Winter Garden aGlow -- An Illuminating Experience

For a dazzling display of over 250,000 lights, you’ll want to make a visit to “Winter Garden aGlow” at the Idaho Botanical Garden this season. Guests will be “wowed” by a sea of multi-hued color as they wander through the garden pathways and take in panoramic views of the Treasure Valley atop the hill in the Lewis and Clark Native Plant Garden.

According to Rebecca Needles, the lower garden manager and self-proclaimed “illumination expert, there is no real overall theme to their lighting display this year, but a few areas do have their own uniqueness. “The English garden features clear lights with a spattering of red and the Rose garden is mostly in green with bits of color thrown in.” She said they are especially delighted to feature the newly acquired “Boys in the Swing” sculpture that was transferred from the Boise Towne Square Mall, and placed in the Children's Garden November 3, 2009. The sculpture was taken a part and then put back together piece by piece during the transfer process. “This area is filled with lots of bright, colorful lights,” said Needles.

Since this event is the largest fund-raiser of the year for this non-profit organization, which uses the money to purchase plants, pay for new construction projects, pay staff and to keep the garden looking it’s best year round, work on the lighting project begins the first week of October. “We usually have 10 people a day working 8 to 9 hours right up until we open,” said Needles. “Some days we have groups of 15 or more who work 5 to 6 hours.”

Needles said that even though putting up the lights is a lot of work, their effort is repaid when they hear “ooh’s” and “aah’s” from the visitors.

Roaring bonfires, hot refreshments and holiday music round out the fun at this event, which is open daily until January 10, 2010. The event will also be open Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and Santa will stop by the garden December 18 through December 23.

The gates open at 6 pm each night with the last admission at 9 pm. The garden closes promptly at 9:30. Admission is $6 general and $4 for Botanical Garden members; children from 4-12 are $4 and children 3 and under are free.

Visit the garden at 2355 Old Penitentiary Road off Warm Springs Avenue in East Boise. To learn more about the garden’s upcoming events including their online auction of fun items that runs through January 11, visit their website at http://www.idahobotanicalgarden.org/

All Aboard The North Pole Express

A great way to celebrate the spirit of the season is by boarding a locomotive powered sleigh for a magical journey to the North Pole. Such an adventure awaits Treasure Valley residents who want to embark on a memorable day or nighttime journey. The Thunder Mountain Line depot in Horseshoe Bend carries passengers through the mountains along the beautiful and scenic Payette River to the town of Banks.

Guests are allowed to move freely between the passenger cars which feature a concession car, a lounge car with full beverage service and an all round-favorite --the open-air car.

On a recent excursion, my friends and I opted for the nighttime journey and became enchanted with the sparkling river below, as a nearly full moon illuminated its splendor and surroundings. With a cup of warm cocoa cradled in your hands, visitors will feel the bite of the crisp, clean air that is both intoxicating and exhilarating. Quietness settles over the car as the gentle rocking of the train swings passengers like babies in their cradles and the clanking wheels sing a soft lullaby.

Back inside the heated, cozy passenger cars, Mrs. Claus greets guests with a warm smile and explains we’ll be seeing Santa soon. The overhead lights are dimmed and the icicle lights hanging from the windows provide the perfect back drop for the carolers that soon gather around the guests to sing Christmas carols and invite everyone to join in song.


The intimate setting is made more so with only 75 guests per trip according to Sherry Smith, Group Sales Manager. “We want our guests to have a really good time and we encourage the kids to wear their warm pajamas and bring their stuffed animals.”

The train begins to slow as it enters Banks (The North Pole) and kids scurry to the doors to be first to see Santa. After visiting with jolly old St. Nick, guests enjoy homemade cookies and milk while taking in the full array of Christmas lights. After all the children have secretly told Santa their Christmas gift wishes, he hitches a ride aboard the train and joins Mrs. Claus and the carolers and sings songs with guests back to Horseshoe Bend.

“The round trip excursion takes about 2.5 to 3 hours,” said Smith “The train is really unique to the area and with it’s older cars, it makes for a very nostalgic experience for our guests.”


The rail line also features three routes and several themed train rides throughout the year. Some of their other popular excursions include Mystery Theatre Dinners, Wine and Dine, and Wild West Train Robbery. A new addition to their line is The Texan, which features the ultimate railcar experience. Built for the senior executives of the Northern Pacific by Pullman Standard in 1955, this business car includes a rear observation deck, observation lounge, formal dining room, master bedroom, two sleeping compartments, secretary room and full kitchen with staff quarters. Smith said this car is frequently booked for special occasions and private parties.

