Idaho Vacation: Murphy Outpost Days

Here is a great suggestion for an Idaho vacation that is close to southwest Idaho population centers and a really fun experience.  Murphy Outpost Days, June 3-5, 2011 is a celebration of western heritage in Idaho's oldest county.  Outpost days are held in Murphy, the county seat of Owyhee County. 



Antique cars at Murphy Outpost
Days 2010



The outpost days venue is adjacent to the Owyhee County Historical Museum and residents of this sparsely populated county go all out to celebrate.  Visitors are definitely welcome! 



4-H Youth moving the herd to the
corrals, Murphy Outpost Days, 2010



The colorful weekend starts at 7:00pm Friday June 3 with an evening of entertainment by Cowboy Poet Art Honey.  Admission is just $10. 






Panning for gold, Murphy Outpost
 Days, 2010



Saturday events officially get under  way at 10:00am with food & craft vendors, antique car show, lost art demonstrations in the museum, and events such as gold panning, fast draw contests, and other activities to keep you moving and entertained.  Live music is provided throughout the day.  For me the highlight of Saturday comes at noon when a small herd of longhorn cattle arrive at the corrals, herded by local 4-H'ers and their leaders.  More on this later.  Be sure to enter the raffle for a quilt and for a rifle.  A live auction begins about 3:00pm.  Face painting and kids activities help keep everyone involved.



4-H Youth moving Longhorn cattle to the corrals, Murphy
Outpost Days, 2010



Back to the cattle drive.  After the cattle are penned, the 4-H youth put on a demonstration of cattle handling without use of modern chutes.  They are guided by leaders to separate calves from the mother cows (not an easy task), then the calves are roped and heeled and paint branded.  I was extremely intrigued by watching this activity. 



4-H Youth working calves, Murphy Outpost Days, 2010

 The leaders had great patience as they taught the "next generation" how to properly work cattle.  The skills and patience of both leaders and youth give me great confidence in the future.  I doubt that any of these youth will ever be found on the pages of police reports.

Sunday events also begin at 10:00am and run until about 4:00pm when the World Championship Horny Toad Race take the spotlight. 



Spinning wheel demonstration,
Murphy Outpost Days, 2010

 The Owyhee County Museum needs to be visited during this weekend.  It is full of local historical displays as well as having large exhibits of western memorabilia such as a huge collection of bridle bits, types of barbed wire, etc.  Antique agricultural, mining, and railroad machinery is also on exhibit along with an old schoolhouse.

For more information call the museum at 208-495-2319 or visit their website at:
 http://owyheemuseum.org/default.asp?pageName=Events



Part of the kids activities, Murphy Outpost Days, 2010



Due to the diversity and type of activities, this event is one of the more interesting festivals celebrating the western way of life and the settling of southwest Idaho.  It is a super Idaho vacation and a great thing to do.

Murphy is located about midway between Marsing and Grandview on highway 78 on the south side of the Snake River.  It is best approached by going south of Mountain Home to Grandview and highway 78 or by going south of Nampa, cross the Snake River and to highway 78.  From Nampa, it takes about 40 minutes to reach Murphy. 

If you want to add other activities to this trip, a visit to Cleo's Ferry Museum is on the route just north of the Snake River crossing as you head to Nampa.  More information on this eclectic museum is found here.  If traveling from Meridian, Kuna, or Boise your route of travel can also take you on the Western Heritage Historical Byway.  These byways are described here and here.  Both of these byways take you through the Morley Nelson Birds of Prey Conservation Area described here. 

Idaho Vacation: Great Mexican Food in Nampa

The Treasure Valley of Idaho is reported to have the best Mexican food in the state and perhaps in the entire Pacific Northwest.  Finding good food is always a worthy goal while on an Idaho vacation. 

The El Rinconcito, located in Nampa for the past 26 years, is one of the best choices for Mexican food in the region.  A few days ago, my wife and I decided to visit the El Rinconcito on a weekday evening.  We encountered good food, no crowds, friendly staff, lively music, and a truly enjoyable evening. 

