When you think of a romantic getaway, does Idaho come to mind? Probably not. But maybe after reading this blog, you’ll have a change of heart like we did. It wasn’t until we took a trip to the winter wonderland ourselves that we truly realized there are so many unique dates that couples can enjoy in the potato state. From racing down the most beautiful mountains together to romantic dinners off the grid, here are 6 winter dates ideas that will surely make you fall in love with (or in) Idaho.
Ice Skating at Indian Creek Plaza
If you’ve ever been ice skating before, you know that it has a way of bringing you together. Usually, that’s because unless you’re a professional, you’ll definitely need to hold each other up a time or two as you duck walk around the ice. There’s no way to look cool when ice skating for the first time, so it’s a great way to break the ice and just let loose & have fun, especially if you’re with a new date. Check out Indian Creek Plaza website for more information on hours and rates.
Enjoy the Over 1 Million Lights at Indian Creek Plaza
After ice skating wears you out, we highly recommend grabbing a delicious hot chocolate from The Good Spoon and snuggling up for a brisk walk along the creek to enjoy the beautiful holiday lights. From November 17th through January 8th, you will find Indian Creek covered in over 1 million lights every night for the Winter Wonderland Festival. It’s a truly magical sight that you don’t want to miss.
Take Ski Lessons at Brundage Mountain Resort
There’s no better place to have a winter date than Brundage Mountain Resort in McCall, ID. Afterall, nothing quite says I’m falling for you like taking ski lessons together for the first time. As beginners, you will most definitely fall quite a few times during your lesson, but luckily, Brundage is known for its amazingly soft snow. It also offers a variety of terrain for those that are just starting out so you’re able to have a more intimate and relaxed experience together as you learn.
Soak in the Thermal Pools at Burgdorf Hot Springs
Located just 30 miles north of McCall, Burgdorf Hot Springs is a must do date for any couple visiting Idaho in the winter. It’s a rustic little lodge, with a natural thermal pool that is the perfect place to warm up together on a chilly winter’s day. The springs feature 3 log pools with temperatures ranging from 96F to a whopping 118F. The coolest thing about Burgdorf Hot springs, besides looking like a scene from a Hallmark movie, is the fact that in the winter, it is only accessible by snowmobile. This gives it a very exclusive feeling, as surely not too many people own snowmobiles. We arrived at 2pm for our soak session and were lucky enough to have the hot springs all to ourselves, how romantic!
Take a Guided Backcountry Snowmobile Tour
Speaking of snowmobiles, a guided backcountry snowmobile tour is obviously something you can’t miss on your winter trip to Idaho (especially if you want to visit the hot spring we mentioned above). It’s not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a date, which is why you should definitely do it. Truth be told, it’s not every day that you have the opportunity to take your significant other on an adventure-filled ride through the winter wonderland that is Idaho’s backcountry. As you race down the snow-covered highways together, and stop to admire the incredible views, you will be overcome with love and adoration for life and the unforgettable memories you are creating together.
Snowshoe to the Blue Moon Yurt
Have you ever hiked to dinner before? If your answer is no, you are not alone! With that being said, it is imperative that you experience a date to the Blue Moon Yurt during your winter vacay to Idaho, because it is surely an experience unlike anything else you’ve ever seen. Snowshoeing through the mountains together will definitely bring you closer, but the real treat begins once you arrive at the romantic, candlelit yurt and meet Lisa and her incredible team.
The concept of the yurt is like a mixture of fine dining meets glamping, with a community style seating arrangement. Yes -you will be seated with strangers, but that is what makes the yurt experience that much more unique. The yurt team greets you with a delicious hot cider and prepares a 5-course meal for you that will surely have you falling in love.
By now, your question is not whether you should take a trip to Idaho for one of these epic winter dates, but which one should you do first?! Be sure to check out our blog How to Make the Best Out of A Winter Trip to Idaho for our full 6 day itinerary that will help you map out a week full of love and winter adventures.
Feature image credited to Love at First Flight.
Our names are Lanaiza & Mahdi. We are from New Orleans, Louisiana, and met while working in corporate America doing sales for a big travel company. After a couple of months of office banter, we finally admitted our romantic interest in one another, and the rest was history. It wasn’t long before we took our first trip together to Puerto Rico, which made us really believe in the power of travel. A few years later, here we are, traveling the world and creating incredible memories that will last us long beyond any materialistic item.
Published on December 21, 2023
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