plants that flourish at high altitude. The Garden connects people to the region's unique beauty and fosters environmental stewardship through education, events, displays and plant collections. ✨The Visitor’s Center was built both as a community center and gathering place. It’s a perfect place to relax after exploring the Garden, or biking on the bike path. You can relax out of the heat, learn about upcoming workshops, and talk to our knowledgeable staff about the Garden. ✨Carol’s Wildflower Garden: Named for Carol Blackburn, their dedicated and knowledgeable horticulturalist, the Wildflower Garden consists of beautiful native wildflower species. Purposefully scattered collections of flowers are reminiscent of hiking a trail through the many wild lands of Idaho. You’ll see: scarlet gilia, bluebunch wheatgrass, many leaved lupine, pinleaf penstemon and more. ✨Their Education Beds, located on the southeast corner of the property, are a great space for kids and adults alike to get hands-on education about how plants grow and where our food comes from. During the growing season you’ll see a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, root vegetables and more. Also, you can see multiple ways to recycle organic matter for the benefit of your garden with their various compost bins. ✨Ellen Long Garden Pavilion: Named for the late Ellen Long, the Garden Pavilion is situated perfectly between the formal gardens, perennial beds, and our riparian pond. With amazing views of the mountains to the north and a host of color all around. ✨The Formal Gardens are designed with the architectural layout of an English Knot Garden. A beautiful sculpture lies at its heart with arbor vitae and tall junipers creating the visual frame around it. The rounded edges of the flowers, shrubs and sculpture create a stunning contrast with the rugged mountains viewable to the north. ✨Garden of Infinite Compassion: This Garden was created to honor the visit of the Dalai Lama to the Wood River Valley in 2005. A contemplative garden, it is a place of both inner and outer repose; it is a place where we abandon the chatter of our minds and the distractions of our lives to enter the serenity of nature and find the calm of a quiet mind. ✨The Rocks: There are sixteen dominant rocks in the Garden which represent the sixteen Arhats, or disciples, of the Buddha. The impressive rocks serve as silent sentinels but also serve to retain the soil as the slope drops six feet from the top of the stream to the bottom. ✨The Serenity Pond: The Serenity Pond features riparian plants while nearby a memorial bench sits in the aspen grove as a place for quiet contemplation. In the center of the pond is a quartz crystal from Minas Gerais, Brazil. The crystal’s tip was broken, most likely, by earth movement during its formation millions of years ago. Because the crystal was still forming when the break occurred, it began reforming or re-healing the tip. The tip that reformed however differs in shape, clarity, and design as if to say, “we have grown from one body, but our clarity comes from the synergy of our many heads uniting as one”. ✨Greenhouse is planted with a citrus grove and education and demonstration beds as well as providing an area for classes and events year-round. The smells of the blooming plants are sure to invigorate your day no matter the weather outside. ✨Montane: The montane biome is extraordinary both in its beauty and its wide range of habitat. The Rocky Mountains are 65 million years old which is fairly young, geologically speaking. The upper boundary of the Montane biome is defined by the tree line (below the sub-alpine zone). This unique high altitude ecosystem hosts a variety of plants due to the variations in soil, temperature, climate, and slope. ✨The Perennial Gardens demonstrate flowers and plants that give color and texture to our environment. ✨The Riparian zone can be identified by both wetland soils and vegetative type and is especially important in the arid west. This zone which lays adjacent to rivers and streams, is utilized by many familiar local wildlife such as moose, elk, deer, several bird species, and small mammals. Riparian areas also help keep our rivers and streams healthy for our fish. In our region the riparian overstory is dominated by cottonwoods, willows, and red-osier dog woods. The many plants found in the riparian area help to dissuade erosion, increase water filtration, and provide excellent habitat for wildlife. ✨The Sawtooth Sandbox provides a play space for children of all ages to safely explore the outdoors while their parents relax and enjoy the surrounding mountains and gardens. With picnic tables, sandbox toys, nets, and buckets the Sawtooth Sandbox is a perfect place to have a picnic and spend the afternoon out of the heat of the sun as children build sandcastles and catch water skippers in the nearby stream. 