Tag: Boise

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

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

Journeys 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

Boise Rose Garden ~ Boise ID ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Boise Rose Garden ~ Boise ID ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Journeys with EileenDiane

No rose without a thorn ~ French Proverb

It is the time you have spent on your rose that makes her so important ~ Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Truths and roses have thorns about them ~ Henry David Thoreau

The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies. Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential. It seems to be constantly in the process of change: Yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is ~ Paulo Coelho

If the rose puzzled its mind over the question of how it grew, it would not have been the miracle that it is ~ J. B. Yeats

Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Boise ~ Photos

A Walk Along Boise River Greenbelt ~ Boise, ID ~ Photos ~ Quotes

A Walk Along Boise River Greenbelt ~ Boise, ID ~ Photos ~ Quotes

Journeys with EileenDiane

The river has great wisdom and whispers its secrets to the hearts of men ~ Mark Twain

A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence ~ Jim Watkins

Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere ~ – Emma Smith

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man ~ Heraclitus

Who hears the rippling of rivers will not utterly despair of anything ~  Henry David Thoreau

Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Boise ~ Photos
Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Boise ~ Photos

Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Boise ~ Photos

Journeys with EileenDiane

I last visited Boise in September 2019 and it was fabulous to be able to plan a road trip and visit again. This was my first journey since the pandemic. It was very special to be able to visit favorite places (Boise and Meridian) and discover a new area (Eagle).  

The beautiful Boise River Greenbelt is a paved path which follows the river through the heart of the city and beyond, along many parks. It is 25 miles long with many bridges to make it easy to loop back.

The walk in Boise takes you past Boise State University, to Julia Davis Park where you can stop and explore the gorgeous Rose Garden. Note to self: plan trip next year in June, as many of the rose bushes were not yet in bloom.

About a 15 minute drive from Boise is the Village at Meridian Mall. I am not a fan of shopping centers, but this one is an exception. Many interesting shops to explore, nicely laid out and all outdoors.

Stop in the locally owned Royal Coffee Company for a terrific latte, cappuccino or fruit smoothie. Enjoy it while sitting outside, deciding whether to browse the shops, walk about, dine or stay in the Fountain Square area and people watch.  

My favorite places to dine in the area include:

The Cottonwood Grill (on the Boise Green Belt), Anthony’s (recently opened, downtown, near hotels) and The Yard House at the Village at Meridian Mall.

It’s an easy drive from western Washington to Boise via I-90 to I-82 to I-84, especially when the weather is good. For my return trip I was planning to drive via the I-84 to the Portland area and then north via I-205 and I-5. It is a longer route, going along the Columbia River in Oregon and is quite beautiful. However, as it was raining, I opted for the faster route and did encounter wet snow in the Oregon mountains. Very glad it was wet snow …

Below are some photos from my journey; will be posting more photos of the River Walks (Boise and Eagle), the Rose Garden and Boise Capitol Building.

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

Savor your journeys… real, imagined or virtual, near or far

Boise, Idaho ~ The Village at Meridian

Boise, Idaho ~ The Village at Meridian

Journeys with EileenDiane

About a 15 minute drive from Boise is the marvelous Village at Meridian Mall. I am not a fan of shopping centers, but this one is an exception. Many interesting shops to explore, coffee shops and restaurants to try and it is nicely laid out.

Stop in the locally owned Royal Coffee Company for a terrific latte, cappuccino or fruit smoothie. Enjoy it while sitting outside, deciding whether to browse the shops, walk about, dine or stay a while in the lovely Fountain Square area. 

My favorite place to dine is The Yard House. They have a very good, varied menu (fabulous fish ‘n’ chip), an extensive bar (including 140 unique beers) and multiple TVs showing sports.  Terrific place for lunch or dinner. 

Savor your journeys … enjoy the ride …

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Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Coeur d’Alene and Boise

Boise, Idaho ~ Greenbelt, Julia Davis Park and Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial

Boise, Idaho ~ Greenbelt, Julia Davis Park and Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial

Journeys with EileenDiane

The beautiful Boise River Greenbelt follows the river through the heart of the city. Your walk takes you past Boise State University, to Julia Davis Park (stop and explore the gorgeous Rose Garden) to the inspiring Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. You will find restaurants in the area (Cottonwood Grille is a favorite) plus other parks, including Ann Morrison Park.

Savor your journeys …and treasure the memories … 

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Boise State University
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Boise State University
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Boise Rose Garden, Idaho

Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Coeur d’Alene and Boise

Boise Rose Garden, Idaho

Boise Rose Garden, Idaho

Journeys with EileenDiane

A favorite spot to visit when in Boise is the incredible Rose Garden in Julia Davis Park. It is convenient to downtown and along the beautiful Green Belt. Definitely worth a visit.

Savor your journeys and always take time to stop and smell the roses.

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Road Trip ~ Western Washington to Coeur d’Alene and Boise