Many of the national parks in the United States are facing a crisis. Too many visitors. Overcrowding and high vehicular traffic at these family vacation destinations has created a dilemma for the federal agencies who maintain and manage those scenic locations.

It has also caused problems for the vacationing family. Reservations are hard to come by at nearby commercial accommodations and at park-operated overnight facilities. More and more families are searching for alternative locations for their holiday break. If you are looking for a vacation retreat with plenty of elbow room for your family, let me suggest the State of Idaho.

Idaho's landscape features an unrivaled natural beauty of lush forests, high mountain peaks, alpine lakes, awesome rivers and streams and desert sand dunes. If you are looking for a playland for a spring, summer, fall or winter vacation, Idaho is hard to match. There's plenty to see and do in Idaho, and plenty of room to do it, away from the crowds.

Idaho boasts 2,000 lakes and reservoirs and 16,000 miles of rivers. The expansive landscape features 19,000 miles of terrain for hiking, backpacking, mountain and road biking, horseback riding, Nordic skiing and snowmobiling. There are hundreds of campsites operated by various government agencies and scores of commercial campgrounds available to tent and recreational vehicle campers. The state offers 9.3 million acres of road-free national forests and 4 million acres of unspoiled, true wilderness. The Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness is composed of 2,300,000 acres by itself and is the largest, designated wilderness area in the continental United States.

Fishing, boating, swimming, rafting, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, biking, rock climbing, camping, skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing and other outdoor adventure favorites can be found throughout Idaho. In addition, the state has a fascinating history and a diverse cultural overlay.

Follow in the footsteps of the heroic explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and their female companion and guide, Sacajawea. Learn about the wagon trains that ventured west on the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, and other lesser traveled routes across the state. In places, wheel ruts left by pioneer wagons still remain. Wonder at the many unique natural features such as lava fields, deep river canyons, huge rock outcroppings, sparse desert plains and the earth's crustal rifting, known as the Great Rift System.

Less than one-and-a-half million people populate the State of Idaho. The state's largest community, the capital city of Boise, has less than 200,000 residents. Most towns are extremely small, but each is steeped in the unique history of the state. You are encouraged to interact with the people of Idaho. Many have historical bonds with those who built the state. Many of the towns have one or more annual events to remember days gone by, and it is fun to share in these reminiscent experiences with the locals.

You are urged to visit Idaho on your next family vacation. Lots to see and do. A lifetime of memories. No crowds.