Idaho Falls

IDAHOFALLSMAGAZINE.COM 27 IF STEVE Images of America: Idaho State Parks Rick Just $17.39 (Amazon) History aficionados will love Images of America, Idaho State Parks. The title was released in 2017 and provides in-depth histories, including the very early days of Averell Harriman and the legacy of the Railroad Ranch along the banks of the Henry's Fork. Dotted with plenty of images, this book has a lot to offer. One of the book's finer attributes is the depth and detail of each selected topic. You'll find plenty of expansive background information throughout. At times, maybe too much, such as an entire chapter on the Civilian Conservation Corps. If you're looking for a nice history lesson on local state parks or just want to learn something new, this work won't disappoint. Paddling America Susan and Adam Elliott $21.50 (Amazon) Paddling America has everything one might need to jump-start plans for a wild-and-scenic river adventure. Subject matter includes some amazing waters right here in the Gem State, but many entries are from all over the country. It is filled with photos that take the breath away. Perhaps you'll be scared of the difficulty, cost or time necessary, but not to worry – the writ- ers have got you covered. Each section includes a summary of the river and everything you will need, including difficulty, the time it takes, who cares for the land and much, much more. Following a brief description of the river and its history, you'll find a full description about the journey, a map and all the essentials you will need to prepare for a successful trip. The book also offers a fair amount of historical background, including the origins of the Wild and Scenic River Act and a brief but detailed history of each river—going as far back as pre-colonialism. The prose is tightly written throughout the book, although some of it might be a bit techni- cal for the casual reader. Anyone who loves the outdoors, river rafting, or just a plain good read, Paddling America is well worth the buy. Idaho Falls Area Birds Snake River Audubon and Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation $10.00 Most of the finely-feathered critters we see in eastern Idaho are easy to identify. Some, however, can leave us scratching our heads. This challenge is at the very heart of bird-watch- ing and bird photography. (Not surprisingly, the "Birds" category of our annual East Idaho Community Photo Contest is one of our most popular in terms of entry numbers.) If "birding" is your thing, "Idaho Falls Area Birds" should be your book. This sturdy, spiraled, pocket-sized guide is a joint effort of Idaho Falls Parks & Recreation and the Snake River Audubon Society. It highlights and describes 112 spe- cies, all "captured" by local photographers and captioned with each bird's common and scientific name. For more information, visit www.snakeriveraudubon.org. Inside Outdoor Books Belted Kingfisher IF

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