Traveling Across America Day 2: Someone Turned Down the Shoshone Falls

One more stop by Snake River

After discovering the magical valley last night (where the Perrine Bridge crosses over Snake River) we just had to stop by there one last time on our way out of Twin Falls this morning. Not only were we rewarded with a gorgeous morning view, but we also watched as several guys with parachutes jumped off the bridge and floated down the ravine.

I crossed off my adventure with Story in Idaho, and if you haven’t seen a recap of all our adventures check them out here.

Someone turned the dial down on Shoshone Falls

On our way to Shoshone Falls my wife looks over at me and says, “I just read that someone came here on October 20th (2 days ago) and there weren’t any waterfalls.”

I didn’t realize until we got there that Shoshone Falls was controlled by a hydroelectric dam that powers the city of Twin Falls. Luckily, they weren’t completely shut off, but even if they were it would have still been a pretty spectacular view.

We couldn’t resist the temptation of Chick-fil-a

For the second day in a row we ate Chick-fil-a for lunch. It’s hard to resist after a nearly eight month hiatus.

Full of delicious fried chicken and waffle fries we set up for Craters of the Moon National Monument.

In Bend we have our very on Newberry National Volcanic Monument, so I was ready to see something cool, but prepared to not be that impressed. I’ll admit though I was fairly amazed after walking around the North Crater Flow Trail, and then the Spatter Cones Trail.

The icing on the cake was driving past past two other (huge, as in hundreds of square miles) lava fields along the Great Rift of Idaho perfectly preserved lava fields about 2000 years old.

You know your in God’s country when…

Driving through western Idaho was mostly barren, but absolutely gorgeous at the same time.

Harrison Ford, Sandra Bullock, and Robert Redford live here

I finally understand why so many people love Jackson, Wyoming. Just catching a glimpse of the Grand Tetons in the distance while driving through Targhee National Forest, was pretty breathtaking.

After checking in at The Painted Buffalo, we ventured over to the Gun Barrel Steak & Game House. I wasn’t too impressed with the Buffalo Ribs, and my wife got mad that I didn’t order Chocolate Ganache Cake, but the atmosphere of an old museum and taxidermist was neat.

To make up for the missed chocolate cake we walked around downtown Jackson until we found an ice cream parlor. Even in 40 degree weather, double chocolate ice cream tasted good.

That’s it for the day. Now it’s time to hit the hay early so we can wake up for a sunrise among the Grand Tetons and a short hike before heading off to Yellowstone and eventually Cody, Wyoming tomorrow!

Other posts in the Traveling America series:

• Day 0: I’m Traveling Across America (And One Day You Should Too!)
• Day 1: Discovering Snake River and Eating Chick-fil-a
• Day 2: Someone Turned Down the Shoshone Falls
• Day 3: Face to Face With a Grizzly Bear
• Day 4: Rediscovering the True Wild and the Old West
• Day 5: Bad Weather and Beautiful Colors
• Day 6: Every City Needs Waterfalls
• Days 7 and 8: The Windy City is…Really Windy
• Day 10: The Most Beautiful Scenery and the Most Disgusting Hotel
• Days 11 and 12: New York Countryside and Massachusetts Coast
• Day 13: New Haven and Old Friends
• Day 14: The Land of the Free and Chocolatey
• Day 15: Science, God, and Disappointment
• Days 16, 17, and 18: The Blue Ridge Parkway (Still Amazing)