1️⃣5️⃣Yellowstone Bear World. Owner Courtney Ferguson started Yellowstone Bear World in 1998 with 13 bears. Today, more than 60 grizzly and black bears and other wildlife inhabit the property, making it one of the biggest wildlife attraction. Open seven days a week after May 13, it’s just 80 miles south of West Yellowstone, Mont., and 5 miles from Rexburg, Idaho. Yellowstone Bear World is Idaho’s no. 1 drive-through wildlife attraction featuring free-roaming animals of North America. View grizzly and black bears, moose, elk, deer, bison, mountain goats and wolves from the comfort and safety of your personal vehicle or RV. Other amenities include a petting zoo, amusement rides, educational exhibits, café and gift shop. None of the bears are kept in cages but live in a free-roaming type environment with many acres for the animals to live. Grizzlies are one of Yellowstone’s iconic animals that many don’t get to see while in the national park. At Yellowstone Bear World, you will see them up-close and in the middle of their daily activities. Yellowstone Bear World also features one-of-a-kind activities. Three times a day starting on Memorial Day, both adult and children visitors are able to assist a staff member in bottle-feeding and petting a baby bear cub. While there are limited spots set aside for walk-ups, reserve your space for bottle feeding online in advance to guarantee you will be able to participate. The cost is $55 per person. The cost is in addition to park admission. Feeding times are subject to change but are daily at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. While visitors can drive through the park in their vehicle, they also can go on a Curator Tour. On a Curator Tour, you will ride on a Yellowstone Bear World Curator Tour truck to get a closer look at the wildlife. Cost is $11.95 per person or $45 for groups no greater than seven. This is the only experience where you can feed the adult bears in the park. You’ll see all kinds of animals including Rocky Mountain elk, bison, timber wolves, arctic wolves, white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, mountain goats, black bears, grizzly bears. 1️⃣6️⃣World-famous Balanced Rock near Castleford is a true Southern Idaho icon. The mushroom-shaped rock measures 48 feet wide at the top and only 3 feet, 17 inches at the base. The park, managed by Twin Falls County Parks and Waterways, is situated in a box canyon shaded by cottonwood trees along Salmon Falls Creek. The park is shaded by the canyon and mature trees. Self-support camping is allowed. Balanced Rock was carved by wind and weather over time. It’s part of a rhyolite lava formation that was created 15 million years ago by multiple volcanic eruptions in the area. It’s the same type of rock that forms the Jarbidge Canyon and portions of the Bruneau Canyon. How to get there: Balanced Rock is easiest to access via Buhl on U.S. Highway 30, the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, and then follow signs to Balanced Rock. 1️⃣7️⃣Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area: Located within the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest of northern Idaho, Hell's Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. It has been carved out by the Wild and Scenic Snake River for a distance of 95 miles along the border with Washington and Oregon. Popular ways to enjoy Hell's Canyon include hiking and horseback trails, developed and primitive campgrounds, and taking a raft trip down the white-water rapids of the Snake River (permit required). During the winter months, Hell's Canyon and the surrounding National Forest become a haven for skiers and snowmobilers. 1️⃣8️⃣The Route of the Hiawatha trail is the crown jewel of rail-to-trail projects in the country. Over 15 miles of railroad track has been converted into a beautiful and gentle downhill biking and walking trail. There are ten tunnels, including the 1.7 mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel, and seven sky-high trestle bridges up to 230 feet high. Riders begin at Lookout Pass Ski Area where mountain bike rentals, including helmets and lights, and an optional return shuttle service are available. Things to know: The trail is open from approximately Mid-May through Mid-September. Some high trestles and dark tunnels on this trail that could be a concern for those with a fear of heights or dark, enclosed places. It's all downhill with shuttle buses available to transport you and your bike back to the top.Trail passes, shuttle tickets, and mountain bike rentals are available at Lookout Pass Ski Area located