The modest building sits on 1st street just north of the new Public Safety building, currently under construction.  The address is 824 1st S, Nampa. Phone 208-466-6963.  They are located about 3 blocks west of the Nampa Post Office and a block north.  If in doubt on directions, Google the address to get a map. 

This family owned and operated restaurant is everything good if you are wanting to avoid chain organizations and patronize independent family operations.  Most, if not all, employees are family related.  With 26 years experience, they have tailored the menu and service to that expected of their clientele.  Their very high reviews and ratings are well earned.  Our server, Ilia, was very friendly, knew the nuances of various menu items, and provided very fast courteous service.  The decor is very typical but authentic Mexican style.  The music was lively and at a very pleasing volume. Conversations were not difficult because of extraneous sound levels.

Time for the food.  Fresh crisp chips were served with a bean dip and salsa.  The salsa was hotter than I enjoy but when mixed with the bean dip gave a near perfect blend of flavors.  My wife ordered a Chili Relleno and I had the El Rinconcito special.  Service was very quick.  Portion sizes were very adequate to large, the dishes were well presented, and the food was excellent.  It is easy to understand how they have been able to stay in business for 26 years.  Prices are extremely reasonable with most dishes priced under $10 and the most expensive about $14.  We will be returning here frequently. 

We agree with many other reviewers, the Treasure Valley has great Mexican food.  El Rinconcito ranks among the very best.  A visit to El Rinconcito, whether it is just an evening out or a stop after a long day of traveling, will add sparkle to your day.  It is a great place to visit on your Idaho vacation.

Idaho Vacation: Yellow Pine Harmonica Contest

Where can you find a harmonica contest with nationally ranked judges and contestants in a community of only 35 population?  Get your Idaho map and find Yellow Pine.  Make plans for an unusual but fun Idaho vacation. 

The 2011 contest will be the 22nd annual installment of this popular, remote, back-woods festival.  Events start Friday afternoon August 5 and conclude Sunday morning August 7, 2011.  The outdoor stage is open to all entertainers Friday and most Saturday.  The popular "Crowd Pleaser" contest will also be at the outdoor stage.  Winners of this contest are chosen by popular vote. 

The Harmonica Contest begins at 11:00am inside the Community Hall and concludes later Saturday.  Divisions of the contest include Youth, Diatonic, Chromatic, and Groups.  Winners are announced on Sunday morning with winners performing at the awards ceremony.  Concerts by the judges are given both Friday and Saturday evenings in the Community Hall.  All performances are free except the judges concerts which are a low price of only $10.   

Because of the remoteness of Yellow Pine and lack of motels, attendees are encouraged to camp at one of the nearby campgrounds or at dispersed camping spaces in the forest.  Vendors and meals are available at the contest site.  Yellow Pine is located near the confluence of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River and Johnson Creek.  Access is by one of two primary routes - Highway 48 (Lick Creek Rd) east of McCall or by traveling east of Cascade on Warm Lake Rd.(Forest Road 22).  Continue east of Warm Lake on Forest Road 579 to Landmark  Ranger Station then north on Forest Road 413 to Yellow Pine. 

There are many outdoor activities available in the Yellow Pine area.  Fishing is popular as well as hiking.  The Idaho Centennial Trail roughly parallels Forest Road 413 from Landmark Ranger Station almost to Yellow Pine.  Yellow pine is also the access point for the Frank Church River of no Return Wilderness Area.  Yellow Pine is in the Payette National Forest.

Information - Yellow Pine Harmonica Contest, VYPA - Harmonica Contest, PO Box 10, Yellow Pine, ID 83677;Information & General Store:(208) 633-3300, Hotel:(208) 633-3377, RV & rustic cabins:(208) 634-5527, RV & cabins Alpine Village:(208) 633-8300; email: fillerd@q.com; web site: http://www.harmonicacontest.com/. 

Due to remote location and scarcity of facilities, attendees are encouraged to review the web site information and use a good map before embarking on this Idaho vacation.  This is sure to be a memorable weekend, filled with music, good food, new friends, and an appreciation of outdoors Idaho.  Add it to your list of Idaho things to do and see.  The entire weekend  is a family friendly event.

