Top 10 places to see in Idaho

Idaho is one of America’s best-kept secrets and in recent years has emerged as one of the West’s premiere vacation destinations with its timbered mountains, pristine lakes, wide-open vistas, vibrant cities and irrigated farmlands that dot the state from Nevada to Canada.

The Gem State’s door is wide open to family travelers looking for fun, outdoor enthusiasts in search of the thrills of nature, adventure seekers or those just looking to relax.

Adjacent to Washington and Oregon in the Pacific Northwest, Idaho is a big state with lots to see and do. Whichever part of the state you choose to discover for yourself, you’re bound to find spectacular scenery, helpful, friendly locals and impressive wildlife.

To help you decide what to do first, take a look at Idaho’s top 10 places to see and you’ll be on your way.

1. Sun ValleyThe Sun Valley/Ketchum area sits at the edge of the Sawtooth and Challis National Forests in a setting found nowhere else in Idaho.

Nestled among mountains and pastures, clean air and water, Sun Valley is the very definition of the American winter vacation, being the nation’s first destination ski resort.

Sun Valley attracts a mix of Hollywood movie stars and Olympic champions, some of whom own homes in the Wood River Valley. Steven Spielberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis are just a few of the many celebrities who own vacation homes locally.

“Sun Valley is just a very special place,” Sun Valley Company Director of Sales, Marketing and Public Relations Jack Sibbach said. “The weather is fantastic year-round and that brings in many families and groups who come for the quality of the experience we offer.”

Sun Valley boasts a world-class mountain, with a quality ski school, experienced instructors and some of the best snow in the state. Casual elegance is the style at the resort’s stately Sun Valley Lodge and Sun Valley Inn.

Born out of a desire to bring the magic of the European ski resorts to America, Sun Valley quickly became a phenomenon and continues to be ranked among the best in North America.2. McCall/Tamarack Known as one of Idaho’s most popular resort areas, McCall is a small mountain community nestled along the shores of Payette Lake just a two-hour drive from the Treasure Valley.

McCall is home to popular vacation destinations such as Brundage Mountain, Ponderosa State Park, the U.S. Forest Service Smokejumper Base and the annual Winter Carnival that draws more than 70,000 people each January.

Traditionally a logging community, McCall’s last sawmill closed in 1977. Since then, the city has transformed into a popular year-round destination and welcomes visitors from all over the world.

Known for having the highest average snowfall in the state with an average annual accumulation of 300 inches, McCall’s Brundage Mountain Resort is a favorite among skiers and snowboarders for its friendly, family atmosphere and top-notch powder skiing.

Visitors enjoy alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, lift-served snow tubing or simply settling in beside a warm fire.

McCall’s summers are generally mild, influenced by the mountains, lakes, altitude and latitude. The area offers swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing on Payette Lake.

Just a short distance from McCall near Donnelly is Tamarack, the first newly permitted resort in North America in more than two decades. The resort features an incredible blend of mountain, meadow and lake amenities, including skiing, mountain biking, zip-line and more. Tamarack played host to President George W. Bush in 2006 and is the site of a luxury hotel under development by tennis superstars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff.3. Boise The city of Boise is perhaps best known across the nation for its college football team, the Boise State Broncos, who won the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

While fans and tourists alike come to Boise to see Boise State’s iconic blue turf at Bronco Stadium, the capital city’s claims to fame run much broader and deeper.

Boise is a beautiful city with a delightful blend of traditional and non-traditional sights and attractions. Known as the City of Trees, Boise boasts one-of-a-kind museums and picturesque urban parks that residents and visitors enjoy year-round.

The Boise River flows through the heart of the city and features a 25-mile riverfront greenbelt, cherished by walkers, bikers and runners alike. And the city offers the broadest selection of dining, shopping and entertainment choices in Idaho.

“Boise is an incredible city that people around this country are just now starting to discover for themselves,” Owyhee Plaza Hotel front office manager Sandra Pack said. “Boise offers so much to all different types of people — and that is what makes it so unique.”