Smith said reservations for the North Pole Express are filling up fast and can be made by visiting their website at www.thundermountainline.com, calling their sales office at 331-1184 or visiting their sales offices in Horseshoe Bend at 120 Mill Road or their Boise sales office at 106 North 6th Street, Suite 202. Merchandise and gift certificates are also available.

Hike, Bike and Boat in Beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

If you ever wanted to walk on water, just head to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a picturesque panhandle town about eight hours north of Boise. Visitors can experience a simulated version of “walking on water” by visiting the world’s longest floating boardwalk. At 12’ wide and nearly three-quarters of a mile long, visitors get an unparalleled view of the pristine waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Coeur d’Alene Resort which serves as the anchor of the boardwalk. There’s also a 3,000 square foot sunning area located at the southwest corner of the boardwalk, which makes for a great place to watch the boaters coming in and out of the marina.

After you finish your walk here, head to Tubbs Hill, which is located directly west of the marina through the city parking lot. Tubbs Hill is comprised of 135 acres of publicly owned land and is largely undeveloped. Only a few man-made elements such as signage are found in this urban wilderness area accessible only by foot. At an elevation of 2,128 feet, the two-mile loop offers striking scenery and several tranquil spots. There are also several beach and cove access points where visitors can stop for a dip in the water or have a picnic and watch the boats go by.



Visitors can then give their legs a rest by hopping aboard one of the Lake Coeur D’Alene cruises. This is a great way to leisurely discover the lake without having to be the captain of your own boat. During the scenic 90-minute tour, visitors will cruise the lake’s northern bays, learn about the lake and some fascinating historical details, see the secluded lake homes and the worlds only floating golf green. Visit www.cdalakecruises.com for various cruises on Lake Coeur D’Alene and the St. Joe River.

For more scenic shoreline views of the lake, hop on a bike and ride the North Idaho Centennial Trail. This non-motorized, multi-use recreational trail, meanders for 24 miles from the state line at the Idaho/Washington border to beautiful Higgens Point, six miles east of Coeur d'Alene. Start your ride at the resort and follow the trail for six miles, which hugs the lake shoreline to Higgens Point, an Idaho State Park. In late fall and early winter, throngs of spectators come here to view the annual visit of bald eagles as they migrate south. The trail has numerous rest areas, scenic views and historical interpretative signs to add to the enjoyment of one of the most beautiful trail systems in the country. http://www.northidahocentennialtrail.org/

When You Go
For a centrally located hotel just off exits I-90 and I-95, try the Days Inn at 2200 Northwest Blvd. With new pillow top mattresses, you’ll sleep like a baby in this 62-unit, two-story establishment. Guests can make serve-yourself hot waffles each morning in the breakfast room and also enjoy a variety of other continental fare. Rates are $79 - $179 depending on the type of room and season. The hotel is 100% non-smoking, pet friendly and only one mile from downtown. In addition, the North Idaho Centennial bike trail is just across the street from the hotel. For more information call 208-667-8668 or visit their website at http://www.daysinn.com

Main Street In Coeur D'Alene

The Floating Green

Route of the Hiawatha Rail Trail

The folks at Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area don’t seem to mind when you saunter through their shop with drippy, wet mud on your entire backside. They know you’ve just experienced what the locals affectionately call the “Taft Tunnel Swipe.”
I had just ridden the Route of the Hiawatha in Northern Idaho and I was looking for that perfect celebratory memento to proclaim my feat to the world. There it was, hanging on a rack – a souvenir t-shirt that read Hiawatha Trail on the front and on the back of the shirt -- the self-congratulatory pat on the back I was looking for:

“We came, We saw, We rode it all”
1.8 Taft Tunnel

Montana to Idaho
7 trestles

Bitterroot Mountains

15 miles of trail

10 tunnels

Touted as one of the most scenic Rails-to-Trails in the United States, the Route of the Hiawatha lives up to its legendary accolades.

Montana to Idaho

Visitors begin their ride in Montana, albeit for a very short distance, at the East Portal Trailhead at an elevation of 4,147 feet. Before you can warm up your riding legs, riders immediately enter the 1.8-mile St. Paul Pass (Taft) Tunnel, which crosses between Montana and Idaho where, midway through the tunnel, an interpretative sign on the wall indicates the Montana/Idaho border – that is if you can see it.

