Hagerman stop

Our last stop before coming home was in Hagerman to see the Hagerman Horse fossil, Idaho's state fossil.

Ashley didn't like looking at the snake skin or touching it.
Digging in the sand for fossils.
Phillip liked looking at all the animal pelts.

Shoshone Falls

We visited Shoshone Falls outside of Twin Falls. What a beautiful site! It is 36' higher than Niagra Falls. We'd love to come back in the spring and see it in its full force.

The kids found this steep hiking path that they thought was fun to run down. However, it was very dusty and they were covered in dirt dust. Phillip even had a handprint on the front of his jacket.

Ice caves

The Shoshone Ice Caves were very cool, in two ways! It was only 26 degrees inside. Glad we brought our jackets. Walking down to get into the cave. It is actually a lava tube.
The door leading into the ice cave. It was amazing to feel the temperature drop so fast.
Emily and Mom entering into the cave.
The ice inside the cave. The guide actually walked onto it. It is very thick.
Ashley in front of part of the lava tube that has collapsed.

Pool time!

The kids truly enjoyed the hotel pool. I wish we could take them swimming more often.

They just love the water.

They all stopped to pose for dad.

Emily loved the hot tub. It wasn't too hot and the jets tickled her biskeez!
Phillip did the funniest jumps into the water.
Ashley doing her best Shamu impression.
Olivia jumping in backwards.

Family Adventure

Well, we decided to go on a family adventure exploring parts of Idaho we've never been to. We chose Craters of the Moon, Shoshone Ice Caves, Shoshone Falls, and the Hagerman Museum. It was fun for the kids, especially the older girls, to get out and see the sites they've studied during Idaho History in school. We had a great time and everyone seemed to have fun, even while learning.


We stopped in Fairfield, Id and ate at the Wrangler Drive-In, home of the roadkill pattymelt (Ken tried it). Typical rundown drive in with pretty good food. This is a huge tree in the middle of town.

One of the cinder cones at Craters of the Moon. We hiked up it, over 6,000 feet elevation. The rocks of the cone were super sparkly in the sun. It was very windy, but what a view!
This is Emily coming down the cinder cone. Ken carried her up. It was quite the trek and oxygen levels were low.
Olivia posing by one of the mountains of lava. It was pretty amazing to see the lava flows and mountains.
Phillip checking out the lava path. It was really neat to see the different levels of lava flows.