Visitors have plenty to see and do when they come to Boise, 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.

Boise is also home to professional sports teams like the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, NHL affiliate Idaho Steelheads, Arena Football League 2’s Boise Burn and Chicago Cubs farm team the Boise Hawks.

Folks can also enjoy nearby mountains, breathtaking canyons, the Canyon County Wine Country, whitewater rafting rivers, deserts and dunes and more.4. Coeur d'AleneABC’s Barbara Walters once called Coeur d’Alene “a little slice of heaven” and included it in her list of most fascinating places to visit.

Located about 30 miles east of Spokane, Wash., Coeur d’Alene is the largest city in the northern Idaho panhandle and lies at the northern end of Lake Coeur d‘Alene, a 30-mile-long body of water that showcases breathtaking vistas and crisp, blue waters ideal for water skiing, parasailing and fishing.

The city has grown substantially in recent years as a result of increased tourism. Two major ski resorts, Silver Mountain Resort to the east in Kellogg and Schweitzer Mountain ski resort to the north in Sandpoint, have helped Coeur d’Alene become one of the most desirable destinations in the state.

Coeur d’Alene also draws golf enthusiasts from across the nation. The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course is considered one of the best in the United States, largely because of its scenic setting and the fact that its 14th hole boasts the world’s only movable floating green.

Coeur d’Alene is always abuzz with activity, including art shows, athletic events, outdoor fun and an endless list of things to do and see.

The city may be best known for its waterfront Coeur d’Alene Resort, a world class, full-service destination resort featuring multiple restaurants and lounges, European spa, tennis, recreation center and lake cruises on Lake Coeur d’Alene.5. Twin FallsLocated on the high plains of southern Idaho, Twin Falls is perched on the edge of the Snake River Canyon and is home to unique attractions.

Despite the name and the unusual location of the city, the most impressive falls nearby are actually Shoshone Falls, a towering, commanding waterfall taller than Niagara that draws big crowds in high water years.

Another scenic feature near Twin Falls is the Snake River Canyon, brought into the national spotlight in the 1970s by famed stuntman Evel Knievel, who aborted an attempt to jump the canyon on his rocket motorcycle. The Sawtooth National Forest to the south features hiking, camping, skiing and fun for the whole family.

Unpopulated until about 100 years ago, extensive irrigation from the Snake River paved the way for the beginning of farming and habitation on the arid plateau. The landscape and scenery is enhanced by brilliant night skies undimmed by light pollution.

Twin Falls is home to the College of Southern Idaho, an institution that has helped the city grow into one of Idaho’s largest cities. It is also home to the Perrine Memorial Bridge, which spans the Snake River Gorge nearly 500 feet above the water and is a popular stop for BASE jumpers and their spectators. The bridge design is distinctive and is considered a tourist attraction in itself.6. StanleyIf you want to see Idaho the way Lewis and Clark saw it more than 200 years ago, look no further than Stanley.

Surrounded by the splendor of the Sawtooth Mountains, Stanley is a picturesque playground for all seasons. Visitors can discover Stanley on foot, on skis, on horseback, from a snowmobile, kayak or car, and can sense the wonder and beauty of this small slice of heaven on earth.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a day of fishing, biking, rafting, hiking, climbing, skiing or sledding while viewing the majestic snow-capped mountains and breathtaking foliage of this special place.

View wildlife in beautiful meadows full of wildflowers, read a favorite book by the lake, visit a ghost town or historic museum or watch Chinook salmon return home after swimming 900 miles to their birthplace beneath the towering peaks.

Visitors who come in the fall are treated to aspen leaves turning red and gold, uncrowded trails in the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains and quiet, crisp fall mornings.

In the winter months, clear blue skies and glistening white snow combine to create the perfect setting for cross-country skiing, hunting, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and photography.7. Craters of the MoonFor more than 15,000 years, lava eruptions created a bizarre and unusual landscape that is unlike any other in the state. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is part of the Snake River Plain, a volcanic terrain that spans across all of southern Idaho and can be found 18 miles southwest of Arco.