The Big, Long, Dark Tunnel
This tunnel gets cold, dark and wet fast. Within minutes, I really had to rely on the front-mounted bike light of my rental bike. The only thing keeping me from bouncing off the walls were the reflectors added on the sides of the roadway. Along with the obvious sight deprivation, a rider’s sense of sound is heightened as you hear water running down small channels at the sides of the road next to the walls. And you can’t help but get wet. The slippery, cold, muddy water kicked up from your back tire deposits itself on your backside while the biggest, coldest drops from the roof of the tunnel slither down you neck. As you keep riding, you’ll notice the temperature keeps dropping and your fingers start to become numb. It’s best to wear a jacket.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Just when you thought you couldn’t enjoy more of this “one of many highlights of the trail,” riders burst out of the tunnel into the bright light of the clear Idaho sky. Just to the right of the tunnel, riders will be rewarded with a beautiful waterfall and surrounding wildflowers.





Learning The Stories
All along the trail, there are numerous detailed signs providing information about the rich mining and railroading history, culture, and geology of the area. According to Route of the Hiawatha website, riders will learn more about “the scenic passage way through the spectacular Bitterroot Mountains, famous between 1911 and 1961 as the “Route of the Hiawatha” on the Milwaukee Road between Illinois and Washington.”



Railroad Trestles
After exiting tunnel 21, stop at the scenic viewpoint on the west side of the road. In the distance, riders will see the first of seven steel trestles you will cross. The longest and highest trestle riders cross, will be at mile six or trestle 220 when they cross over Kelly Creek. It stands 230 feet high and is 850 in length.
Riders will find themselves stopping quite often to take in the breathtaking views along the trail. Even with the gentle downhill grade of 1,000 feet, plan on taking two to three hours for the ride and an additional half hour for the bus ride back up the hill if you plan to take the shuttle.





When You Go

The trail is located just off Highway I-90 about 56 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Take the Taft exit, in Montana, and then turn right off the ramp. Turn right again over a small white bridge onto Rainey Creek Road and continue to the East Portal Trailhead. There will be signs directing you to the start of the trailhead.
Bike rentals, along with helmets and bike lights are available at Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area. A day use trail fee of $9.00 can also be purchased here or from one of the trail marshals. You can bike or hike the trail any time between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. PST from May 23 to October 4, 2009. For a $9 fee, you and your bike can catch the shuttle bus back to the west portal of the Taft Tunnel where you can then ride back through the tunnel again.
For more detailed information, contact Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area at (208) 744-1301, http://www.skilookout.com/ or the US Forest Service, Avery office, (208) 245-4517, www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/rec/activities/biking/hiawatha.

Zip Idaho -- The Adrenalin Adventure Rush That Rocks!

If you’re ready for an adrenalin adventure rush that rocks, the zany bliss of zip lining packs the perfect punch and there’s no better place to experience this rush than at Zip Idaho -- the newest zip line adventure in Idaho, located just 40 minutes from Boise at Horseshoe Bend.

Adventure seekers begin with a series of five zip lines that have you soaring between majestic old-growth Ponderosa Pines to platforms high in the trees. Soaking in the magnificent views of the valley below from tree top vistas from as high as 5,000 feet off the ground is an added jaw-dropping bonus.


My friend Tammy prepares to zip away!


A view of the valley below


Another valley view

Just when you thought you couldn’t pack in any more adrenalin, the two best zips are saved for last. Participants will soar through the air on the Wild Turkey, zipping at speeds of up to 40 mph as they travel along the 1700-foot-long screamer.

Once you’ve caught your breath, the finale caps off with you and a friend hooked in to race down the 1800-foot-long dual line over 100 feet off the ground on Double Trouble. Just remember to bring your sense of adventure and enjoy the ride.

Prices for the three-hour tour are $75 and participants must weigh between 80 and 260 pounds. For more information, call Zip Idaho at 208-793-2947 or visit their website at www.zipidaho.com.


Our guide Kip

Our guide Bobbie


The Groth Family from Cataldo, Idaho and guide Bobbie


Friend Tammy and Norma get ready to race down Double Trouble

Robin Groth gets a head start on Double Trouble


Her husband plays catch up on Double Trouble

Airboating On The Snake River

When you think of taking an airboat tour, your mind most likely conjures up images of skirting over the tops of shallow swamps and marshes in some other state like Florida or Louisiana. However, locals can now experience the thrill of a tour just 45 minutes outside of Boise at a launching site in Walters Ferry.


