ID - WA - OR

 After a delightful breakfast at our B&B in Coeur d’Alene we headed for Oregon with a brief pass through Washington.

The trip started with desert like terrain and the huge Columbia River to our right all the way to Portland.

Once in Oregon we took the Historic Columbia River Highway that took us by lots of waterfalls, some large and some small.  Some you can see from the parking areas and some you hike too.  We did some of both.  It was raining to start but thankfully quit so we could hike a bit.

We are staying in Portland a few days and we’re staying at the coolest hotel - an elementary school turned into a hotel - McMenamins Kennedy School.  Classrooms are rooms, the cafeteria is a cool restaurant, detention hall and honors hall are bars, they show movies every night in the auditorium and tons of really cool rooms.  It’s well worth checking out!

Montana to Idaho

 After a wonderful night at the Northern Hotel in Billings we had a delicious breakfast at Bernie’s Diner, which is part of the hotel.  Delightful pumpkin spice french toast for me and eggs, bacon, potatoes and biscuits for Jeff, with a huge cup of coffee.

Our drive through West Montana was absolutely beautiful the entire way.  The Yellowstone River ran beside us most of the way and mountains, aspens, and just gorgeous views all around us.

We stopped at a cool gift shop that had all things huckleberry, including amazing milkshakes!  Huckleberries grow up the side of the mountains in this area.

They also had an aquarium with huge rainbow trout!

We got to tonight’s destination early enough to hike a little around the beautiful Couer d’Alene lake and watch the sunset.  This little town is a big resort area and lots of rich and famous vacation here.  I can see why!