1. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Isn’t Something You Eat
Although some may argue that the contestants look rather tasty themselves. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is an annual post-season college football bowl game that takes place at Boise State University. It’s televised nationally so, yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.
2. Trudy’s Pies Are The Best Thing On Earth
Sweet tooth or not, you won’t be able to turn down a slice of pie from Trudy’s Kitchen in Idaho City. People often make the 45 minute drive out from Boise (or further!) solely for a bite of their treats, so sinfully delicious they’d make a nun blush.
3. People In Idaho Are White Water Thrill Seekers
I hope you’re not afraid of getting a little wet. Idaho has more miles of white-water river than any other lower 48 state. This makes for crazy awesome, adrenaline-filled kayaking and river rafting trips, so strap on your life jacket and hold on tight—it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
4. But You Can Always Kick Back And Relax In One Of The Many Hot Springs Instead
If raging white-water river adventures aren’t your cup of tea, you can still enjoy Idaho’s waters, minus the adrenaline. The state has the highest number of usable hot springs in the nation. This means you get to choose from about 130 naturally heated water spaces to just chill out and relax in.
5. Idahoans Devour Anything Huckleberry
Don’t be fooled by those tiny purple-blue berries’ innocent looks—they’re dangerous. Well, dangerous in the fact that you’ll soon be addicted to Idaho’s delicious state fruit. You won’t be able to get your hands on enough huckleberries, whether in pie, ice cream, jam or on their own.
6. Sun Valley Has The Slopes Of Skiers’ Dreams
Sun Valley basically gave meaning to the phrase “premier ski resort.” It had the world’s first chairlift and today continues to boast two fantastic peaks: Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain. Plus, a slew of Olympic gold medalist skiers and snowboarders are from there, so you know it’s gotta be good.
7. Idaho Really Is The Potato King
Believe what you’ve heard, Idaho’s claim to fame as the nation’s top potato state is true. It’s the largest producer of potatoes in the US, and the starchy vegetable is the state’s main crop (which is saying a lot considering all the agricultural space they’ve got going on).
The downside is that most of those fresh and local potatoes are exported out of the state. But we promise that you’ll still be able to find fantastic mashed potatoes.
8. Boise Knows Its Basque
Big city Boise may have a little bit of everything when it comes to food, but Basque cuisine is taking over. Of course, no one minds, especially when there’s as fantastic restaurants as Bar Gernika. I swear some people would kill for a taste of their lamb stew or a bite of their croquettes.
9. Idahoans Are Used To Seeing These Guys Everywhere
Don’t be surprised to see cows openly roaming around in rural Idaho. The state has open range livestock laws, allowing cattle to freely roam on open land outside of cities, villages and herd districts. So yes, this means you may find cows crossing the road (or sampling your garden).
10. You Can Keep Your Avocado, Bleu Cheese And Bacon—Hudson’s Hamburgers Don’t Need It
You may raise an eyebrow when you take a look at your first Hudson Hamburger, topped with nothing but cheese, pickles and onions (if you please). But after you bite into the juicy, meaty, perfectly cooked burger, you’ll know why the Coeur d’Alene joint has been open for over 100 years. The patties don’t need any fancy schmancy toppings; they’re perfect just as they are.
11. Idaho’s Home To Heaven AND Hell
When in Idaho, take a trip to the gorgeous 10-mile wide Hell’s Canyon, with its boundless opportunities for outdoor activities. And don’t forget to hike up to Heaven’s Gate Lookout while there. At over 8,000 feet you can see four states—Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
12. The Fish Are Always Biting
Bait your hook, cast your line and just wait for the fish to start biting (it won’t take long). Idaho’s home to some of the best fishing in the West, and you can take your pick from several fish-filled lakes and rivers. Favorites include Clearwater River, Snake River and Kelly Creek.
13. The Corner Drug Pharmacy Does Ice Cream Right
You can find one of Idaho’s oldest soda fountains at the The Corner Drug Pharmacy in Driggs. The fountain was handmade in Europe in the early 1900s and then shipped over to the shop. It’s still dishing out some of the best ice cream around, and their signature milkshake, fresh lime freeze, is especially tasty.
14. Idaho Plays Host To Some Ferociously Talented Fiddlers
Hoards of ultra-skilled fiddlers gather in Weiser each year to battle it out on the stage for the National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival. The competition is only for the best of the best and attracts musicians from across the country. But don’t worry, us mere mortals can still enjoy the event by listening in awe.
15. Every Morning Is A Good One If You Start It At The Kneadery
Get used to hearing the name “The Kneadery” thrown around; Ketchum’s favorite breakfast spot is known throughout the entire state. Their menu is guaranteed to have something to please anyone’s taste buds, from cheesy omelets and fluffy buttermilk pancakes to crisp bacon and fresh Idaho potato hash browns. The huge portions, flowing coffee and smiling staff will keep you coming back for more.
