Summer Vacation 2011 - Eastern Idaho!!

We didn't have much of a summer vacation planned this year. So a few weeks ago we decided we'd head to Eastern Idaho. 1-We've never explored that area, and 2-I wanted to check out stuff for a family reunion in September. This was such a FABULOUS trip!!! We could not get enough of it. We made our home base in Driggs, Idaho, in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. Here are the kids proudly wearing their Driggs, Idaho T-shirts.

We rented a condo at Buffalo Junction. It was SUCH a nice place. And a total steel of a deal!! If you are ever heading that way--stay here!! Three bedroom top of the line place. It had a playground for the kids

The kids loved playing on the bunk beds and out on the little decks.

Our first tourist destination of the trip was Yellowstone Bear World.

This is a place you drive through in your vehicle, to see all kinds of wildlife found in Yellowstone. They had two totally white elk, buffalo, moose, wolves, deer, and more.

Most importantly--they had BEARS. LOTS OF THEM!! They have tried to recreate the good old days in Yellowstone where multiple bears surround your vehicle as you drive through. It was amazing. Of course these bears are not totally in the wild, but you still cannot get out of your vehicle. There really were so many bears, we couldn't believe it. Grizzly and black bears.

It is a tourist attraction, after all, so the kids got to go on a few amusement rides, get some fudge from the gift shop, feed the ducks and fish, etc.

This cracked me up.....both Darin and Logan are trying to stand taller and puff their chests to measure up to the size of a bear. Ellie just stood there. Boys!!

They had a very fun petting zoo. We liked all the baby deer the best. They were like cute little Bambi's.

That night we headed to a local hot springs, down in a holler, off a back country road. Green Canyon Hot Springs. They had a tiny very freezing pool, to freeze out in....and then you'd hop into the hot pool.

Yellowstone National Park. So, we did not enter through one of the main entrances, or go where there were mobs of tourists. But we did drive for miles along back roads to enter Yellowstone from the very south-west corner. It was exciting to see the "Welcome to Yellowstone National Park" sign, in the middle of nowhere. We went to the Cave Falls area and it was breathtaking!!

It felt like the most rugged back-country I had ever been in. It was just amazing.

Cave Falls.

Don't blink, or you'll miss it. Miss what? ME!! Yes, I really was on this vacation. This is the only picture of me the entire trip!! I am always behind the camera. I don't really mind....but I must prove I WAS there.

After the falls, we took another dirt road off the beaten path to a mountain lake.

Here we caught our first fish of the trip.

Then it was on to Warm River where Darin caught a few fish fly-fishing, and the kids and I enjoyed the beautiful river. You can see Darin beyond the kids in this picture.

This water was COLD. Not sure why they call it "Warm" river. It was icy and our feet were numb. But the kids still got brave enough to float in it awhile.

We were right at a campsite on this river. We decided that if we ever decided to be a camping family, we'll camp right here. (But not sure we'll ever give up the three-bedroom condo for a tent.)

Eastern Idaho vacation continues in the next blog post.