We receive a lot of questions about Idaho’s weather as well as the types of activities you can do depending on the season. With summer on the way and trip planning in full effect, here are answers (with travel tips and resources included) to some of the most frequently asked questions about planning a vacation in Idaho.
Kristin Luna worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. With the arrival of warmer temps comes a desire to be outdoors and the Boise area offers opportunities in spades. Not sure where to jumpstart your Capital City adventures?
Going on vacation doesn’t mean you have to leave your dog behind. With dog-friendly hotels, lodging and recreation options throughout the state, it’s easy to bring your four-legged best friend on an Idaho vacation.
Land of the Yankee Fork State Park has it all. Frontier mining history, ghost towns, an interactive interpretive center, and miles of OHV trails to explore. Abandoned by the rise and fall of the gold rush, Bonanza, Bayhorse, and Custer are now under the care of Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and the U.S.
Melynda Harrison worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Pocatello, known as the “Gate City” and “Gateway to the Northwest” has long been both a stopping point and a destination for people.
Christina McEvoy worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. When you see pictures of the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho, your eye is automatically drawn to the rugged, jagged peaks and the jewel-colored alpine lakes that make up this mountain range.
Katie Williams worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Since moving back to Boise, I've been on a mission to uncover the best day trips from the capitol city. When I realized Idaho City, a place I explored as a child, was only an hour away, I knew I had to return for another “ghost town” adventure. Idaho City is nestled in the Boise Basin and holds a special place in history as the largest city in the Northwest more than a century ago.
For outdoor enthusiasts seeking to discover the twin jewels of stunning beauty and extensive hiking options, there may be no better choice than the rugged mountains surrounding the small town of Stanley. Stanley is located in the Stanley Basin, surrounded by three diverse and spectacular mountains ranges that are still remarkably unspoiled—the jagged Sawtooth Mountains, the lofty White Cloud Mountains, and the wildlife-packed Salmon River Mountains.
Inspire adventure and outdoor play with a little help from Idaho's state parks. Load up the whole family for a day trip or a long weekend. From dense forests to sand dunes to sparkling lakes, you'll find a variety of ways to explore and play this summer with the added bonus of free programs to keep the kids entertained.
Come April, Idaho’s beer industry shakes off the chills of winter and gears up for another round of delicious brews by celebrating Idaho Craft Beer Month. Drink up at MickDuff's Brewing Company. Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism This annual celebration is a launchpad for Idaho brewery discovery and acknowledges all the partners — from growers and brewers to retailers — that contribute to Idaho’s thriving craft beer industry.
Vanessa Hunt worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Just two hours north of Idaho’s state capital and nestled in the mountains, lies a charming lake town called McCall. Home to the beautiful Ponderosa State Park, Payette Lake, mountains, hot springs and a wide variety of outdoor and family activities, McCall offers something for the whole family during the summer.
From the moment my toe hit the perfectly clear, gloriously hot water of the Lava Hot Springs hot pools I was hooked. The evening settled around me as children splashed, couples laughed and the stars winked to life in the darkening sky.
There is almost nothing in the world better than an Idaho road trip. You'll enjoy an ever-changing landscape that boasts rugged mountains, sweeping desert views, picturesque rivers and lakes, and dense forests. If you haven’t hit the Idaho roads yet this year, then it’s high time that you do.
HoneyTrek worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Idaho's rivers are worth exploring. Photo Credit: HoneyTrek. Idaho may only be 479 miles long but it's got over 107,000 miles of river to explore.
Tara Morgan worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Trade in the unpredictable outdoor gloom for an oh-so-reliable indoor standby: A cozy barstool and nice glass of whiskey. Whether it’s a perfectly balanced Boulevardier or a three-finger splash of bourbon on the rocks, these six Boise bars offer exceptional experiences for whiskey fans and connoisseurs, alike.
Traveling Newlyweds worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Boise, Idaho has been named the number one Adventure City by National Geographic, Forbes has it on their list for one of the top 10 cities where salaries are actually increasing, it’s home to the Boise State Broncos (with their famous bright blue turf), and it’s home to Aaron Paul (if you’re a Breaking Bad fan, you’ll know).
It’s all about the moon, the stars and the mountains on this epic adventure. Explore a parallel universe, conquer the turns of Idaho’s rugged mountains, and settle in to view the dazzling night sky as you’ve never seen it before.
It’s time to take the scenic route and be wowed by Idaho’s offerings. Waterfalls, rainbows, wildlife, and towering mountains make taking your time along this eastern Idaho itinerary a relaxing and inspiring adventure.
Set your adventure mode to turbo with a trip through southeastern Idaho. With off-the-beaten-path experiences at every turn, you’ll soon learn why this part of Idaho is a destination for outdoor lovers.
It’s all about the water and the wild side on this Epic Idaho adventure. Pristine paddling kicks off the fun, with a stop in the Snake River canyon for some high-speed thrills, and the whole trip wraps with an awe-inducing getaway to a majestic waterfall.
Buckle up for rowdy whitewater, big hikes, a heaping dose of history and a to-die-for dish that will have you making plans to linger a little longer in Idaho. Visit Idaho
Sample an array of Idaho adventures with wine tasting, a historical trek among giants and a whitewater ride you’ll never forget. These epic adventures skirt some of Idaho’s roadless wilderness area so your trip will be a bit longer, but remarkably scenic, and well worth the extra time.
Take your adventure to new heights with a trip through northern Idaho. From the Center of the Universe to the crown jewel of rail to trail experiences and an adventure course that will have you zipping through the trees, there’s no slowing down on this epic adventure.
On August 22, 1969, four astronauts walked the lava-covered landscape of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho. Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, Joe Engle and Eugene Cernan were skilled at space flight but didn’t know which lunar rocks would be most valuable to collect on their planned journeys to the moon.
Jade Broadus worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Snow is magical. Think about the first time you went on a snow adventure. When you looked out and saw a white blanket covering the world in possibilities you’d only ever heard about and read in books - snowballs, snow angels, skiing, spinning down the hill in an inner tube, and sinking up to your chest in powder.