Idaho Vacation: Discovery Center of Idaho

 A visit to the Discovery Center of Idaho is a wonderful way to spend a few hours while visiting Idaho’s state capital, Boise.  Add this fun, interactive, science based learning experience to your Idaho vacation.
 

Jake generating electricity to power the skeleton cycle


With hands on experiments and displays throughout the building, children (and adults) of all ages will be entertained as they learn.  Last Saturday, my wife and I took our 8 year old grandson to the center.  It was our 2nd trip there but Jake had been there multiple times.  He loves the Discovery Center and goes as often as he can convince someone to take him.  We tried to keep up as he dashed from exhibit to exhibit. 

We tried to get his favorite exhibit identified but he said they were all favorites.  He kept us busy for almost three hours of non-stop learning. 
 

Jake watching vibrations from sound waves


The Discovery Center of Idaho's stated mission is to inspire lifelong interest and learning in science, technology, engineering and math.  We can attest to the success of that mission in one grandson and apparently in many others as judged by watching the action last Saturday.  There are a large number of exhibits so relatively large crowds can  be accommodated without anyone having to wait very long to gain access to an exhibit. 

The Discovery Center of Idaho is located near downtown Boise and is close to several other museums,the zoo, and Julia Davis park.    General admission is $6.50, children 3-17 is $4.00, and seniors is $5.50.  The center has joined with a number of other Boise museums to offer special admission packages.  Visit seven museums for the low price of  $19.00, and get discounts at gift shops at four more museums. 
 

Jake blowing on a soap bubble film


Discovery Center of Idaho, 131 Myrtle St, Boise, ID 83702, 208-343-9895, http://scidaho.org/index.php. 

The Discovery Center has cooperative programs with many organizations that include many outreach programs as well as classes  and special programs for schools.  Make this a stop on your Idaho vacation.  Your children and grandchildren will thank you.

Idaho Vacation: National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival

Spring is the time of year to plan your Idaho vacation.  Listed here and in other posts are a few of the significant  festivals and events to include in your list of Idaho things to do. 
Here is another unique one-of-a-kind Idaho festival.  If you enjoy fiddle music, Weiser, Idaho is the place to be the 3rd week of June.  Make it an Idaho vacation to remember.

The information is believed to be accurate and is largely taken from the respective sponsoring organization web pages.  Contact information is that given by the sponsoring organization. 

National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival - June 20-25, 2011, PO Box 447
2235 Paddock Ave., Weiser, ID 83672, 208-414-0255, http://fiddlecontest.com/index.php.  Judged contests are held in the air-conditioned gym at Weiser High School. 

Fiddling has been popular in Weiser since 1863 with fiddling contests from 1914.  Formal fiddle contests date from 1953 and the present association with National Oldtime Fiddlers has been in place since 1963. Weiser is more or less formally recognized as the "Fiddling Capital of the World".

There are many additional activities during the week including: workshops, parades, car shows, steam engine equipment displays, a carnival, bluegrass bands, and other activities to fill every one's schedule of entertainment.  City park is turned into Bluegrass Village with food and craft vendors and numerous bands.  An area near the school accommodates campers for those wishing to spend the night. 

Tickets are available now from the web site by calling the festival office, by fax or by mail. Ticket prices for the judged nightly contests range from $8.00 for children, $14.00 for general admission and $16.00 for reserved seating.  The National Grand Champion Finals on Saturday night tickets are $20 or $25 for general admission and reserved seating, respectively.  There are no charges for 30+ hours of Bluegrass band performances in the park. 

Check out the festival web site for full schedules of activities.  This is always a busy and entertaining week.  This festival is sure to bring smiles to everyone in the family.  Add this festival to your list of things to do in Idaho in 2011.

Idaho Vacation: Snake River Birds of Prey Festival

Spring is the time of year to plan your Idaho vacation.  Listed here and in other posts are a few of the significant  festivals and events to include in your list of Idaho things to do. 

Idaho has some truly unique festivals and celebrations not found in other states.  Check out this list and plan to include one of these for a great vacation experience. 

