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