By Karen Huwe
The Times 

A Familiar Place and a New Place

Around the Valley: With Karen Huwe

 

Karen Huwe

You can watch geese while kayaking on Winchester Lake.

One of our favorite camping spots is Winchester Lake State Park in Idaho.  It is about 36 miles south of Lewiston and has a great lake to kayak or paddleboard, as motorized boats are not allowed.  With an Idaho fishing license, you are sure to catch a few fish for a fish fry. The area also offers some nice hiking trails.

Winchester is a small town of about 500 people, and this year we were camping during the 4th of July holiday and enjoyed the town's festivities.  People came from around the area to enjoy a car show, a parade, kid's games, and to shop at the many vendors lining Main Street. They also put on a fireworks show over the lake, which was a hit for all in attendance.

When not on the lake or hiking the trails, we enjoy setting up a cornhole tournament with family and friends or taking walks throughout the campground. Some evenings there is a program at the amphitheater about wolves or other nature talks. Sitting around the fire visiting and roasting smores is also a favorite activity.

A new spot we recently tried is Crows Butte Park near Patterson, Washington. The Columbia River is the main attraction for water activities, although it is usually a little too windy to kayak safely., Trains frequently travel the tracks across the river from the park to the enjoyment of some and the irritation of others. The park has a kids' playground area, a snack stand open Thursdays through Sundays, and an old trail to walk up to Crows Butte hill. 

The highlight of our time at Crows Butte was watching a family of owls that reside in the park. It was unusual to see owls out during the day, young ones playing and looking for food on the ground while the adult owl watched over them from a nearby tree.

Get outdoors.  You can't miss having a great time wherever you go!

 

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