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JUNE 1997 My 1997 summer vacation began as I flew to Salt Lake City, Utah. Immediately after landing I picked up my rental car and headed for Twin Falls, Idaho. My first stop was at The Bonneville Salt Flats. After a quick picture there it was a short drive into Wendover, Nevada where I ate lunch and tried my luck at a few slot machines. After quickly losing about $30 I continued my drive toward Twin Falls. My next stop was in Jackpot, Nevada where I once again stopped at a local casino. This time my luck was much better as I won $250. After collecting my winnings I drove the remaining 45 miles into Twin Falls. Twin Falls is located along the Snake River Canyon.  This is the place that daredevil Evil Knievel attempted to leap accross in 1974. While in Twin Falls I visited Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, and The Perrine Memorial Bridge. The next day was a rainy one as I made my way over to Boise, Idaho. I made a number of scenic stops: Balanced Rock, 1000 Springs area of The Snake River Gorge, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, and Malid Gorge. I spent all day the next day in Boise.  After leaving Boise I headed for Oregon. My first stop was in historic Baker City, Oregon where I had breakfast. Next I stopped at an indian reservation casino near Pendleton, Oregon. The weather finally cleared after leaving Pendleton and it was a beautiful evening in The Dalles, Oregon where I spent the night. The Dalles is at the east end of The Columbia River Gorge. I spent the next day exploring the gorge. My first scenic stop was Rowena Crest, a beautiful overlook west of The Dalles.  In Hood River, Oregon I stopped at Panorama Point for a views of Mount Hood. The Bonneville Lock & Dam was my next stop near Cascade Locks, Oregon. Then there were waterfalls a-plenty. Pictured below is Multnomah Falls. I also made stops at several other beautiful waterfalls along the gorge. The Vista House at Crown Point was my last stop in the gorge before heading to Vancouver, Washington for the night.  I spent the next morning in downtown Portland, Oregon.  Then in the afternoon I went to Mount St. Helens. The weather was great as I drove all around Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.  After leaving Mount St. Helens I drove to Tacoma, Washington where I spent the night. The next day I made my way across the Narrows Bridge and onto Washington's Olympic Peninsula. I spent most of this day in the Port Angeles area. Port Angeles lies on the shore of The Strait of Juan de Fuca and at the base of The Olympic Mountains. I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the veiw was from Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park.  The weather was very bleak. From Port Angeles the mountains weren't even visable. But what awaited me at the top was breath-taking! A spectacular range of snow-capped mountains peaking above the clouds and a beautiful meadow with numerous deer. The next day I took the Coho Ferry across the Strait to Victoria, Brithish Columbia.  Victoria is one of the most picturesque cities in all of Canada. The historic downtown area along the harbor has the charm of London, England.  Crystal Gardens is a beautiful botanical garden in downtown Victoria. It hosts numerous tropical plants, birds, and butterflies. Butchart Gardens north of town is the most popular tourist attraction in Victoria.  After concluding my stay in Victoria I took a BC Ferry across The Strait of Georgia. This was a beautiful trip as we sailed between the small islands off the coast of Vancouver Island.  After arriving back in the good ole USA it was a short drive down to Bellingham, where I spent the night. My adventures the next day included stops at Deception Pass, Seattle, and Snoqualmie Falls before ending up in Wenatchee, Washington for the night. The next day I made my way across central Washington. Lake Chelan was a particularly pretty mountain lake.  I spent the night in Spokane and then moved on to explored the panhandle of Idaho. I made stops in Preist River, Sandpoint, and Bonners Ferry. Below is a picture of the Moyie River Canyon near Bonners Ferry.  I also stopped at a casino in Bonners Ferry where I won another $200. I spent the night in Coeur d'Alene. Before proceding on to Montana. I made good travel time in Montana as there is no daytime speed limit there. I spent the night in Helena. The Gates of The Wilderness boat tour was a scenic trip.  It was on into Butte, Montana for the evening after the boat trip. The next day I took a tour of Lewis and Clark Caverns. Very pretty! Below is a picture of Big Sky, Montana where I stopped breifly.  I ended the day in West Yellowstone, Montana. The trip was just about over at this point. The final day was spent driving 300 miles back to Salt Lake City for the flight back home the next morning. 
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