Virtual U.S. Road trip- Day 12- Idaho

This road trip is flying in and am having fun. Today we are in Idaho with author Cortney  J Pearson. Idaho is a place I want to visit, so am excited to see what might be in store for me when I eventually get there. Over to Cortney.

Idaho is so beautiful! It has lava rock and extinct volcanoes, lush farmland and mountains, it’s replete with history! (Even as I’m writing this the songs from my 4^th grade Idaho History Program are playing in my head…)

Awesome Places in Idaho!

Craters of the Moon

This is actually pretty close to where I live, and is well worth the trip! Miles of rolling lava flow to hike across, there are also volcanoes to check out AND some awesome caves.

Sun Valley Resort

Also not that far from me! Sun Valley is known for being posh and a place of luxury, a respite for Hollywood actors who own homes there and come for a weekend getaway. I’ve heard Harrison Ford has a home there, as well as Bruce Willis. Here’s a list of other celebrities associated with Sun Valley!

Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark Zuckerberg,
Mats Wilander, Warren Buffett, Walter Annenberg,Adam West, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Miller, Demi Moore, Peter etera, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Willis, Ashton Kutcher, Richard Dreyfuss, Jamie Lee Curtis, Steve Wynn, Justin Timberlake.

Ernest Hemingway also finished For Whom the Bell Tolls while staying at

the Lodge in Sun Valley in 1939!

Shoshone Falls

A stunning set of waterfalls over 200 feet tall, and it’s actually taller than Niagara Falls!

Hunting, Camping, Fishing Galore!

Idaho is America’s backyard. There are so many beautiful places to go explore, to hike, hunt, camp, just enjoy nature.

City of Rocks National Reserve

Also incredibly awesome. It is literally a city of massive boulders and rocks as tall as buildings! They are HUGE! Here’s a pic of hubby and me on the big rocks. This is a huge appeal for rock climbers, campers, hikers, etc. We also took a four-wheeler ride through the nearby trails and it was absolutely beautiful.

Places to Eat in Idaho

You definitely HAVE to go to Big Jud’s. They have pretty good food, but the biggest thing is to see if you can complete the BURGER CHALLENGE. Can you eat a 1 lb. burger and thereby get the reknown of having an incredible stomach and get your picture taken and hung on their wall? I could barely eat a quarter of it, though my hubby mastered the challenge! These burgers are MASSIVE.

http://www.bigjudsboise.com/big-juds-challenge/

Hubby’s and my personal fave restaurant includes Goodwood BBQ in Boise. The last time we ate there I had a turkey sandwich where they smoked the bun. Yu-uh-uh-um!

Quirky things about Idaho

-Idaho is known for its potatoes! (But everyone knows that!) I for one have never been a big potato fan, actually, which is ironic that I live here, ha.

-Idaho has 3,100 miles of river—more than any other state.

- State Motto: "Esto Perpetua" meaning "It is forever"

- The first alpine chairlift was used in Sun Valley. In 1936 the fee was 25 cents per ride.

-Idaho is known as the Gem State. Idaho produces 72 types of precious and semi-precious stones.

-Twin Falls was the sight of Evil Knievel’s jump in 1974.

- The Great Seal of Idaho was designed in 1890 by Mrs. Emma Edwards Green. It is the only Great Seal in the 50 states to be
designed by a woman.

Famous People from Idaho

Chief Joseph – Nez Perce leader

Sarah Palin – politician

Sacajawea – Lewis and Clark’s famous guide

Picabo Street – world and Olympic champion skier

Joe Albertson – founder of the Albertson’s stores

Jerry Kramer – football star

Authors from Idaho

Ernest Hemingway had a home in Ketchum, Idaho. Jessica Day George was born in Boise, Idaho. Edgar Rice Burroughs – wrote Tarzan (spent half a year in Idaho, so I guess he’s not technically “from” Idaho…). Me! :D

Cortney Pearson is a book nerd who studied literature at BYU-Idaho, a music nerd who plays clarinet in her local community orchestra, and a writing nerd who creates stories for young adults. She lives with her husband and three sons in a small Idaho farm town. 

Find Cortney on: 

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Newsletter

Thanks Cortney. I am even more excited to visit Idaho one day. I would love to Craters of the moon. What do you guys think of Idaho? Could you do the 1lb burger challenge? Leave me a common below.

Check out Day 13 in Illinois with author Julie Cross and Giveaway here

You can follow all the road trip posts here

Sources:

http://www.attractionsofamerica.com/attractions/idaho.php 

http://www.visitidaho.org/press/about/famous_idahoans.htm

http://www.inidaho.com/fun_facts_list.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Valley,_Idaho