Do you want to “get away” for Christmas vacation but don’t know where to get away to? It might not seem like the most obvious destination, but the state of Idaho has a ton of great options for families looking for a fun winter getaway.
Snow What Fun
Is “walking in a winter wonderland” a little tired at this point? Then head to Idaho and strap on some skis! There are plenty of ski resorts all around, including the alliterative Bogus Basin in Boise to the slopes at Sun Valley, home to the first ever chairlifts. You can also check out the East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center in Pocatello. If you are truly adventurous, you can try cross-country skiing and reserve a yurt (a type of tent) for your trek. The more experienced skiers can try cat-skiing at McCall’s Brundage Mountain. Just make sure you realize what you’re getting into!
If you aren’t partial to skiing, there’s plenty more fun to be had in the snow. If you want to check out the Burgdorf Hot Springs in McCall during the winter, the only way to access it is via snowmobile, so grab a helmet and get down there! Bogus Basin also offers snow tubing for some slightly less intense snow thrills.
What if you do like “walking in a winter wonderland?” Well, you can do that too. Tubbs Hill, a park in Coeur d’Alene, offers more than 120 acres of land for hiking or simply strolling around. Just be warned: winter conditions does make hiking a bit more difficult.
Thrill of the Hunt
Winter in Idaho offers plenty of great hunting opportunities. If you aren’t averse to waiting in the cold, you can find big-game animals such as elk. Just make sure you have a proper permit and are in touch with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game about what type of hunting is allowed and when.
Speaking of fish, you might have caught smallmouth bass at the lake in the summertime, but would you believe you could catch fish in cold winter months? (And we don’t just mean ice fishing either!) The Clearwater River around Lewiston takes advantage of Idaho’s varied climate and provides steelhead fishing during winter. Best of all, while fishing is catch-and-release in more temperate months, you can keep the fish you catch in the winter. So if you want to have some fish for dinner in the winter, you can have the freshest!
And if you do want to go ice fishing, guess what: you can! At Bear Lake, you can catch fish while the ground (and your fingers!) are frozen. In fact, Bear Lake is host to four species found exclusively in Idaho, including the Bear lake whitefish.
Horse (or Dog)-Drawn Carriage
Even wondered how much fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh? Well, Bogus Creek Outfitters provide horse-led sleigh rides that take you to a cabin for a three-course steak dinner. You can also give dog sledding a try through tours provided in Ashton and lessons that give you the dog sledding fundamentals as you travel through the Targhee National Forest.
Lighten Up
Few things conjure up Christmas spirit more than lights. In Idaho, there are a multitude of light displays for you to savor. Whether you’re in larger cities like Boise and Nampa or a small town like Preston, you can find some truly beautiful light displays. Not only do they showcase the holiday spirit of the area, they also demonstrate how much community matters to the people in Idaho.
I hope this has shown you the possibilities that Idaho offers for Christmas vacationing. The winter months and mountains of snow provides ample opportunities for fun. Whether you want to hit the slopes or just enjoy the lights, Idaho offers plenty of Christmastime fun.
Author Bio – The guest post contribution was made by KJ’s Superstores, with many locations across Nevada, Wyoming and Utah as well as a Pocatello Idaho Car Wash and a Nampa Idaho Car Wash for your convenience while traveling!
