Culinary Tourism & Idaho's First AVA

According to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) 17% of American leisure travelers, a total of 27 million people, participated in culinary or wine-related activities while traveling within the last three years. Armed with this knowledge, the Idaho Division of Tourism has partnered with the Idaho Department of Agriculture on a new Culinary Tourism initiative to include wine trails, cooking classes, farm experiences and restaurant information. “We now know that some travelers are making their travel decisions based on the types of food and wine experiences available in a given area. We hope to entice them to Idaho by showcasing our best food and wine products in unique ways.” said Carl Wilgus, Idaho State Tourism Director.

One participant in this program is the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission (IGGWPC). Their region, the Snake River Valley, was recently awarded America’s newest AVA (American Viticulture Area) designation by the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), an important distinction that brands the southern portion of the state as America’s next great wine region capable of producing excellent wines. To vintners, the AVA designation promises production of fruit with unique characteristics and flavor—perfect for creating fine wine.

As of April 9, Idaho’s Snake River Valley will take its place among 236 AVAs in the US, a third of which are in California. AVAs can encompass a large boundary covering hundreds of square miles or a land mass of just a few acres. The Snake River Valley is relatively large. At 21,400 square kilometers (8,263 square miles or 5.27 million acres), it is larger than Connecticut and Delaware combined and is just shy of being as large as New Jersey. The area extends along the Snake River, east to west, from the Twin Falls area into Oregon. The area’s geologic history, elevations and surrounding mountains, cold continental climate and complexities of its boundary lines are listed among its unique viticultural characteristics. Air currents created by the Snake River are noted for helping to temper Idaho’s extreme winter temperatures and summer heat.

For more information, visit www.idahowines.org

Mother's Day Retreats

Wondering how to show Mom you care this Mother’s Day? Check out any of these fabulous packages from our Idaho industry partners.

• Mother's Day Brunch
  Thunder Mountain Line offering Mother’s Day Brunch May 13, 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.
• Mother/Daughter Kayaking
  Give Mom a gift certificate for a Mother/Daughter kayaking trip, August 3-6, 2007. Enjoy an incredible opportunity to bond with nature and each other. Offered by Barker River Trips.
• Family Fun Weekend at Silverwood Theme Park
  Celebrate Mother's Day at Silverwood Theme Park May 12-13, 2007. Moms are free when accompanied by their children.
• Mother's Day Special at American Country B&B
  How about a great Mother’s Day retreat at an Idaho Bed and Breakfast? During the Mother's Day week at the American Country B&B near Coeur d’Alene, the Big Sweet is offered at $200 per night, the Greenery Room is offered at $175 per night, the Holidaze room is offered at $150 per night, and the RV spaces are offered at $85 per night.
• Mother's Day at the Blue Heron Inn
  Honor your mother or the mother of your children with a night at the Blue Heron Inn. A beautiful cellophane-wrapped rose and box of chocolates will be in her room upon arrival.

Idaho's Whitewater Trail

Did you know that Idaho has more whitewater river miles than any other state in the lower 48? Some of the best known rivers include the Lochsa, Payette, Snake, Main Salmon and the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Enjoy a gentle drift down a lazy river or take a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride down incredible rapids. Guided trips can be arranged and vary from a few hours to several days in untracked wilderness. The highlight of Idaho’s river-running community is the new Idaho Whitewater Trail-an outfitter rafting opportunity that combines seven day trips on Idaho’s best whitewater rivers with some of the best scenic locations in the state. If this is your idea of thrill seeking, you’ve come to the right place. Visit www.idahowhitewatertrail.com for more information.

Huckleberry Crisp Recipe

North Idaho is well-known for its huckleberries, so why not pick a few and whip ‘em up into something good to eat!

1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 cups huckleberries, sweetened
1 cup huckleberry juice (drained from fruit)

Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt and spices in a saucepan. Add lemon and huckleberry juices and stir until smooth. Cook over low heat until thickened and clear, stirring constantly. Stir in huckleberries and pour into a greased baking dish.

Topping:

1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups corn flakes

Melt butter in a saucepan. Combine sugar and flour and add to butter. Cook, stirring constantly over low heat for 3 minutes. Add cornflakes mixing quickly until they are coated with syrup. Sprinkle over the huckleberry mixture and bake at 400 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until topping is crisp and golden brown. Serve warm or cold.