The 22-seat airboat

In March, Swan Falls Excursions began operating the only airboat tour on the Snake River. As an affiliate company of Hells Canyon Adventures, one would suspect they would use jet boats like the ones they use on their tours in Hells Canyon. But according to airboat captain Mike Bell, “jet boats just don’t make a lot of sense on this portion of the Snake River.”

“The stretch of river from Walters Ferry to Swan Falls often has low water flows and gets filled with moss,” he said. “By using an airboat, we can extend our tour season up until early October. It just allows us the opportunity to take more people up and down the river.”

Visitors boarding the 24-foot boat, which has ample room to transport 22 passengers, will travel a 14-mile stretch of the Snake River to Swan Falls. A historical narration of area sites is given throughout the tour by one of two airboat captains on board.

Visitors board the craft at Walters Ferry. A ferry at this site, was once the only way to cross the river and it operated continuously for 58 years from June 1863 until the steel bridge, which now carries passengers over the river, was officially opened in October 1921. It served as the gateway to Silver City and the rich Owyhee mines and was the most direct route between the Boise Basin and the Owyhee mining camps to the south and on to Nevada and California.


Some of the scenery along the way

After traveling about seven miles, Bell points out Celebration Park, which was established as Idaho’s only archaeological park in 1989. The park contains numerous Indian petroglyphs or rock art pictures dating back 12,000 years. Indians wintered in the area for thousands of years and etched pictures on the lava boulders left behind from the Bonneville flood. Although the petroglyphs can’t be seen from the boat, this area is well worth a visit.


More scenery along the way

Just a couple of miles upstream, passengers are able to see the remains of a rock cabin built by local doctor. “He retired in 1904 and lived here for several years,” said Bell. He obtained his homestead by “proofing” or proving for two years that he was able to live off the land.” Other rock cabins also exist in the area and were originally built by miners in the late 1890’s to early 1900’s as they searched for gold in the Snake River canyon.


A rock house along the Snake River

Traveling further upstream, passengers begin to notice huge, round boulders in the river. According to Bell, “this portion of the river is known as Suicide Bend or the graveyard and is the most treacherous section of river in all of Idaho. More boating accidents happen here than anywhere else in the state,” he said.

The boulders were deposited in the area when approximately 15,000 years ago, flood waters from Lake Bonneville, overflowed at Red Rock Pass in southeastern Idaho and continued westward across the Snake River Plain generally following the path of the present Snake River. Geologists coined the phrase “melon gravel” to the boulder deposits because they resembled "petrified watermelons." The melon gravels deposited by the flood average from three feet to ten feet in diameter and the gravel bars are as much as one mile wide by 1.5 miles long.

After the airboat captain skillfully navigates passengers through the melon gravel, a smoother section of river opens up to reveal the 500-foot span of the Guffey Bridge. The 70-foot-tall bridge, which is Idaho’s largest historic artifact, is the only Parker-Through-Truss railroad bridge in Idaho. It was designed to facilitate the hauling of gold and silver ore from Silver City mines at the turn of the century. Historians report that reaching Silver city was totally impractical, because the climb was almost a vertical mile above the Snake River. On August 7, 1898, rail service commenced to its terminal in Murphy and from there on, stages and freight wagons had to continue their steep ascent to Silver City.


The Guffey Bridge


The black basalt canyon walls of Morely Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey

Visitors will also enjoy seeing a variety of birds as the boat glides through the dramatic cliffs of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation area. The airboat captain slows the boat to talk about the nesting osprey sitting high atop a post, which has incorporated a portion of a blue tarp in its nest. With all eyes upon the osprey, it comes to attention, while it’s partner sits watching over the curious crowd on an opposing pole on the other side of the river. Other birds in the area include eagles, blue herons and ducks.


An osprey in it's nest


Another osprey

At the halfway point of the tour, Swan Falls Dam, which was built in 1901 and named for the graceful white swans that wintered there, comes into view. As the oldest hydroelectric dam on the Snake River, it was originally built to supply electricity to the Silver City and Dewey mines.


Passengers get a view of Swan Falls Dam

After a short rest break ashore, passengers begin the return trip to once again enjoy the incredible scenery and relive the history of the local area.
Two-hour airboat tours are $45 for adults and $35 for children 11 and under. For more information about taking this tour and others offered by Swan Falls Excursions, call 1-800-422-3568 or visit their website at www.swanfallsexcursions.com.

Vale, Oregon Murals

All eyes are upon you the moment you round the bend and enter their town. They continue to watch you as you go from place to place traveling their quiet streets. Who are these people and what stories lie behind their watchful eyes?