The information is believed to be accurate and is largely taken from the respective sponsoring organization web sites.  Contact information is that given by the sponsoring organization. 

Birds of Prey Festival, Kuna, ID, May 13-15, 2011.  Sponsored by Western Heritage Foundation. Contact - Western Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 84, Kuna, Idaho 83634, 208-861-9131 http://www.snakeriverbirdsofpreyfestival.com/.  The festival location is at: Reed Elementary School, 1670 N. Linder Ave, Kuna, Idaho 83634.

The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area is a 600,000 acre area about 20 miles southwest of Boise along the Snake River and adjacent plain.  This area is home to one of the world's densest concentrations of nesting birds of prey, boasting at least 24 species.  Kuna sits just a few miles north of the conservation area.  The festival includes educational exhibits, lectures, and tours by world class authorities.  Festival details will be available on the web site in early spring of 2011.  As of March 10 it was not yet available. 

While most events take place at the school in Kuna, some events will take place at Swan Falls Dam and at Celebration Park.  See this map for directions and locations. 
This area is also home to the Western Heritage Historic Byway, one of 30 Scenic Byways in Idaho.  This byway also has the distinction of being designated a National Scenic Byway.  This web site gives access the the byway details, including maps, history, visitor services, and other details.   At the southwest end of the byway is Celebration Park, a Canyon County park rich with Indian petroglyphs and the only archaelogical park in Idaho.  The park and surrounding area has many "melon rocks", rounded rocks left from the great Bonneville flood.  A separate post is planned to give more details on these areas.

Idaho Vacation: McCall Pancake and Christmas House

How do you choose where to eat while on vacation?  The biggest signs and pretty buildings often do not translate to good food.  A survey of reviews made prior to beginning your Idaho vacation often leads to good recommendations.  Often small, local, out of the way places, are real gems.  Uncovering them is sometimes trial and error. 

My wife an I recently traveled to McCall for the McCall Winter Carnival.  I should have, but  didn’t, check some reviews.  After touring part of the town an viewing snow sculptures for awhile, we decided to get some lunch.   Our choice was made more out of convenience than any other criteria. 

The McCall Pancake and Christmas House is as the name indicates, a restaurant as well as a Christmas store.  Actually it also houses an exhibition bakery,  Italian gelato, and a sheepskin and leather goods stores as well.  It is conveniently located on Highway 55 towards the south side of town.  It also had a large snow sculpture across the street. 

My wife ordered a platter sized pancake with an egg, ground beef patty and applesauce.  The pancake really was platter sized and good.  I went for an omelet called McCall Best, served with biscuits and gravy. 

Service was timely, surroundings were clean and neat, and the food was very adequate.  My wife’s meal was good in all regards.  My omelet was very good but the biscuits and gravy were just average.  The gravy should have been hotter and the biscuit was a bit dry.  Serving portions were very generous.  There is a wide variety of menu items thereby making decisions pretty tough.

The Christmas store, located in the same building, has a large and nice variety of Christmas and home decorating goods and they seem to be priced reasonably.  The desert end of the building, bakery and gelato,  has a very tempting array of sweets to go with a large variety of coffees and espresso drinks.  Navigating through the numerous choices is a fun experience. 

The building housing all these businesses is a beautiful log structure.  A visit to McCall would not be complete without adding this to your list of things to do.  Hours are Sunday –Tuesday 6 am – 2 pm, Wednesday – Saturday 6 am – 9 pm.  Add this stop to your Idaho vacation. 

Information:
Address – 209 N 3rd St (on Hwy 55), south end of town
Phone – 208-634-5849
Web site - http://mccallpancakehouse.com/
Directions – from the south, go through the intersection of Hwy 55 and Deinhard Lane, continue about 300 feet, Pancake House is on the right.  It is across the Hwy from the Holiday Inn Hunt Lodge.  From the north, follow Hwy 55 through town an look for the Pancake House as you near the south side of town.  You cannot miss the large log building.

