I'm sorry if this post is a little late; back-to-back trips across several time zones have got my body clock all out of sorts. We came home from Scotland and had about 2 days to do laundry and repack. Then my husband had an appointment for a chemo treatment, and we literally left the next day for our trip to Utah, with our final destination of Idaho. Honestly, I'm not sure how we managed it all. But we planned it that way because his chemo fatigue doesn't usually set in until about 7-10 days after treatment, so he wanted to go while he had the best chance of feeling good. And it worked! We both had a great time in an amazing part of the country we'd never visited before.
It's very unusual for us to visit a place that neither of has been to, because he travelled so much in the military, and I'd done a little travelling myself before we met. So this trip was kind of special for us in that way. But the scenery out west is Ah-MAZING! We flew into Salt Lake City and drove to Blackfoot, Idaho so we were really looking forward to a scenic drive, and it did not disappoint. It's so hard to describe those mountains and the general landscape, which are so different from our mountains on the East Coast. So I took plenty of pictures, but even in photos it's hard to capture the "it" factor of those mountains. For one thing, they seem to come right down to the flat land; like, you're going along on flat land, and suddenly: mountain. The mountains I'm used to begin gradually, with the landscape gradually sloping upward. Like I said, it's just hard to explain. But it's magnificent. In the my photos, you can see the mountains in Utah look very different from those in Idaho. It's very interesting, and they're all breathtaking.
This trip was about fishing for my husband, so while he spent his days on the Snake River, I was free to explore the area and stop at any attraction that caught my eye (without having him roll his eyes over it). I started with a basic list of places and sites, but that was just to help me get started. It's super fun to stop at places you find along the way, or places that locals tell you about.
If you want to visit, here is a list of places to visit in Idaho that can help you plan your trip:
The Idaho Potato Museum - Yep. I don't know why this surprised me, because we all know Idaho is famous for potatoes. This little town has an official potato museum (established in 1988), and it's worth a visit. Its exhibits cover the history of the potato (including how they came to the US), its role in world food security, and how potatoes have been cultivated and harvested throughout history. Check out the largest potato crisp ever made, then perform fun experiments with potatoes in the Potato Lab. Next door is the Potato Station Cafe, which serves potatoes in MANY different ways, from bread to cupcakes. They also have "free taters for out-of-staters," so you don't want to miss out. Personally, I loved their gift shop, which is full of funny, quirky potato-related items. Also, a fun feature is the selfie station created by a local Eagle Scout; it holds your phone so you can set the timer and take a selfie by the giant Potato Museum sign.
Art Museum of Eastern Idaho - Located in Idaho Falls, the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho features exhibitions that include photographs, paintings, and 3D artwork. They also offer awesome classes in art and clay working for kids and adults, which is a great option to explore.
Idaho Falls River Walk - This is a beautiful walkway that covers 5 miles on both sides of the Snake River. It's a paved, level path that is wide enough for walkers, bikers, and scooters to enjoy safely. If you get tired of walking, you can easily grab a scooter rental along the way and ride for a while. There is also plenty of green space alongside the walkway, so you can stop and let the kids play or enjoy a picnic on the grass or at one of the picnic tables. Food trucks and restaurants are also located conveniently alongside the river walk.
Shoshone Bannock Tribal Museum - This is definitely worth a visit. The museum is small, but their exhibits are meticulously researched and display their history proudly. While I was there, I met some Native women who were making beadwork to sell, and they offered insights and stories of their own during our conversation. One of them suggested that I go to the festival down the road, because it was free of charge and they thought I might find it interesting. It was amazing, with Native American music, costumes, food, and dancing. They said it was OK for me to take photos, but I don't feel comfortable posting most of them here because they feature people's faces. In the campground, however, were several traditional-style tipis, which I thought were beautiful. They were mixed in with RVs and modern tents against the backdrop of that gorgeous landscape.
Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park - I know this isn't an obvious choice, but Idaho Falls is one of the closest cities to Yellowstone. It's only about 110 miles from either of these parks. While it's not the best place stay for a trip dedicated to one of these parks, if you're going to be there and have the time, why not take the opportunity for a one-of-a-kind side trip? I had every intention of doing that, but rental car issues threw a wrench in that plan. (That's a long, maddening story, I won't bore you.)
So that's a quick roundup of what you can see in do in Idaho. One thing I haven't mentioned yet is that, while we were in Salt Lake City, we visited Kindigit Design, from the TV show Bitchin' Rides. My husband is a huge fan of the show because of the awesome work they do, and he really wanted to see their showroom. I'm not a huge car person, but I have to say it was impressive. We also happened to run into Dave Kindig himself, and he could not have been any nicer to us and the other visitors. He posed for pictures (he even had his son take pics so everyone could be included), and then he chatted and signed t-shirts without even being asked. Just a super-nice guy. If you're in Salt Lake and like custom cars, it's worth looking up. Also, driving through Salt Lake is really interesting and (of course) ridiculously scenic.
Thanks for reading; I hope this helps you with your own plans!
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