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The Ultimate Sawtooth Mountains Bucket List: 10 Unforgettable Stops
The Sawtooth Mountains Range in central Idaho is one of the most beautiful ranges I have ever been to, and I’ve been too quite a few. It’s one of those places where you feel like you’ve gone back to a simpler time in life. Cell phones don’t always work, and you don’t really care (as long as they still take pictures.) There is so much beauty in every direction, and the outdoor recreational activities are endless! The Sawtooth Recreational Area (SRA) is a vast wealth of resources and opportunities. With over 700 miles of trail and over 400 lakes there is absolutely something for every level or recreation. High peaks…
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Stanley, Idaho: Soul of the Sawtooths
On our way to pick our daughter up from camp last week we were fortunate to have a little extra time to poke around in central Idaho. This was an area I was very familiar with, as I attended the same camp for 8 years when I was younger. I had not, however, spent any time in Stanley, Idaho. It was a super cute little town with absolutely STUNNING views of the Sawtooth mountain range. There were several little hotels and cabins, a gas station, and a couple of restaurants in town making it the perfect stop for your adventures in the area. While we didn’t get to spend a…
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Sunbeam Mine: Echoes of Idaho’s Gold Rush
I don’t know about you, but anytime we’re on a long road trip we take any and every opportunity to get out and stretch our legs. We love to explore new places and learn new things. If there’s a historic marker along the roadside, you can bet we’re going to stop and take a look! That’s exactly how we found Sunbeam Mine historic site! After taking a dip in Sunbeam Hot Springs, we were on our way to Challis, Idaho to our hotel for the evening. We didn’t make it even 5 miles down the road before we came across this awe inspiring historic site. Not only is the site…
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Sunbeam Hot Springs: Nature’s Spa in the Heart of Idaho
This weekend we made a quick trip over to Central Idaho for some much needed mountain time! While we were traveling from Stanley to Challis, we came across Sunbeam Hot Springs on the side of ID-75. We decided to stop and check it out, and stretch our legs a little bit. Man oh man, it was ABSOLUTELY worth it!! A Brief History of Sunbeam Hot Springs: Sunbeam Hot Springs was once revered by the native Lemhi-Shoshone people for their healing properties. They were used by the tribes as sacred gathering places for centuries. It was later discovered on accident by a fur trader named Alexander Ross who referred to the…
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Where Rails Met Rivers: Biking Idaho’s Trail of the Coeur d’Alane’s
Happy Fourth of July!! I hope everyone had a wonderful time with their families today and ate until they could barely move. We were thinking of going to a parade today, but at the very last minute we decided to go on a bike ride on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s in Cataldo, Idaho. We have ridden several different parts of the trail before, but we had never done this particular section so we figured we would give it a try. I am so glad we did because it was a blast! Getting There: From 1-90, you’ll take exit 40 towards Cataldo. The parking area is pretty much right…
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A Berry Sweet Day at Green Bluff, Washington
Today we found ourselves with a lot of extra time on our hands, so we decided to take a trip over to Green Bluff, Washington. It’s one of our favorite places to get our farm fix and pick up some delicious fruits and vegetables. Today we went with fruit in mind. I was particularly interested in some Rainier Cherries (my favorite) and some fresh strawberries, my kids were interested in seeing some animals and playing in the dirt. Hidden Acres Orchards: Our favorite stop over at Green Bluff is Hidden Acres. My kids love the playground and animals there and I LOVE their little farm store. We have gone there…
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History Beneath Our Feet: A Family Trip to Big Hole Battlefield
Walking Through History: Big Hole National Battlefield Nestled along the North Fork of the Big Hole River in southwestern Montana, Big Hole National Battlefield marks the site of a fierce confrontation between the Nez Perce Tribe and the U.S. Army on August 9–10, 1877. In a surprise dawn attack, soldiers descended upon a sleeping Nez Perce encampment of around 750 people—men, women, and children. Though badly outnumbered, the Nez Perce fought back vigorously, forcing the troops to retreat and entrench—and even momentarily capturing a U.S. howitzer. The battle ended the following day with both sides suffering heavy losses: between 60 and 90 Nez Perce and roughly 31 soldiers killed . Today, the battlefield’s 3…
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Step Back in History: Discovering Bannack Ghost Town
After spending the last few trips in Washington state, we decided that we should do a little exploring in Montana. On our quest for a real “Wild West” experience we stumbled upon Bannack Ghost Town in Bannack, Montana. And boy did we hit “the gold mine!” The History of Bannack: Tucked away in the hills of southwestern Montana, Bannack Ghost Town is one of the best-preserved glimpses into the Wild West you can find. Founded in 1862 during Montana’s first gold rush, Bannack quickly grew into a bustling town full of hope, grit, and gold fever. At its peak, it had a hotel, a school, saloons, a jail—and even served…
