Idaho is a state for visitors with an eye for adventure and a love of the outdoors. With its cultural and historic roots it also offers something a little more unique for those with an interest in these areas.
This state has so much to offer the sightseer with everything from majestic mountains to huge canyons and breathtaking alpine lakes. The landscape through the state can be rolling hills in one place, high country desert in another and sand dunes in the next. All this makes traveling around this state an adventure in itself. The outdoor activities here allow visitors here to do pretty much anything they want with canoeing, backpacking, jet boating, whitewater rafting and a myriad of other things on the menu, enough for even the most adventurous visitor.
Moving onto the more historical and cultures aspects of this state there are plenty of great locations to visit. The capital city of Boise is home to the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial and over in the south central region there are the pre-Columbian artifacts and the Idaho State fossil. These are just a few of the great things on offer in Idaho with much more to be found in any of the regions visited.
Finally, once you have had enough of the sightseeing and adventuring you can take a break at one or more of the many shopping outlets that are spread throughout the state. There is the Boise Towne Square or maybe the Cedar Street Bridge with enough variety in each to make your vacation complete. A beautiful and exciting state to visit, Idaho really is a perfect place for an adventurous vacation.
Boise is the capital and largest city in Idaho. It is located in the southwest part of the state. Boise consistently ranks in the top ten cities in the US for business and quality of life. Boise provides visitors a variety of non-traditional attractions and sites, including: the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center, Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, Idaho Black History Museum and the World Center for Birds of Prey.
Nampa, Idaho's second largest city, is close to Boise. The Snake River Stampede, one of America's top ten rodeos, is held here every July during the Snake River Dayz festival. The Warhawk Air Museum has some fantastic aircraft and WWII exhibits. The Wilson Ponds Fish Hatchery is a fun spot for fishing. You are sure to catch a big one at the trophy catch and release fishing ponds, because they are fully stocked with trout every two weeks.
Meridian is 10 miles west of Boise. Race fans will enjoy stock car racing, April though September, at the ¼ mile Meridian Speedway. Meridian is home to the Northwest's largest water park, Roaring Springs. More family fun, can be had at the Boondocks Fun Center. Kahootz Steak & Alehouse is a good choice for food and drinks.
Eagle is in southwest Idaho, near Boise. Tourists interested in strange and unusual food should visit during the annual Eagle Fun Days Festival. The Eagle Volunteer fire department hosts the "World's Largest Rocky Mountain Oyster Feed," a fundraiser for their organization. For a less adventurous culinary experience, The Eagle Rib Shack is a local favorite.
Mountain Home is between Boise and Ketchum. Visitors can ride ATVs or mountain bikes along the Danskin Trails and on the Bruneau Sand Dunes along the Bruneau River. There are two excellen golf courses here: Desert Canyon and Silver Sage. Cigar aficionados will be impressed with the selection at Mark Anthony's Purveyors of Fine Cigars. You can shoot pool at the Brew-N-Cue or get dinner, drinks, and watch a game at Kurley's Sports Bar & Grill.
Ketchum is in the central part of the state, and is home to the renowned ski destination, Sun Valley. Sun Valley draws tourists from around the world for some of the best skiing and snowboarding anywhere. Ketchum also has great fishing, hiking, and shopping. Each Labor Day weekend, Ketchum hosts the Wagon Days festival, an old west carnival with wagon trains, a parade, and historical reenactments of gunfights. Ernest Hemingway loved, lived, fished, hunted, and died in Ketchum.
Montpelier is in the southeast corner of Idaho and was the site of a bank heist by Butch Cassidy, in 1896. Montpelier's tourism is centered around Bear Lake. This large picturesque lake is called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" because of its intense turquoise blue water and white sand beaches. Hunters can search for mule deer, moose, and rocky mountain elk. In Montpelier, you can go snow skiing in the winter or jet skiing in the summer.
Idaho Falls is located in the southeast part of the state. Idaho Falls has world class fishing, championship golf, minor league baseball, and a location in close proximity to many area attractions. Idaho Falls' Tautphaus Park Zoo is small but has over 300 animals from six continents, among them: Bactrian Camels, African Lions, and Australian Wallabies. Idaho Falls has a plethora of dining options.
Pocatello is southwest of Idaho Falls. There is a lot to do here for the whole family. Ross Park has an aquatic center with, a water slide, lazy river, pools, and an aqua gym. There's also a skate park in Ross Park for skateboarders and rollerbladers. The Outer Limits Fun Zone has arcades, black light mini-golf, and laser tag. The Pocatello Zoo features native animals of the Rocky Mountains and around the world. For dinner and more entertainment, Pocatello also has two dinner theaters, the Mystique Dinner Theater and the Westside Player Dinner Theatre.
Coeur d'Alene is in northern Idaho on Coeur d'Alene Lake, east of Spokane, Washington. Tourists come here for fishing, boating, and water sports on the lake, and for golfing at one of the three area courses: StoneRidge, Circling Raven, and Coeur d'Alene Resort. There are a variety of casual and fine dinning options featuring classic and contemporary northwestern cuisine. The most memorable may be The Cedars Floating Restaurant, a unique floating restaurant with 360 degree views of Lake Coeur d'Alene.
Harrison is on the eastern shore of Coeur d'Alene Lake. Coeur d'Alenes Springston Trailhead provides excellent terrain for cycling or hiking, where visitors can enjoy the natural beauty and possibly spot some bald eagles, osprey, moose, and elk. The Crane House Museum has information on Harrison's history. Enjoy some ice cream at Ruby's or go to One Shot Charlie's Bar for live music, coffee, and wine.
Post Falls is close to Coeur d'Alene. Cabela's has an impressive 125,000-square-foot store in Post Falls, with anything you could want for hunting, fishing, camping, and outdoor recreation. Post Falls is home to Buck Knives, which make great souvenirs and gifts. Just remember to put them in your checked luggage on the way back. Mallards Restaurant and Wolf Lodge Inn are both excellent fine dining restaurants.
Lewiston is in northwestern Idaho and the site of Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. Hells Canyon is over 3000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon. Visitors can tour the canyon by jet boat, raft, helicopter, or fishing charter. Lewiston has two public and two private golf courses, and award winning wineries and microbreweries. Gamblers can try their luck at the Clearwater River Casino & Resort.
Sandpoint is in north Idaho, near scenic Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort. Guests can take a cruise on Lake Pend Oreille on the 40-foot Shawnodese. The annual Schweitzer Lakedance International Film Festival, is one of the largest film festivals in the Northwest, and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Sandpoint's Pend d'Oreille Winery offers tours and tastings of their award winning wines. If you feel like taking a dam tour, then be sure to visit the Albeni Falls Dam for free.
Idaho has a largely unspoiled beautiful and rugged terrain, with edge-of-the-world ski slope peaks, deep gorges, waterfalls, and majestic lakes. This is not a place for relaxing Idaho was built for action and adventure. The hunting and fishing that drew Ernest Hemmingway here, but whatever outdoor sport you prefer there is a season for it in Idaho. Also, it is compulsory that you eat a lot of potatoes while your are here because they are the best on earth.
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