Southern Idaho Adventures

Made our way to Southern Idaho, first stop Twin Falls to check out a couple National Parks and see the "Niagara Falls" of the West... (Shoshone Falls). Twin Falls is a City of approximately 44,000 people and it has it all including a Costco. You can travel from end of town to the other in 20 minutes but yet has all the shopping anyone would need. We did notice that there are a lot of young people and we looked up the demographics and the median age is 31. We entered Twin Falls crossing the Snake River on the Perrine Bridge, what a site. The Snake River is approximately 1000' below the bridge and there are base jumpers jumping off of it every day as long as it is not too windy. The weather was very cold for us, mornings of 34 degrees and highs of 50's, very windy also. It rained a couple of days we were there but we weathered it and saw the sites. Shoshone Falls is right there in Twin Falls and they call them the Niagara Falls of the west, I guess we can agree with that however, as beautiful as they are, they don't hold a candle to Niagara Falls. Just west of Shoshone Falls was also the area that Evil Kenevil attempted his jump over the Snake River. There is still a portion of his dirt ramp remaining. We traveled about 90 miles Northwest to visit a National Park named "Craters of the Moon". This is a large area of lava fields and caves created by the lava. This is also an area that some of the Apollo astronauts trained prior to their trip to the moon, so you can imagine how strange this area looks. We did hike down into a couple of the caves that were open, pretty awesome! We took another day to explore the "City of Rocks", another very strange yet very beautiful area. This area is full of rock climbers when the weather is good.
We then headed to Boise mainly to visit our friends Tom, Sharil, Jim and Debra. Some of you may know them but these are friends we developed during our careers at Sprouts. Tom and Sharil took us to many sites in the Boise area to see along with full day of winery hopping for some wine tasting! So much fun! Jim and Debra had us all over at their place for dinner and entertainment on Saturday, WOW!!!!!!!!! Jim is quite the chef. We haven't had a meal better than what Jim prepared in any 5 star restaurant, seriously!!! Jim also has a Bocce Ball court in his backyard which we learned to play and had loads of fun. Tom, Sharil, Jim and Debra have some very beautiful homes, envious, envious and envious! What a awesome time we had with our friends!
That was pretty much our southern Idaho experience and now we are onto Northern Idaho. We hope you enjoy the pictures.

Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls

View of the Snake River from Perrine Bridge

At the overlook of Perrine Bridge/Snake River

Shoshone Falls (AKA Niagara Falls of the West)

Shoshone Falls with a Rainbow

Another beautiful view of the Snake River

Ahhh Mamma Goose with her babies

Sprouts New Proto-Type

This is where the base jumpers jump from - there is one jumping if you can see him!

 Lava everywhere you look here at Craters of the Moon

 One of hundreds of rock formations - so amazing to me

Jerry found his way out of the cave - pretty cool!

Hummm this could be interesting lol

 Looking out of one of the caves

Walking down into one of the massive caves

Inside one of the amazing caves

 One of the many massive craters

 View of City of Rocks - Pretty awesome rock formations everywhere!


 You go Jerry you lift that rock!

"Camping Rock" There are still messages on the rock from the 1800's from the
 immigrants passing through on the Oregon Trail - they used grease from the wagon wheels to write their messages

Another view of "Camping Rock"

Beautiful place - I'm sure this is heaven for rock climbers

 This is a view from a tent camping spot

Another amazing National Park to put your bucket list - it's worth a visit!

One of the 3 Boise wineries that we visited

 What a Perfect Day - Great Friends, Great Wine, Great View!

 There is our friend Tom we are in his back yard -
 check out their balcony - they have amazing views - beautiful home!

Front View of Tom and Sharil's beautiful home

 Oh wow this was cool - We had a wonderful dinner at the Yard House at the "Village"
and then sat outside and watch the dancing water fountain play to music - Great night!

 Great picture guys! Tom and Jerry outside a winery.

 Sign of all the wineries in the area - This could have been a 2 day tour lol
Must say Boise has great wine - Great idea Tom and Sharil!!

 Tom took us to a awesome overlook of the snake river - such a beautiful river

Check out this bull snake we saw along the trail - he's eating well!

Picture of the dam and an old hydro electric plant that use to be active in the 1900's.

Picture perfect back ground!

Another picture of the hydro electric plant -

 

 Individual sautéed mushrooms and scalloped potatoes - Really...this is amazing!

 Roasted cauliflower and broccoli -
These have now been added to my "To Make List" Oh so good!

Ok so these melt in your mouth ribs were our appetizer!

These too die for melt in your mouth steaks were "WOW"

We didn't get a picture of the 2" halibut however, I can say they were Superb!!!
Must say dinner was a 5 star!!

Bocce Ball Court made with a 3 inch deep surface of imported crushed oyster shells.
This game was a blast! We need this at home lol

Jerry looking down in Jim and Debra's back yard from the bocce ball court -
 Hello Tom, Debra, Sharil & Carmel

Sharil and Carmel hanging out around the fire

 (logs made out of metal with slots in them to allow flames to flow through them - they look like real wood!)

 Us with Tom on the scenic byway of the Payette River
on our way to a little town of McCall

 Our wonderful friends Tom and Sharil - Great Picture!

 View of Payette Lake from the restaurant we had lunch at in McCall

 Us at lunch - What a view!!

Oh - So this town of McCall has flags at each street crossing that you grab
and walk across the street with...in hopes that the cars will see you and won't run you over....You become your own crossing guard... Jerry and Tom crossed us safely!! Not a bad idea...and Tom and Jerry were having fun! Jerry taking pride in his duty lol!

 Great Job Tom - Keeping us safe!!

Left Boise and on our way to Coeur D'Alene - Perfect spot for a little lunch break!

 

That's it for Southern Idaho - Great times!! Now onto Northern Idaho - First stop Coeur D'Alene...to be continued