Idaho Vacation: House of Kim, a Kitchen Vacation

Today my wife needed a kitchen vacation or more correctly, a vacation from the kitchen.  I had recently read some very positive reviews on the House of Kim, a downtown Nampa restaurant, so we decided to give it a try.  Turned out that this is an excellent place to spend an Idaho vacation, even if it is only an hour or so for a meal.  It is a good venue to add to your Idaho things to do, or visit, list.

Since both my wife an I are retired, we take turns preparing lunches and dinners.  This week it is her turn to fix dinner. For a number of reasons, she needed a break so we picked a place we hadn't tried yet. 

The House of Kim has been in busines in Nampa since 1994. The tidy restaurant specilizes in Chinese and Thai food.  James, the chef and owner, completely revamped the menus about three years ago changing ingredients, seasonings and presentation.  Based on our experience, the changes were well done. 

We were warmly greeted and guided to nice circular booths.  These half round arrangements were a welcome change from traditional booths with a table between the seats.  The booths give a feeling of closeness without having to bump elbows or stare at each other across a table as in traditional booths.  Traditional chairs and tables are also available for larger groups or for those who prefer to sit on regular chairs.

If you get the chance, ask for Rachael to be your server.  You will be guaranteed warm smiles, helpful menu suggestions, and good service.  James, the chef, came by several times to visit and to make sure our meal was just right.  It was!  Good old fashioned traditional friendly service.

We started our meal with Satay chicken, grilled chicken pieces on a skewer, served with grilled peppers,  onions, and mushrooms.  A spiced peanut sauce was a nice condiment and went well with the chicken. Taste was wonderful and the appetizer was plenty for two. 

My wife ordered the Spicy Squid meal with additional chicken.  I ordered the Pad Sawee Pork with rice noodles and sauteed vegetables.  Rachel offered us extra plates in case we wanted to do some sharing to try each others meal.  These meals come with varying degrees of spiceness, 1-5.  My wife ordered a spiceness of one and my was a three.  Both of our dishes were nicely seasoned, with distinct differences between our meals.  Portion sizes were average to large, nicely presented and  a joy to eat.  Meals are reasonably priced. The House of Kim is clearly a cut above most Chinese restaurants.  We plan return visits. 

The House of Kim is located in downtown Nampa and quite easy to find and drive to.  Decor and music is typical Chinese and pleasantly done.  Hours are 11 am-2 pm and 5 pm - 9 pm Monday - Thursday, 11 am - 9:30 pm Friday and Saturday, and 4 pm - 8 pm Sundays.  You will be glad if you make a stop here while on vacation in Idaho or just make this an Idaho vacation destination. 

Information:
Address - 1226 1st St South, Nampa
Phone - 208-466-3237
Web site - houseofkim.net
Directions - several sets of direction of travel instructions could be given, depending on your starting location.  I suggest entering the address on the Google map on the right side of the blog page and referring to the map.  Enter your starting address and get complete drving directions.

Idaho Travel - Places for Indoor Exercise

How do you get exercise while taking an Idaho vacation in the winter?  Todays entry is not so much a destination as it is a lifestyle suggestion for things to do.  Cold winter weather makes outdoor exercise more difficult for many residents as well as for travelers. 

Enter the world of community recreation centers, YMCAs, private gyms, and motel/hotel workout rooms.  Travel and winter vacations are no excuses to miss needed physical activity.  Not everyone is comfortable being involved in outdoor winter snow activities so alternatives are necessary. 

Although recreation facilities can be found in most communities, todays focus is on the Nampa Rec Center located at 131 Constitution Way in south Nampa.  This 140,000 square foot facility opens weekdays at 5:00am and doesn't close until 10:00pm.  Weekend hours are a bit shorter.  Full and varied facilities are available for any type of indoor activity. 

Free Rec Center passes can be found in the Nampa Parks and Recreation Winter and Spring Activity Guide (available at the Rec Center) and are good until April 1, 2011. Take advantage of these passes when traveling to or through Nampa. 

For more information on the Nampa Rec Center call 208-468-5777or nampareccenter.org.  Check the web or phone book listings to find Rec Centers in other locations.