Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Boise: Old Penitentiary & Botanical Garden
A day exploring Boise, Idaho, took me from the fascinating history of the Old Idaho Penitentiary to the late-season flowers and sculpture exhibits at the Idaho Botanical Garden. Along the way, I discovered an elaborately decorated Halloween Jeep, an enormous collection of historic weapons, and a surprisingly lively downtown. I finished the evening with a giant Idaho stuffed baked potato at Spud Daddy and a walk through the city.
Idaho's State Capitol
I spent the day exploring Boise, starting with an excellent guided tour of the Idaho State Capitol. The building's marble columns, enormous dome and natural light made it a fascinating place to photograph. After lunch at Funky Taco, I visited the Idaho State Museum, where exhibits on nuclear research, agriculture, technology and Idaho history kept me occupied for several hours. Along the way, I enjoyed unexpected conversations with fellow visitors and learned a few things about places I had already visited during my travels through Idaho. I finished the afternoon photographing wildlife at Kathryn Albertson Park, where the quiet ponds, wildflowers and unusual encounters with people made for an enjoyable evening.
Royal Alberta Museum
Excerpt
I spent the afternoon exploring the Royal Alberta Museum, moving from Alberta’s human history into geology, glaciers, fossils and enormous Ice Age animals. I was surprised by how much there was to learn and realized I’ll need to return to dig deeper into Alberta’s paleontological history. I finished the day relaxing outside the glass pyramids of the Muttart Conservatory.
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Today was one of those get-ready-for-what’s-ahead days. After a workout, coffee, and lunch, I spent the afternoon hiking the muddy winter trails at Red Butte Garden, photographing snow-covered plants and lingering color, before turning in early for a ski day at Solitude.