right alongside Interstate 90, Exit 0, at the Idaho-Montana state line, 12 miles east of historic Wallace, Idaho. The trail, trailheads, and facilities are open from 8:30 AM to 5 PM PDT. 2️⃣1️⃣Shoshone Falls (/ʃoʊˈʃoʊn/) is a waterfall on the Snake River in southern Idaho, United States, approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city of Twin Falls. Sometimes called the "Niagara of the West," Shoshone Falls is 212 feet (65 m) high which is 45 feet (14 m) higher than Niagara Falls in New York and is the tallest of several cataracts along this stretch of the Snake River. Directly above the Shoshone Falls, the Snake River narrows to less than 400 feet (120 m) wide and rushes over a series of rapids split by islands, before plunging over a vertical, horseshoe-shaped cliff 212 feet (65 m) high and 925 feet (282 m) wide. The appearance of the falls varies significantly depending on the amount of water in the Snake River. During high water, the falls appear as a single block stretching the full width of the river. In low water, the falls split into four or more separate drops. 2️⃣2️⃣Lady Face Falls! The trailhead that leads to Lady Face Falls is accessed from the “inlet” campground loop. Part of this road is often flooded, and the whole campground layout is scheduled for a major overhaul sometime in the future. The trail leaving this older trailhead has the advantage of following the beautiful meanders of Stanley Lake Creek for the first half mile. From the “inlet” trailhead (0.2 miles from the parking lot), the ADA-accessible trail follows a fence along Stanley Lake Creek before weaving through dense willows for 0.5 miles. It emerges into a field of stunning wildflowers set against a backdrop of snow-filled couloirs (this is where the spur from the new trailhead come in) for most of the next half mile to the junction with the Alpine Way Trail. Continue through open forest to the north wall of the canyon where the trail begins a contouring climb up a subtle ridge. Look for a cairn and small sign where the main trail levels off, marking a spur that leads to Lady Face Falls. If you reach Stanley Lake Creek (another 0.3 miles further down the trail), you have gone too far. 2️⃣3️⃣Bridal Veil Falls Just beyond the turn-off to Lady Face Falls the trail crosses Stanley Lake Creek. There is no bridge, and even though the gradient is quite flat, many hikers turn back in early summer due to high water. Frigid knee-deep water for several yards is the price of admission to the upper Stanley Lake Canyon. A makeshift log bridge usually develops as the water drops. An easy stroll along the wide trail eventually leads to a faint “Y.” This is where many people cross the creek to access the off-trail climb to Hansen Lakes. Walk a little further to a second spur trail marked by a small “Bridal Veil Falls” sign bolted to a tree. It leads to an opening along the creek with a view of the falls and a sunny lunch spot. 2️⃣4️⃣Jump Creek Falls is an easy-to-access 50 feet high waterfall situated south of Marsing, Idaho. From the trailhead, it's only about 1/3 of a mile into the canyon on a well marked and paved path. You'll have to cross one stream, but it is possible to cross completely dry with some good balance. Be forewarned that rattlesnakes and poison ivy are both very real threats in this part of Idaho. Quick description: Distance: 0.6 miles roundtrip. Minimal elevation gain. Waterfall with swimming hole. Easy to access. Endless canyon exploration. Pets allowed. 2️⃣5️⃣Perrine Coulee Falls (nearly 200 feet high) is located just off Canyon Springs Road near Twin Falls. You can park at nearby Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center. A unique feature of Perrine-Coulee Falls is that you can walk behind the waterfall. Perrine Coulee Falls is a 2 mile out and back trail good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from March until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. 2️⃣6️⃣Upper Mesa Falls are 110 feet tall, with the lower falls coming in at 85-feet tall. Mesa Falls is the only waterfall in Idaho that is not being used for irrigation. Mesa Falls is an easy walk, suitable for all fitness levels. 2️⃣7️⃣Snow Creek Falls, is fed by Snow Lake in Boundary County, ID. Snow Lake is one of the Alpine lakes, and is fed by the surrounding creeks. There are two falls, one upper, one lower, but the upper is the one to see. A wooden walkway takes you to the very edge of roaring upper Snow Creek Falls. The lower falls drop 50-75 feet in multiple tiers as Snow Creek divides. There is a very good trail, with boardwalks and benches. Take US Highway 2/95 south past Bonner’s Ferry for 2.5 miles; bear right at the golf course onto Moravia Road, drive anotherr 3 miles; at West Side Road #417, turn right and go 2 miles to a parking turnout. 