Craters of the Moon is considered by some to be one of the best places in the world to see the effects of volcanism. In various places, this volcanic plain is 60 miles wide, and drilling into it has shown its lava deposits to be more than 10,000 feet deep in some locations.

Visitors can feast their eyes upon features like cinder cones, spatter cones, lava tubes and several types of lava flows.

In 1969, the second group of astronauts to walk on the moon visited Craters of the Moon, but did not train there. Instead, they studied the volcanic geology of the area and were also able to explore the remarkable and harsh environment in preparation for their historic trip into space.

Many visitors wonder if Craters of the Moon will ever erupt again. Geologists say the site is dormant rather than an extinct volcanic area. The volcanoes here are not dead, only sleeping, and are expected to become active again within the next 1,000 years.8. Hell's Gate State Park/Hell's CanyonHell’s Gate State Park, located in north-central Idaho, serves as a gateway to both Idaho’s Lewis and Clark Country as well as Hell’s Canyon, the deepest river gorge in all of North America, making it a popular destination for tourists.

Wildlife, fishing, boating and sightseeing make Hell’s Gate one of Idaho’s best and most sought-after parks. It is situated in an area not far from Lewiston and is just 30 minutes away from the Nez Perce National Historic Park.

For those up for an adventure, boat excursions to Hell’s Canyon leave regularly from Hell’s Gate Park and allow visitors to behold the canyon’s majesty, depth and unusual formation.

The park, which is elevated at 733 feet above sea level, also offers a calm camping atmosphere along the shores of the Snake River. A large beach and day-use area is available for recreational activities like horseback riding, hiking and biking, making this a must-see location for sportsman and campers alike.

Wildlife lovers are likely to find pheasants, quails, chakras, hawks, geese, ducks, owls and cottontail rabbits within the park.9. Priest Lake Long considered a crown jewel, Priest Lake is an outdoorsman’s paradise. Breathtaking scenery and surroundings that are unspoiled and spectacular make Priest Lake one of Idaho’s premiere destinations.

A location that is truly sensational in all seasons, Priest Lake is a year-round family vacation stop as well as a location for group conferences, seminars and retreats.

The centerpiece of this spot on the map is a magnificent 23,000-acre azure lake that stretches for 25 miles nestled beneath the majestic Selkirk Mountains, making it one of the most beautiful wilderness areas you will ever see.

Located about 75 miles north of Coeur d’Alene, Priest Lake actually consists of two lakes joined by a two-mile long slow moving river known as the Thoroughfare. The landscape offers 80 miles of shoreline and many popular accesses and beaches for swimming, picnics and an array of boating sports accommodated with marina and vehicle services, boat rentals, as well as grocery and tackle shops.

This oasis in the mountains also boasts 400 miles of groomed, marked and patrolled snowmobile trails. Ample snowfall and open spaces make Priest Lake a winter wonderland. Cross-country skiers come from far and wide to enjoy over 70 kilometers of groomed trails throughout the area. 10. Bruneau Sand DunesThe Bruneau Sand Dunes, located in Bruneau Dunes State Park in the high desert south of Mountain Home, features the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America. The dune rises to a 470 feet high above a collection of small lakes located in the park.

Massive sand-piles remain trapped in a semi-circular basin, due largely to opposing wind currents, contributing to the dunes’ unusual makeup.

The state park is perfect for anyone who loves to fish, bird-watch, camp, hike or swim. The park also features one of only two public observatories in Idaho and gives visitors the chance to look through a 25-inch Obsession, the largest telescope in the West that’s accessible to the public.

Visitors are welcome to climb the unique dunes and explore some of the park’s most attractive and popular features, including desert, dune, prairie, lake and marsh habitat. Some are even lucky enough to observe nocturnal species when the opportunity presents itself. No vehicles are allowed on the dunes.

The visitor center is a popular stop on the way through Bruneau Dunes State Park, where you’ll find a detailed exhibit on the area’s desert denizens, among them the coyote and the golden eagle, along with fossils from former residents such as the mammoth.
source:http://www.idahopress.com/news/?id=4257