Top Things to do in Idaho
Top Hotels in Idaho
- 1. The Riverside Hotel, BW Premier Collection
- 2. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Boise Towne Square
- 3. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Coeur d Alene
- 4. Modern Hotel
- 5. My Place Hotel-Twin Falls, ID
- 6. Hampton Inn & Suites Boise-Downtown
- 7. Best Western Plus Coeur D'Alene Inn
- 8. The Grove Hotel
- 9. La Quinta by Wyndham Pocatello
- 10. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls
Countries
Things to do in Idaho, United States: The Best National Parks
A mixture of forested mountains, alpine peaks, wildflower meadows, deep river canyons, and high plains deserts, Idaho is a paradise for golf, skiing, fly fishing, and river rafting. Boise, the capital, is the state's largest city and airline hub. North of Boise are golf, lake, and ski resorts from McCall in the south to Sandpoint and Coeur D'Alene in the north. East of Boise are the ski slopes of Ketchum and Sun Valley. East of Sun Valley are Craters of the Moon National Monument, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and the small town of Island Park just across the border from Yellowstone National Park. Boise's Basque Museum and Cultural Center reflects having the largest Basque population in the U.S. Reflecting Idaho's diverse heritage, near the Idaho Historical Museum in Boise's Julia Davis Park is the Idaho Black History Museum's chronicle of the slave York who served the Lewis & Clark Expedition. After a family visit to the Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey and an outdoor performance at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the next stop after Boise is likely to be Payette Lake in McCall or Sun Valley and Ketchum. About 100 miles north of Boise, past Cascade Lake, McCall takes you to the shores of Payette Lake. Go golfing, fishing, hiking, biking, waterskiing, sailing, boating, or whitewater river rafting. Ski or snowshoe Brundage Mountain or Tamarack Resorts, as well as Ponderosa State Park in winter. Ice skate year-round at Manchester Ice & Event Centre. About 450 miles north of Boise, there are resort lakes near skiing and golf at Coeur d'Alene, Hayden Lake, and Sandpoint. Golf, tennis, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, rafting, and hunting are popular in Sun Valley and Ketchum. Sockeye salmon may no longer do much spawning in Redfish Lake, but the boating and mountain scenery in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area make the short trip north to Stanley worthwhile. When the snows come the whole family will head for the slopes of Soldier Mountain, Bald Mountain, Dollar Mountain, or the Sun Valley Resort. A tiny forested town of about 250 people, Island Park has a large reservoir with fishing and boating, as well as Henry's Fork of the Snake River for fly fishing. It's only 15 miles from Yellowstone as well.
Restaurants in Idaho
1. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 153 reviews
The deepest river gorge in North America, Hells Canyon is accessible by jet boat or raft. Those who explore this rugged wilderness will find ancient tribal carvings in the rocks, deserted ranches and closed-up gold mines.
Reviewed By chrisn521 - Seattle, United States
An outstanding white water rafting trip with ROW Adventures out of Lewiston, Idaho. Water is dam controlled so there is always plenty of water. This company had the best river guides, accommodating the wide variety of folks in a group of sixteen. Beautiful scenery, good food, very thorough trip with knowledgeable guides. The only downside to the trip was sharing the river with the loud jet boats that also have access to the water after day two of the trip. Somehow jet boats do not equate with wilderness.
2. McCroskey State Park
3. Sawtooth Wilderness Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 176 reviews
The 217,000 acres within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area include some 300 lakes, 40 wilderness trails and a forest of fir, spruce and pine.
Reviewed By ugaworldtraveler8 - San Diego, United States
Snow had fallen and remained on both sides of the highway, although the roads were plowed and safe. An Idaho senator proposed this as a national park in the 1930s, unfortunately conservative politicians stand in the way. It really deserves national park status.
4. Sawtooth National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 55 reviews
Encompassing more than 21 million acres of scenic and dramatic landscape inside the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, this forestland offers a variety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Reviewed By donh941 - Kirkland, United States
Stunning national forest, especially up near Stanley, Galena Summit, and Redfish Lake and vicinity. Just skip past Ketchum and hold on to your wallet
5. Craters of the Moon National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,212 reviews
An ocean of blackened lava flows holds opportunities to relax, explore, and enjoy for all ages and abilities. The monument is an easy day trip from Boise, Sun Valley, and Idaho Falls. Click on the link below to learn more about this unearthly landscape and start planning your visit today.
Reviewed By Christigal - Apex, United States
We visited the Visitor's Center and watched the film to educate ourselves about what we were seeing. There is a loop road that is great if you are not mobile. Each stop on the loop offered different geological/Volcanic features and varying lengths of trails and hikes. In one place you can climb a cinder cone, another you can peer into a spatter cone, you can see the different types of lava flows, climb down into lava tube caves and more. Such a great way to spend a day.
6. City Of Rocks National Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 192 reviews
Numerous granite formations, some 70 stories tall, attract world-class rock climbers. The Reserve protects 6.2 miles of the California National Historic Trail, and features emigrant signatures written in axle grease. Idaho's only pinyon pine forest is within the 14,407-acre Reserve. Activities include camping, climbing, hiking, horseback riding, photography, birding, wildflower watching, hunting, and geological and historical discovery. The Reserve is a unit of the National Park System and is managed on site by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. The visitor center is located in the gateway village of Almo,which provides food, gas, lodging, hot springs, and authentic, rural wester charm. Castle Rocks State Park is also located within a few miles.
Reviewed By davidiver11
It doesn't take that long to drive the gravel roads, so why not? The rock formations are amazing, the rock climbers are entertaining, and the large amount of hiking was a total surprise. And there is lots of camping.
7. Clearwater National Forest
8. Boise National Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Tickster - Bryan, United States
The Boise National Forest was gorgeous with so many beautiful views of the mountains, river and huge trees.