2️⃣8️⃣Copper Falls: Road #2517 affords visitors with the most direct route to the falls; sightseers can choose to turn off US Highway 95 onto Road #2517 14 miles northeast of the Scenic Road 1 junction or 0.7 mile south of the Eastport border crossing; travel 2 miles on this rough gravel road until you reach Copper Falls Trail #20. At an elevation of 3,400 feet in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Copper Creek plunges 160 feet from a cliff to form Copper Falls. Visitors should be prepared for a short, moderately steep 0.3-mile hike to the falls. 2️⃣9️⃣Elk Creek Falls is a 2 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Elk River, Idaho. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. 3️⃣0️⃣Char Falls, Situated within the Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s Sandpoint Ranger District, Char Falls is the result of Lightning Creek crushing 50 to 75 foot descent down a bedrock surface. Requiring a fairly difficult hike, Char Falls provides visitors with outstanding scenery as the falls are bordered with coniferous trees. After parking, hike 0.5 mile along a rock-strewn road until it ends at a broad trail. Proceeding on this trail for 20 yards, notice a faint path appear on the right, and take this path for approximately 100 yards to the fall’s precipice. Be careful in this area as the overlook is unfenced. 3️⃣1️⃣Fall Creek Falls are fed off of mountain run-off and empty into the Snake River, with a 60-foot descent into the River. The Falls widen as it drops and a natural fountain forms on each side of the middle cataract. Directions from Rexburg, ID: Head south toward Idaho Falls on Hwy 20. Turn right onto US-26 E/Northgate Mile. Continue to follow US-26 E. Exit south onto the gravel Snake River-Palisades Dam Road and proceed 1.4 miles. Park at the wide spot in the road and walk a short distance to the falls. 3️⃣2️⃣Granite Falls: An easily hiked trail of 365 feet runs along the creek bringing hikers to a viewpoint of the Lower Granite Creek Falls cascading (or side-step) over a sheer rock wall. There is a one mile loop trail of moderate difficulty that leads up the old road for 200 feet above the trailhead. This longer trail will bring you through ancient western red cedars and after a series of switchbacks will bring you to views of the Upper Granite Creek Falls and the Lower Granite Creek Falls. Hiking is permitted among the old growth trees. Directions: From Priest Lake Ranger District travel 4 miles north to Nordman, then 14 miles north of Nordman, Idaho, there's a unique area of old-growth cedar named for President Theodore Roosevelt. Since the early 1900s, this area was noted for its beauty. On April 15, 1943, the grove was officially designated as a Scenic Area. 3️⃣3️⃣Goat Falls: (Direction Only) The moderate hike to Goat Falls--6.8 miles out and back with a little more than 1,000 feet of gain--makes an ascent along Iron Creek under a canopy of lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forest. You will enter the official Sawtooth Wilderness at 1.1 miles and soon arrive at a signed junction. Here, turn left on the Alpine Way Trail--a right turn ascends to the Alpine and Sawtooth lakes--and ford Iron Creek with the assistance of a downed tree. Those looking for a short hike or our out with young children will find the shaded, sandy bank of the creek to be a picturesque destination for a shorter hike. After the ford, the trail crosses a bridge at 1.5 miles and begins a steep 600-foot ascent above a ravine. Wildflowers and far-reaching vistas are plentiful along this segment. After ascending through a few switchbacks, the trail levels and allows you to catch your breath at an elevation near 7,600 feet. Continue through dense forest to another junction at 2.9 miles. Take the right fork and walk through a wildflower-covered hillside to where the trail nearly disappears (3.3 miles), directly north of Goat Falls. For the best views of the falls, descend 100 feet on a small footpath.

I'm not a pack rat. I can't stand unnecessary clutter. I'll pass on the cherry cobbler. Graduation for me was a long time ago but congratulations to this years graduates. Walnuts, one of my favorite nuts. I am more aware of the endangered species now. Pizza party time! Yum! I don't own a bike any more. Sorry I'm no NASCAR fan.

I want to visit Idaho now. My top five picks are: Lawson's Emu-Z-Um Museum, World-famous Balanced Rock, The Fort Hall Replica, The Route of the Hiawatha trail, Yellowstone Bear World. And of I want to see all the waterfalls plus some of them I didn't get too.

Thank you Lidewey for the rest of the story. That was more interesting.

Warm hugs!🐶🐶💕🌤