7 Best Towns In Idaho For A Two-Day Recharge
We all recharge in different ways. For some, it entails sprawling out on a beach, getting pampered at the spa, indulging in a bit of retail therapy, or perhaps broadening one's horizons with a tour of a themed museum. Others prefer to hit the trails, rip down slopes, or any number of other high-octane activities that flood the system with endorphins. Idaho, with its spirited small towns and plentiful natural playgrounds, can oblige all of these desires and more. From lake towns, to ski towns, to eccentric mining communities, these are the seven best destinations for a much-needed two-day recharge.
Sandpoint
This panhandle lake town is all about restoring and re-energizing. During the summer, Sandpoint City Beach Park draws sunbathers and swimmers to the northwest shore of Lake Pend Oreille, while boaters float in and out of the adjacent marina. Winter, on the other hand, sends skiers and snowboarders to the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, just 10 miles north of downtown. With 92 runs, and nearly 3,000 active acres (not to mention, an average of 300 inches of snow) this is Idaho's largest ski resort and one of its most popular. Regardless of the season, however, locals and tourists alike congregate on 1st Avenue for a wealth of dining and shopping options, including the Cedar Street Bridge Public Market, a unique blend of boutique vendors congregated in a two-story bridge built to resemble Florence, Italy's Ponte Vecchio.
I was lucky enough to stumble upon Sandpoint during an unexpectedly delightful tour of Idaho's Panhandle, and it certainly charged me up for this next lakeside city. I did the vanlife thing, but Sandpoint has a nice range of accommodations to choose from, be it the upscale lodge of Talus Rock Retreat on the western outskirts, or more straightforward options in the city's core.
Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene mimics Sandpoint's invigorating mix of natural and social assets, only on a larger scale. Situated at the top of Coeur d'Alene Lake, this eponymous city is ideal for lake cruises, splashing about (be it from the Boardwalk Public Beach or jumping off the cliffs at the base of Tubbs Hill), or exploring the bars and viewpoints along the Boardwalk Marina, the largest floating boardwalk in the world. If you can't get enough of lake life, then you'll want to book a room at The Coeur d'Alene Resort, which stands prominently on the water's edge.
If you're more of a terrestrial traveler, Coeur d'Alene's downtown is flooded with cool coffee shops and, if it's chilly, I highly recommend cozying up by the fire at Coeur d'Alene Coffee Co. There are also a number of eclectic eateries and art galleries. Perhaps the best way to get an overview of Coeur d'Alene, especially if you have kids, is by following the Mudgy Moose Trail, a 2-mile scavenger hunt/walking tour marked by cartoonish, life-sized moose statues.
Kellogg
Another of Idaho's season-transcending recharge spots can be found in the Silver Valley portion of the panhandle. Here, the Bitterroot Mountains act as both a scenic backdrop and epic playground. The old mining town of Kellogg has leveraged this asset in spades. Book a stay at the Silver Mountain Resort to capitalize on top-tier skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing, the bike park's dozens of downhill trails, or casual gondola rides to the summit of Kellogg Peak. The resort is also home to Idaho's largest indoor waterpark, the Silver Rapids, and it practically backs onto Galena Ridge, a 9-hole alpine golf course. Essentially, if anyone in your party is left wanting, they simply don't like fun.
Broader Kellogg also has a few tricks up its sleeve. Those interested in the 19th-century industrial age should head for the Mining and Smelting Museum on the hill above the resort. Or, for a different kind of nostalgic indulgence, press on to Uptown's Main Street, where you'll find Radio Brewing Company, complete with antique registers, Elvis-era microphones, and all kinds of other old-timey memorabilia.
Wallace
Further east down I-90, another of Silver Valley's mining communities emerges. Wallace, Idaho is also commonly accessed via the famed Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, a 72-mile bike path that begins in Plummer, rolls through Kellogg, and concludes in Mullan. However you reach Wallace, you will be entering not only a microcosm of elegant architecture and scrappy saloons, but also (as per the mayor's ordinance) the "Center of the Universe."
Wallace is one of the few downtowns in America that is entirely listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As such, simply sifting from door to door is a stimulating experience. But for a deeper dive into what made the Wallace of yesteryear tick, head underground with a Sierra Silver Mine Tour and follow it up with a lap of the Wallace District Mining Museum, pop into the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum, or explore the town's licentious underbelly presented by the Oasis Bordello Museum. My girlfriend and I holed up at the quirky yet comfortable Stardust Motel, but we also heard good things about the historic Ryan Hotel.
Idaho Falls
If your version of a recharge involves visiting national parks, then an overnight stay at Idaho Falls will put you within day-trip distance of three of America's finest. Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park lie to the east and northeast respectively, while Idaho's own Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve awaits roughly equidistant to the west. With that said, Idaho Falls is replete with local attractions that might just have you deferring those national park road trips for a subsequent visit.
True to its name, a stroll along the central waterway reveals the lovely artificial falls created by the damming of the Snake River. Other popular augmented natural attractions include the Idaho Falls Zoo, on the south side of town, and the East Idaho Aquarium, on the north end. In between, consider stopping by the city's beloved cultural attractions, such as the Museum of Idaho and the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho. Come to think of it, two days in Idaho Falls might not be enough. Luckily, there are tons of highly-rated hotels all around the riverfront.
Pocatello
Just 50 miles south of Idaho Falls, Pocatello mirrors many of the same attractions, while also putting its own unique spin on the two-day getaway. Trading in the Snake River for the Portneuf River, Pocatello lets its visitors recharge with some fishing, paddling, or even a few rounds on the rope swing. Follow the river south to Ross Park and the activity list expands to rock climbing (on real live cliffs), pickleball (on brand new courts), swimming and tubing (at the aquatic complex), horseshoes (there are dozens of pits), and skateboarding (thanks to the healthy spread of rails and halfpipes). Ross Park is also home to Zoo Idaho and the Bannock County Historical Complex, where log cabins highlight the 19th-century Oregon Trail migration.
On the subject of museums, Pocatello dabbles in rather diverse subject matter. The Model Railroad and Historical Society is the ultimate kid and nerdy-dad hangout, the Museum of Clean gives a surprisingly stimulating overview of hygienic practices over the centuries (in addition to other random exhibits), and just north of town, within the surrounding Fort Hall Reservation, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Museum taps into the region's living Native American legacy.
Moscow
Home to the University of Idaho, this attractive and entertaining college town is the perfect place for extroverts to recharge. Also known as "Fest City," Moscow, Idaho boasts more annual gatherings than I could list throughout the rest of this paragraph. But some of the genre-spanning biggies include, Moscowberfest (a cheeky spin on Oktoberfest), Moscow Mountain Music Fest, Moscow Comedy Fest, and the Kino Short Film Festival. These tasty and/or artistic events are perfect platforms for energized youths and curious retirees to let loose in the same space.
Should you crave a respite from the crowds, the rolling green campus also has the 18-hole Vandal Golf Course and Arboretum & Botanical Garden, both of which are open to the public. And finally, if you're looking for a little unstructured exploration, downtown Moscow is well-stocked in book stores, record stores, vintage shops, galleries, and theatres. Reserve a room at The Hattabaugh boutique hotel and you'll be mere steps away from all of it.
Recharge in the Gem State
A wilderness heaven and cultural haven, Idaho is the ideal place for a multi-day recharge. Whether you crave relaxation, stimulation, or a blend of the two, these seven Gem State towns are eager to facilitate. So what's it going to be: a weekend at the lake, an action-packed adventure, or a trip to a timeless mining town?
