| Many of the national parks in the United States | | | | 2,300,000 acres by itself and is the largest, |
| are facing a crisis. Too many visitors. | | | | designated wilderness area in the continental |
| Overcrowding and high vehicular traffic at these | | | | United States. |
| family vacation destinations has created a | | | | Fishing, boating, swimming, rafting, hiking, |
| dilemma for the federal agencies who maintain | | | | backpacking, horseback riding, biking, rock climbing, |
| and manage those scenic locations. | | | | camping, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing |
| It has also caused problems for the vacationing | | | | and other outdoor adventure favorites can be |
| family. Reservations are hard to come by at | | | | found throughout Idaho. In addition, the state has |
| nearby commercial accommodations and at | | | | a fascinating history and a diverse cultural overlay. |
| park-operated overnight facilities. More and more | | | | Follow in the footsteps of the heroic explorers, |
| families are searching for alternative locations for | | | | Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and their |
| their holiday break. If you are looking for a | | | | female companion and guide, Sacajawea. Learn |
| vacation retreat with plenty of elbow room for | | | | about the wagon trains that ventured west on |
| your family, let me suggest the State of Idaho. | | | | the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and other |
| Idaho's landscape features an unrivaled natural | | | | lesser traveled routes across the state. In places, |
| beauty of lush forests, high mountain peaks, alpine | | | | wheel ruts left by pioneer wagons still remain. |
| lakes, awesome rivers and streams and desert | | | | Wonder at the many unique natural features such |
| sand dunes. If you are looking for a playland for a | | | | as lava fields, deep river canyons, huge rock |
| spring, summer, fall or winter vacation, Idaho is | | | | outcroppings, sparse desert plains and the earth's |
| hard to match. There's plenty to see and do in | | | | crustal rifting, known as the Great Rift System. |
| Idaho, and plenty of room to do it, away from | | | | Less than one-and-a-half million people populate |
| the crowds. | | | | the State of Idaho. The state's largest |
| Idaho boasts 2,000 lakes and reservoirs and | | | | community, the capital city of Boise, has less than |
| 16,000 miles of rivers. The expansive landscape | | | | 200,000 residents. Most towns are extremely |
| features 19,000 miles of terrain for hiking, | | | | small, but each is steeped in the unique history of |
| backpacking, mountain and road biking, horseback | | | | the state. You are encouraged to interact with |
| riding, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling. There are | | | | the people of Idaho. Many have historical bonds |
| hundreds of campsites operated by various | | | | with those who built the state. Many of the towns |
| government agencies and scores of commercial | | | | have one or more annual events to remember |
| campgrounds available to tent and recreational | | | | days gone by, and it is fun to share in these |
| vehicle campers. The state offers 9.3 million acres | | | | reminiscent experiences with the locals. |
| of road-free national forests and 4 million acres of | | | | You are urged to visit Idaho on your next family |
| unspoiled, true wilderness. The Frank Church - | | | | vacation. Lots to see and do. A lifetime of |
| River of No Return Wilderness is composed of | | | | memories. No crowds. |