Dear Eclipse Enthusiasts:

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Welcome to Pocatello, Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, in Idaho: The Gem State! We hope your stay here is fabulous! This is pretty exciting for all of us. We love to share our culture and beauty with visitors. Here are a few words of advice to make your stay as amazing as possible:

1. Order the fry sauce. If you order fries. Order the fry sauce. You're welcome.

1. Respect the farmland. Sugar beet, potato and wheat fields are not public land. They feed the world. Do not drive through or otherwise tamper with the fields. It's not just a job for our farmers, it's a way of life. It's the lifeblood running through the state. Do, however, stop and talk to a farmer. Ask them questions about their crops, learn about their lives. You will make a new friend and learn a lot! Our farmers are excited to share their passion and love for their lifestyle and land.

2. This time of year, harvest is starting. Pay attention to flaggers in the road, vehicles with lights flashing, etc. It's possible large equipment is moving at a slow rate, taking up the entire roadway. Large equipment with large, sharp blades pointing straight at your windshield.

1. Don't mess with our livestock. Seriously. We shoot first to protect and ask questions later. Don't feed them ... it's much like strangers feeding your child without asking first. Do take all the photos you want! We also highly encourage booking some time on a trail ride or at a riding stable - or maybe touring a dairy!

2. It's a hot topic.... So let's take a minute to discuss guns. It’s a safe assumption that almost everyone here is packing - because we can - without a permit. Rarely – very rarely - is there an incident. Embracing the idea that the guy on the road that stopped to help you is most likely packing will definitely make your stay more pleasant and less of a surprise. They are not someone to be afraid of – rather, rest easy, knowing they have your back. Our 911 dispatchers need to be focusing on actual events, not processing hundreds of calls about a lady with a handgun in her purse.

1. Wildlife. We have it. A lot of it. We have bear, moose, cougars, wolves, coyotes, badgers, etc - all over... not just in Yellowstone. Just yesterday there was a moose within city limits and wolves spotted within 3 miles of town. Plan on seeing wildlife, but PLEASE don't think for one second these are tame animals. Keep your distance. They will kill you. Dead. Seriously. Be safe!

2. Show love to your wait staff! In Idaho, restaurants are not required to pay minimum wage to wait staff. Waiters, waitresses and baristas rely HEAVILY on tips to feed their kids and make house payments. Please be generous and kind knowing they make $3.25 an hour. Also keep in mind that they will be serving crowd sizes that NEVER happen here. There may be an extra wait. Please be patient and view this as an opportunity to talk to a local and learn more about our amazing state.

3. We want you to feel welcome and at home while you are here! If you need help, don't hesitate to ask. People here are some of the friendliest you will meet. We will smile at you. Pocatello IS the Smile Capital- just google it! We will probably wave as we pass your vehicle on the road. It's nothing to be afraid of. 😜

4. Admittedly, new things can be scary and having THIS MANY people in this area is new. Know that everyone here will be on high alert. We are used to watching out for our neighbor and if we see something we don't like, we will probably call the cops. Please respect private property, rules and laws while you are visiting.

1. Yellowstone is our back yard. We are awfully protective of it. We don't take kindly to people who mess with wildlife, vandalize or deface park property or ruin/contaminate hot pots, geysers and other natural attractions. If you get stomped by a buffalo, well, then you probably deserved it and we won't feel sorry for you. It's not a circus attraction. It's wild land with wild animals and hot boiling water everywhere. Be respectful.

2. Don't leave your garbage and waste on our public lands. Whatever you pack in, please pack out. Remember! Only trash litters!

3. Southeast Idaho needs your help. We have experienced some serious fires locally within the last couple of weeks. Conditions are VERY dry and fire dangers are extreme. Please don't throw cigarette butts out the window or drive off-road. The undercarriage of vehicles can cause dry vegetation to ignite resulting in loss of crops, homes, livestock and even lives. Please visit the Idaho Bureau of Land Management site and get familiar with the current fire bans and regulations.

4. Make sure to UP your data for iCloud or pack extra SD cards. You are going to need the storage space. Southeast Idaho and its immediate surrounding area is home to some of the most beautiful country you will ever see. Take time during traffic jams to just enjoy the scenery and take a bunch of pictures!

5. Although I’ve never seen one, we have locals that swear you might see Sasquatch. (Good post by @dwinblood) If you do, please be sure to get a REALLY good photo or video so we can finally put this debate to rest.

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1. Get out there and enjoy Pocatello and the rest of Idaho! Go fishing! Enjoy our hiking and biking trails! Visit our museums and galleries! Take a ton of photos and talk to our residents! Happy Eclipse Weekend!

Author Unknown

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Unless otherwise attributed all photos posted under CC0. Sourced from Unsplash

Since I live in Idaho I thought I would share this gem I found on Facebook. Its a good read and all of it is quite true. It's still 5 days away and you would be amazed at the amount of people that have already come into town. Here in the Twin Falls area there are absolutly NO Hotel rooms or open camping spots left. I have even begun to notice people setting up tents in yards. There is an amazing number of RV's Motorhomes Camp trailers and cars that are just parked in any wide spot on the roads. I really mean it when I say slow down and watch out for kids and pets where you don't expect them. Above all have fun and stay safe.

P.S. Markdown Experts. How do I get my numbered paragraphs in this post to go sequentailly? For some reason these started over after each picture. Thanks.

Again, I did NOT write this. I just made it pretty. I claim no rights to it.