Journeys with Eileen Diane

Boise, Idaho ~ Photos ~ May 2023

July 9, 2023July 8, 2023Journeys with EileenDiane

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

On my return from Yellowstone National Park, I stopped in Boise for several days. It’s always great fun to return to familiar places and also to discover something new. The Green Belt and Rose Garden are favorites and I visited each every day.

My favorite restaurants include:

The Cottonwood Grill (on the Boise Green Belt),
Bonefish Grill (downtown, near hotels)
The Yard House at the Village (located in the always interesting Meridian Mall, about a 15 minute drive from Boise)
The Warehouse Food Hall, downtown Boise, is a neat new fun venue with vendors ranging from terrific coffee (Caffé D’Arte) to pizza (Anzalone Pizza) to Freshie’s Lobster Co to BBQ to poke and sushi burritos, etc. plus cocktails, wine and beer, I took the photos early in the day, when only the coffee shop was open, It is crowded lunchtime and onward.

A favorite bookstore:

Rediscovered Bookshop, located on popular 8^th Street (restaurant row, closed to traffic) is a marvelous book store to visit. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. I always buy several books (decided many years ago to always buy at least one book in a bookstore when I visit ~ as I love to browse bookstores). It’s a small shop but definitely worth a visit.

Future blogs will have photos of the spectacular Boise Greenbelt and the beautiful Rose Garden.

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The Falls at Idaho Falls, Idaho ~ Photos ~ May 2023

July 4, 2023July 3, 2023Journeys with EileenDiane

Waterfalls are exciting because they have power, they have rainbows, they have songs, and they have boldness and craziness! ~ Mehmet Murat Ildan

Japanese Friendship Garden ~ Idaho Falls, Idaho ~ Photos ~ May 2023

June 28, 2023June 27, 2023Journeys with EileenDiane

The art of stone in a Japanese garden is that of placement. Its ideal does not deviate from that of nature. ~ Isamu Noguchi

In order to comprehend the beauty of a Japanese garden, it is necessary to understand – or at least to learn to understand ~ the beauty of stone. ~ Lafcadio Hearn

No one will understand a Japanese garden until you’ve walked through one, and you hear the crunch underfoot, and you smell it, and you experience it over time. Now there’s no photograph or any movie that can give you that experience ~ J. Carter Brown

The beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden, located on the Snake River, has a traditional Japanese garden gate, a viewing platform, a “Dragon Path” across a pond and a deck plus many water features. It was developed to celebrate thirty years association with their sister city in Japan, Tokai-Mura. It’s a marvelous place to spend time with nature prior to walking further to explore the Green Belt and the falls of Idaho Falls.

Road Trip ~ Yellowstone National Park ~ Photos ~ Restaurants ~ May 2023

June 18, 2023June 17, 2023Journeys with EileenDiane

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir

Yellowstone is spectacular, especially the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and seeing the bison and geysers were incredible. I only covered part of the Park and will definitely return to explore the northern area.

If you plan a trip to Yellowstone, definitely get a tour book and also use the National Park information online and decide which areas you want to explore. I chose to stay in West Yellowstone (and use the west entrance) as it is next to the Park, has many hotels and restaurants plus the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT ~ May 2023 ~ Photos

By going in May, I avoided the summer crowds however, some parts of the Park were still closed and at the higher altitudes, there was snow on the ground. Also, even in May, there were traffic backups, sometimes caused by drivers stopping to see the bison while other times, a mystery.

Favorite Restaurants ~ West Yellowstone

Madison Crossing Lounge I had dinner twice at this fabulous restaurant. The bison meat loaf was excellent and the desserts were Have a superb (blueberry bread pudding and tiramisu). The restaurant has a varied menu plus an extensive wine and cocktail list.
Ernie’s Bakery & Deli Terrific place open for breakfast and lunch or perhaps buying a picnic lunch to enjoy in the Park. The croissant sandwiches are delicious, as are the French pastries.

Would I go back to Yellowstone? Most definitely … it is a treasure and should be on everyone’s travel list!

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Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone, MT ~ May 2023 ~ Photos

June 12, 2023June 11, 2023Journeys with EileenDiane

This not for profit wildlife park is marvelously informative about bears and wolves. There are exhibits to browse prior to walking through the wolf and bear habitats. I was lucky to be there when the animals are fed: staff hide the food and the animals hunt about for their meal (as do the birds!). Staff are helpful and knowledgeable.

At one of the buildings in the wolf habitat area, there is a statue of a wolf. Several times, I saw a wolf come to the glass enclosure and stare at the statue. I found that fascinating and wondered what he was thinking or sensing. Another enclosure is open with the wolves at more of a distance.

The Center is a marvelous place, as within Yellowstone, I saw bison, but did not see wolves or bears. I purposely stayed in West Yellowstone to use the west entrance to the Park because a town is convenient to that entrance plus I’d read about the Discovery Center. You can easily spend several hours at the Center and it is definitely worthwhile to explore.

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Road Trip to Yellowstone National Park ~ Overview ~ Photos ~ May 2023

June 5, 2023June 4, 2023Journeys with EileenDiane

I’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone National Park and finally got there. It is spectacular and I understand why people make more than one visit and/or stay for longer than a few days. I planned to travel prior to Memorial Weekend and waited until the snow season was over (though there was snow on the ground in the higher elevations).

My route from western Washington started with the I-90, stopping in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I had time to visit a favorite book store (“The Well Read Moose”) before heading to Butte, Montana to break up the drive. Leaving Butte, I went over Homestake Pass (6,329 feet, the Continental Divide) and then local Montana highways to West Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park has 5 entrances. I chose the West Entrance as the town is very close to the park. My favorite part was the Canyon area. And I mentally made a note to return to see more of the northern part of the park. Should you travel to this area, definitely check online or guide books for valuable information.

West Yellowstone has a fabulous Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. And while I saw magnificent bison in the park, I am glad I visited the Discovery Center to see the wolves and bears.

Leaving the park, I traveled via the South Exit, noting that the restaurant at Grant Village was closed but would open Memorial Weekend. The South Exit took me to the gorgeous Grand Teton National Park. It was an easy drive to Jackson, then over the Teton Pass (connecting Wyoming and Idaho, 8,432 feet; very steep, 10% grade but very beautiful) towards Idaho Falls.

I stopped in Idaho Falls to break up my trip as I headed to Boise. The falls and the Japanese garden are quite stunning and there is a nice green belt to walk along.

It was terrific revisiting Boise as I love the Rose Garden, Green Belt and the downtown area.

My last stop was Hood River, on the Columbia. Beautiful, windy area.

Below are some favorite photos. I will have additional posts with information about the areas, including favorite restaurants, and more photos.

Would I go back to Yellowstone? Most definitely … it is a treasure and should be on everyone’s travel list!

Savor your journeys, near or far, real or imagined