If you’re looking for an unforgettable vacation in Idaho, why should the adventure stop at your doorstep? From treehouses and train carriages to sleeping in a giant potato, this list features some of the coolest and most unique places to stay in Idaho.
Tara Morgan worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. You’ve studied the proper pronunciation—“BOI-See,” not “BOI-Zee.” You’ve brushed up on the city’s various neighborhoods: North End, Bench, Garden City, Downtown.
Boasting extensive trail systems, breathtaking backcountry and an annual snowfall ranging from 100 to 500 inches throughout the region, eastern Idaho is a hot spot when it comes to cool winter adventures. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a leisurely sleigh ride or take off on a high-powered snowmobiling adventure, eastern Idaho is the ideal place for a winter retreat.
As the number one barley producer in the country and second in hops, Idaho is no stranger to delicious brews, especially craft beer. But Idaho’s ciders are quickly making a name for themselves as they rapidly increase in popularity across the state. Made from fermented apple juice, the flavor profile of cider can vary wildly depending on what each cidermaker adds to the batch.
Scott Kranz worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. If you imagine Idaho as a mostly flat, agricultural expanse, then you may be surprised to find a magical landscape full of granite spires in the heart of southern Idaho, just a three-hour drive from either Boise or Salt Lake City.
Katie Cooney worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Illustration credit: Katie Cooney. The Teton Valley is nestled beneath the western slopes of the Teton Range. With the Tetons to the east, the Snake River Range to the south and the Big Hole Mountains to the west, the Teton Valley is a mountain biker’s paradise.
Part Time Tourists worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. A leaf-peeping road trip through eastern and southeastern Idaho is an adventure that you won’t soon forget. Beautiful maples, aspens, and oaks add pops of color to the already stunning landscape.
Jessica Darrington of Part Time Tourists worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. If you haven’t heard the term “glamping” yet, it’s a mix between the words “glamorous” and “camping”.
Tara Morgan worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. With spud farms and cattle ranches scattered across much of the state, it’s no surprise that Idahoans have a penchant for meat and potatoes.
Melynda Harrison worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this travel tip. Road trips are the epitome of summer family vacations. Pack up the car, hit the open road and let the family bonding begin.
Angel Abaya worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. It’s been far too long since we’ve been able to listen to hours of live music, laugh at a couple of comedy shows, attend yoga classes all day, or dance for five nights straight.
Idaho Falls has an incredible downtown scene, an intricate path system known as the Greenbelt, boasts a beloved zoo, and is home to the Museum of Idaho. While you could spend all of your time in the city itself, Idaho Falls provides unbeatable access to the surrounding outdoors.
Preethi Chandrasekhar worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Is Idaho calling your name? While it’s still a state that sometimes flies under the radar, Idaho has some absolutely gorgeous off-the-beaten-path destinations that’ll make you wonder why you didn’t visit sooner.
Mark Melynk worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Fly fishing is an incredible sport where almost everyone can participate. One of the great things about fishing on the fly is if the water isn’t ice, and regulations allow, you can target some fish species 365 days a year.
Stretching from Shoshone to Stanley, the Sawtooth Scenic Byway is, in my biased opinion, one of the most beautiful routes through Idaho. From lava-filled high desert to the jagged peaks of the Sawtooth Mountains, this scenic byway has sweeping views, creature comforts and access to some truly spectacular outdoor recreation.
72 Hours in the Silver Valley By Rick Shaffer A visit to northern Idaho just isn't complete without spending time in Wallace--the self-proclaimed "Center of the Universe". Here is a jam-packed itinerary to give you a taste of all the Silver Valley has to offer.
Although Boise probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of culinary diversity, the rapidly growing metro area has amassed an impressive list of restaurants serving a variety of foods from all over the globe. While some of these restaurateurs are refugees who have been displaced from their native lands, others have moved to the Treasure Valley in search of new surroundings or accessibility to the great outdoors. No matter how they arrived in Boise, they all possess one thing in common: the desire to share the flavors of their family ancestry or their homeland with the community.
Boise benefits from its temperate, high-desert climate and location at the western edge of the Mountain time zone, giving it over 200 days of sunshine a year and long, pleasant second-summer days well into fall. Here are eight places with outdoor spaces for you to explore while getting some sunshine and exercise in the City of Trees.
This story originally appeared in the 2021 Official Idaho Travel Guide. Main image: Angela Abaya (Left), Program Director at LED, and dancer Nell Josephine.
Visiting Boise and don’t have a car? No problem. One of the City of Trees’ most beloved aspects is its accessibility. So many of its popular spots and points of interest can be reached and explored on two legs or two (or more) wheels.
Traveling Newlyweds worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Alright, raise your hand if you’ve ever heard of Schweitzer Mountain. Anyone? Technically we can’t see you right now, but we’re guessing not a lot of you have.
Soak Up Summer Adventure in McCall By Visit Idaho If you're looking for a quick weekend getaway this summer, McCall is the perfect destination for some fun in the sun. From exhilarating mountain biking adventures to leisurely lake days, with all that McCall has to offer, you just might end up extending your trip by a day or two.
Melynda Harrison worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. Many people are drawn to Island Park in eastern Idaho because of its proximity to Yellowstone National Park. While Yellowstone is fascinating, the Idaho area around the park is beautiful and rich with recreational opportunities.
Tara Morgan worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. When the heat soars and you need a quick jolt to drop your body temp, channel your inner Parrothead and reach for a frozen concoction to help you hang on.
Traveling Newlyweds worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip. When we first told our family and friends that we were planning to road trip from Costa Mesa, CA to Twin Falls and Boise, ID, (with our busy, never-stops-moving one-year-old) they thought we were crazy.