Idaho is so underrated, overshadowed by states as Montana, Wyoming and Washington but it has bunches to offer ranging from adventure to relaxation. To demonstrate all there is to do, the Idaho Department of Tourism, with assistance from their tourism industry partners, brought a family of four into the Gem State on a 10-day, 2,200 mile adventure. Called “The Great Idaho Getaway Project,” the family vacation has been boiled down to a 32+ minute video highlighting everything awesome about Idaho.
Visitors to the The Great Idaho Getaway Project website can enter weekly to win weekly “adventure freebies” similar to what the featured family experienced. These include hotel stays and passes to adventure. I’m not sure how long the contest is running (the only date I found was March 2010) but you have up to three chances to win each week – once by registering via Facebook, another through Twitter and lastly entering your email address.
When you think of the Gem State, what do you think? Three things come to mind when I think of Idaho (okay, four if you count potatoes.)
1. The time I went camping in Craters of the Moon National Monument with a Yellowstone guy pal. I didn’t sleep a wink because I thought there was a bear outside, lurking around our tent. I knew it was the end of my life when it scraped against the tent. Obviously, nothing bad happened. My friend slept soundly the whole night.
2. My friend Rebecca. Another pal from Yellowstone who lived in Idaho and drove what I think was a white Chevy truck. She named the truck Reba (after Reba McEntire) and I fondly remember her picking me up at an Idaho bus station. She was running late (by a few hours) but had called the cashier at the station to let me know. I really don’t think it was a bus station but more of a convenience store.
3. “Way to go, Idaho!” I think of Disney’s Toy Story when I think of Idaho. Specifically, Mr. Potato Head cheering, “Way to go, Idaho!” Don’t remember the context but just that it was fun.
