We're long-time fans of National Geographic Traveler magazine and its Intelligent Travel blog, especially when the topic involves traveling with kids. Last week, we were treated to some great writing in this mini review by NGT's senior editor Norie Quintos of a family rafting trip on Idaho's Lower Salmon River. Quintos delivers both a wondrous sense of place (including a better understanding of the environmental impact of dams) and a good feel for the practicalities of a paddling-cum-camping trip with ROW Adventures. Here's an excerpt:

"And whitewater thrills, after all, was what my kids were here for. From our put-in near Whitebird, Idaho, we hit some 20 rapids between Class II and IV during the last 60 miles of the Salmon. No one was disappointed, including grownups, who found they could dial down the ride intensity by sitting toward the back of the raft, the better to appreciate the four dramatic high-walled canyons our flotilla was coasting through.

Evenings and nights were spent on white-sand beaches you’d expect in Hawaii, not in Idaho. By camping terms, this was cushy living. Our tents were pitched for us (though we did have to take them down). A makeshift outdoor galley produced concoctions that rivaled what a fully equipped restaurant kitchen could do: prime rib, upside-down pineapple cake, eggs Benedict, and of course, herb-infused wild salmon. Coffee in the morning, s’mores and cowboy songs by the campfire at night. Most everybody even got used to the portable potty."