Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to Idado!

Our cabin is an hours north, along the shores of Koooteny Lake, from Creston, B.C.. This also means we are fairly close to the US boarder, the land of cross boarder shopping! When you cross at Porthill, Idaho, you often see people from Creston crossing over just to buy gas! A few years ago, we made a brilliant discovery! At Porthill, there is a mercantile where you can have all you online orders shipped to, and they process them and store them for you until you pick them up!

So, over the past couple years we have ordered everything from toilets with special seats, to birthday presents for the kids to computer and boat parts!  It has become part of our summer travels, while staying out at the cabin.

Two years ago, we even ventured further in to the land of plenty, down to Sandpoint, Idaho, for an afternoon at the beach on Lake Pend Orille. It is a huge lake, over 43 miles long with a lovely town beach. It is a busy lake, with its surrounding shores full of cabins and parks.

Here Max, age 3 digging in the sand.

Amyah, age 5, cringing from the cold water!

This past summer we decided to make the same trek again. However, this time we went to Coeur  D'Alene and spent the night. Again, there are a ton of places to shop, and we did stock up on things for the cabin.  We also spent the day at a fab family place, Triple Play. There is also the mega water park and amusement grounds, Silverwood Theme Park. We opted to save that for another time when we had at least one full day to hang out there. Judging by the people we could see there, just from driving by on the highway, it is the place to be on a great summer's day.

Here are some snaps of Triple Play. We thoroughly enjoyed our day there and would return. We did not stay at the hotel attached, as it was full. But, if you do stay there is an indoor water park as well!!!
Woo Hoo!

Costa Rica Part II Pennisula Papagayo

Our home away from home this time around was SPECTACULAR! We felt so lucky. It was quite deserted as well. To top off this great place, there was also a golf cart to motor around in!

The enterance to the pennisula is lovely with the sculptures, and very tall palm trees.

Here we are lounging around the pool with a great view of the bay.

If you stay on the peninsula, most properties allow you to also hang out at the beach club.  This fabulous club was on a lovely beach, Playa Prieta.

We also took the golf cart down to a public beach called Playa  Nacascolo . It was shallow for a long ways, and was fairly warm. The kids loved it the best, as it had a wonderful beach plus trees to play in and vines to swing on!

If you stay on the Papagayo Pennisula, Liberia, the major city, is only about 30 minutes away. It was where we shopped for groceries. You often pass through Liberia to get to all other destinations. Plus, there is a private medial clinic there, Clinica Biblica. They were super helpful in booking us our appointment with the ENT specialist to look at Amyah's ear.  Right beside it was also a private hospital which was brand new. Not that anyone plans to get sick but it was comforting to know there was quality medical help nearby.
And, if you find yourself in San Jose, the hospital Clinica Biblica offers great medical services too.

A typical San Jose street in the old part, where the hospital is located.

Costa Rica is definitely a country we will visit again. Everything about it is lovely and natural, from the lush rain forests to the sandy beaches. The Costa Rican people's warmth is also what will draw us back.  We hope you will someday get the chance to travel there!
Ciao!
The Beckers

Costa Rica - Arenal Volcano

Yes, it is very cool to stay near a volcano!( In case you were wondering. ) The kids were a bit cautious at first, worrying about it blowing lava! However, we were a safe distance away from Arenal but still had great views.

Lost Iguana resort was our home base for exploring this area of Costa Rica. It was in a lush jungle area, on the side of a mountain, with great views. We fell in love with this quaint resort, and hope to return someday.

Arenal Volcano

 

The view from our room.

There were impressive wood carvings, everywhere!

The carved door to our room. All the rooms had similar doors.

More details we found on a path - these lit up the pathways during the night.

Watching birds from our breakfast table in the restuarant. One day we even saw a Tucan!

The restaurant from the outside.

Lower cool pool

And, our fav., the warm swim up bar pool. :)

Max can touch the bottom!

"It's been a hot day Amyah, just pick something and be quick!"

And we also spent time exploring the resort which was a huge jungle. We even found a hibiscus maze which the kids thought was great! It was a lush area and we loved it. The river was also a great place for an adventure.

If you are looking at a map, you might notice how Arenal does not seem that far away, from Liberia. However, due to a lack for roads, and good ones at that, it is best to take a day to get there and settle in. Then take a couple days to hang out and enjoy the area.