16. Take A Step Back Into Idaho’s Mining Past
It seems that there’s a ghost town hiding in every corner of Idaho, most from the days of the gold rush. Even though the eerie towns still have standing buildings and structures, they’re almost all abandoned. They’re fun to explore, just hope you don’t have any personal experiences with the ghostly tales that haunt some of them.
17. Lake Coeur d’Alene Is The Best Place To Spend The Summer
After your first splash into that big blue lake, you’ll never want to leave. Lake Couer D’alene is like an outdoor playground, perfect for water activities like boating, kayaking, swimming and tubing. You’ll be having so much fun, they may just have to drag you out of the water kicking and screaming.
18. Fries And Fry Sauce Make The Perfect Pair
Milk and cookies, peanut butter and jelly, fries and fry sauce…well, you get the picture. It seems like French fries were made to be dipped into that creamy, orange tinged Idaho-favorite. What’s in it, you ask? Fairy dust and unicorn tears, that’s what—or at least it’s so delicious that it tastes like it (in reality it’s mainly made of ketchup and mayonnaise, but shhh).
19. Idaho Sheep Get Their Very Own Festival
It’s tough to find a place that herds 1,700 sheep through three cities each year, but Idaho sets the bar with its October Trailing of the Sheep Festival. Hundreds of people turn out to watch as the wooly animals are herded through Sun Valley, Ketchum and Hailey, all while enjoying performances, activities and great food.
20. The Lava Landscape At Craters Of The Moon Is Out Of This World
There’s only one word that can describe Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve—alien. Well, okay, you could probably also use phenomenal, unbelievable, spectacular and down-right amazing, but a spot with land created from molten lava flows deserves more than just one adjective. It’s got everything from volcanic rifts and cinder cones to shield volcanoes and lava tube caves. What’d I tell you—alien, right?
21. Take Your Pick From The Taps At Bittercreek Alehouse
If you like beer you’ll feel right out at home at Boise’s Bittercreek Alehouse. However, if you love beer, you might just try to make the spot your actual home. They combine great food with a tap line that features 39 drafts from six different states, so no one will blame you if you never want to leave.
22. Prepare To Scream Your Lungs Out At Silverwood Theme Park
Idaho’s Silverwood Theme Park, known as the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest, isn’t for the faint of heart. It might have its fair share of kiddie rides, but the real action is on Coaster Alley. The Aftershock, voted the top hanging coaster by the Travel Channel in 2012, will have you shrieking in both terror and delight (just maybe lay off the fried pickle chips and elephant ears before giving it a go).
23. The Hiawatha Trail Is Where Biking And History Collide
The Hiawatha Trail isn’t only a scenic biking adventure. The several miles long trail runs along a section of abandoned rail bed that’s linked to Idaho’s mining and railroading history. You get to zoom through eight cavernous tunnels, over several high trestles and near multiple waterfalls and streams, making for an unforgettable ride.
24. Julia Davis Park Has All The Boise Fun You Could Ever Need
Want to come face to face with a giraffe? Watch a mini hurricane form right in front of your eyes? Or how about stroll through hundreds of beautiful, fragment roses? You can do it all (and more) in one spot: Julia Davis Park.
25. The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Isn’t Your Average School Concert
Your jaw will drop to the floor after hearing the raw talent of the performing students at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. The event, which features elementary through college students, isn’t your average school concert. It’s been running for almost 50 years, is said to be the largest Jazz fest west of the Mississippi and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2007.
26. You Won’t Mind Getting Sandy At Bruneau
The mountains of sand at Bruneau Dunes State Park are impressive in themselves, home to the country’s highest single-structured sand dune at 470 feet tall. But you can also fish, bird watch, swim, camp and hike while on the sand. However, the real fun is in renting a board, climbing up a dune and sledding all the way down.
27. Idaho Is All Blinged Out
Known as the gem state, Idaho seems to sparkle inside and out. It has 72 different types of precious and semi-precious stones, including garnet, topaz and opal. You can rockhound them yourself or just stop by the local jewelry store for a little well-deserved to-you present.
28. Catch A Flick At the Spud Drive-In
You may think there’s nothing in Idaho’s potato-farming region but, well, potatoes, but you’re wrong. The area’s home to the iconic Spud Drive-In Movie Theatre that plays recent films you can enjoy from your car. Its real claim to fame though is Old Murphy, a 1946 Chevrolet flat-bed truck with a huge potato on its back.
29. You Can Set Your Watch By The Soda Springs Geyser
Well, almost every hour. When the wind’s blowing hard, the world’s only captive geyser stays off, but on other days it can reaches heights of 100 feet in the air. Why did they need to cap the geyser in the first place? Well, someone may have accidently hit a natural hot springs pool during a drilling operation….
30. You’ll Never Run Out Of Places To Explore
With over four million acres of designated wilderness, Idaho is your oyster. You could spend all your life exploring every inch and crevice of the beautiful state and it’d never get old. So, what are you waiting for?
What do you love about living in Idaho? Tell us in the comments below!