Assembled in larger-than-life murals, the observant eyes belong to a cast of characters who settled the Vale, Oregon area. They are the area’s first inhabitants – the Indians, the missionaries, the fur traders, the Chinese, the pioneers. Don Grey who painted the mural in 1998 on the side of Logan’s Food Town market at the east entrance into town and aptly named “Born & Raised On The Oregon Trail” captures them in life-like reality. This mural along with 30 other vivid murals, grace the buildings in Vale, which lies just an hour west of Boise.

In 1992, a group of business owners and other interested folks met to explore opportunities for economic development and tourism. They were able to bring Karl Schutz, the founder of Chemanis, B.C. Canada’s successful mural project to Vale to provide input and direction into starting their own outdoor gallery.

1993 was an important year for the mural society as the year represented the 150-year celebration of the Oregon Trail. Don Gray of Union, Oregon, an enthusiast of Oregon Trail history, was chosen to paint the first mural, “The New Arrivals.” Thus began a fitting tribute to those who first walked the actual Oregon Trail which today is Vale’s Main Street.

Visitors will appreciate the fine attention to detail that professional artists used in creating the numerous murals. Some of the heritage reflections include Native Americans on the North Fork of the Malheur River; mountain men camped along the banks of the river trading their furs; to a young man trying to teach four young ladies how to fish.

To learn more about the murals, the Vale Heritage Reflections Mural Society has an excellent website which provides color photos of each of the murals along with a description, information about the artist and photos about the making of each mural. www.valeoregonmurals.com

Visitors will want to obtain a brochure from any of the several businesses in Vale as it features a map showing the locations of all the murals. I got mine from the very knowledgeable teenage girl behind the counter at Dairy Queen. Visitors can either walk the downtown area or drive to view the outdoor gallery.

To get to Vale, visitors can either travel I-84 toward Ontario and then make their way to Highway 20 West or travel the country back roads through the towns of Notus and Parma to the Highway 20 West junction.

Wood River Rail Trail -- Sun Valley - Ketchum, ID

As I saddled up to ride the 20-mile Wood River Trail from Ketchum to Bellvue, Idaho, I thought it had begun to snow. But I soon remembered it was the last day in May and the forecast called for light winds and temperatures in the70’s.

Bald Mountain -- Elevation 9,150' and the Big Wood River


The Wood River Trail near Hulen Meadows

I realized my mind wasn’t really playing tricks on me, it was snowing – sort of – the cottony, covered seeds from the tall, majestic cottonwood trees along the Wood River were in full bloom.
What a beautiful ride. As you enter the trail at Hulen Meadows, your eye can’t help but look toward the towering 9,150 foot Bald Mountain or follow the flow of the beautiful Wood River.

Just beyond five miles is a famous bridge trestle named Cold Springs Bridge. This is one of only eight known Pegram bridges still standing in the United States. Idaho has seven of these bridges and two of them are on the trail. The one below is a 208-foot single span. Since I didn’t know what a Pegram truss was, I turned to Wikipedia for an explanation.

Cold Springs Bridge

The Pegram truss is a hybrid between the Warren and Parker trusses where the upper chords are all of equal length and the lower chords are longer than the corresponding upper chord. Because of the difference in upper and lower chord length, each panel was not square. The members which would be vertical in a Parker truss vary from near vertical in the center of the span to diagonal near each end (like a Warren truss). George H. Pegram, while the chief engineer of Edge Moor Iron Company in Wilmington, Delaware, patented this truss design in 1885.
The Pegram truss consists of a Parker type design with the vertical posts leaning towards the center at an angle between 60 and 75°. The variable post angle and constant chord length allowed steel in existing bridges to be recycled into a new span using the Pegram truss design. This design also facilitated reassembly and permitted a bridge to be adjusted to fit different span lengths. There are eight remaining Pegram span bridges in the United States with seven in Idaho.

Cold Springs Bridge Info

Along the way, I also saw a large fox dart across the trail and head into the sagebrush and saw lots of wildflowers – especially yellow lupine.

Yellow Lupine

I missed the turn to the Sawtooth Botanical Garden while I was on my bike, so I drove to it after my ride. See the few photos below.
All in all, this was a great ride and am glad I got to ride the entire length of the trail. Happy riding!


More of the trail


River views


Sawtooth Botanical Garden pond and stream


Look for the little bird in the birdhouse


I made it -- 20 miles!