Travelkitty

I'm planning a week long trip to Idaho in mid-June and would appreciate any suggestions or feedback on my tentative itinerary. My main purpose of the trip is to do some exploring, light day hiking and photography. I'd like to get a feel for the state and don't mind driving, but I don't want to spend all my time driving. I've been to Coeur d'Alene before, so I'm not planning to do North Idaho on this trip. I'd love to see Priest Lake, but it seems like too much driving for this trip.

Tentative Itinerary:

Day 1 - arrive in Boise drive to Idaho Falls (stop at Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge on the Way)

Day 2 - Drive from Idaho Falls to Crater of the Moon during the day, drive to Ketchum for the night

Day 3 - Tour around Ketchum/Sun Valley - stay in Ketchum for another night

Day 4 - go to Stanley via Sawtooth Scenic Byway

Day 5 - drive to McCall via Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway

Day 6 - drive to Boise

Day 7 - tour Boise and stay in Boise a second night

Day 8 - fly home

I wanted to see Idaho Falls, but is that too random of a stop and too much driiving?

McCall also seems a bit out of the way given the limited time, but I've read some nice things and it's in a slightly different region.

Any suggestions or input on the schedule would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

marvelousmouse

If you haven't been to McCall before, maybe go. It's not that far, and it will give you that northern Idaho feel without having to do the drive. You didn't mention what else you've seen in northern Idaho. But you could also leave McCall out (I've usually used it as a lunch stop when driving from Spokane to Boise, and I don't know if I'd go out of my way if McCall is the only thing in that area on your "to see" list).
I will say there is a lot more to northern Idaho than just couerdalene. I love the St. Joe area, priest lake is beautiful, but I'd say definitely leave it off your list. Feels like a long drive even if you start IN northern Idaho.

Have you been to Yellowstone? That is probably more driving than you want to do, but if you go as far as Idaho Falls, it might be a better choice than driving to McCall. Grand Tetons is also doable from Idaho Falls. So maybe instead of heading north, shift itinerary a little east?

Southern Idaho:
I don't find Boise very photogenic, and I don't know if I'd spend 2 nights there. But maybe there are prettier bits I just haven't seen

Maybe look into city of the rocks; that's one of my favorite places in southern Idaho. Fun place to hike! I think you could also get some cool photos there.

An acquaintance used to vacation at Redfish Lake and spoke highly of it, but I've never gone there myself. You may like that if you were interested in Priest Lake.

It sounds as if you've googled scenic byways, but if you haven't, do so. I found a lot of great stuff- the one below looked like a trip that fits in a lot of what you want to see:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...aho-road-trip/

Travelkitty

Thank you very much for your input, MarvelousMouse! I've only been to Coeur d'Alene for a quick overnight trip when I was in Spokane, so I'd really love to go back to the area on another trip, but it seems like to do it properly on this trip would be too rushed.

I have been to Yellowstone before, so I probably won't do that this trip, but I will look into City of Rocks, Redfish Lake and the road trip link - thanks!

One other question re Sun Valley/Ketchum. Based on what I read, I thought I'd prefer staying in Ketchum since it seems closer to casual restaurants and some shops, and I can take a trip to the Sun Valley Resort to look around. But I was going back and forth on staying in Ketchum vs at Sun Valley itself. Does anyone have any thoughts on that choice?

enzian

City of Rocks is very nice for hiking and exploring.

Ketchum is the town and Sun Valley is the resort/hotel/ condo complex. The resort is worth a visit,,especially to see the hall lined with movie star photos. But I would stay in Ketchum.

tomfuller

You could stop and see Arco ID which is where the first nuclear power was made. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2960
Go straight to Idaho Falls and don't spend a lot of time in Boise. I stop in Idaho on my way from central Oregon to Yellowstone. I did stop for a couple hours at Craters of the Moon but it was not as impressive to me compared with some of the volcanoes I've seen in Oregon.

Travelkitty

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I think I may reduce Boise to one night, and add an extra night in either Stanley or McCall.

musicfan

I was about to suggest a night in Stanley--this summer will be my 5th year in a row to visit Idaho and every trip has included at least one night in Stanley. I usually stay at the Sawtooth Hotel, but the High Country Inn is also nice. It's a VERY small town, but so beautiful!

Definitely eat breakfast at the Stanley Baking Company and check around to see if there is live music in town as often there is in the summer.

We've also included a one night stay in Ketchum the past few years--the drive from Stanley to Ketchum is spectacular. Once I got a great deal on the Knob Creek Inn in Ketchum and would love to stay there every time, but it's above the budget so it's the Best Western Kentwood Lodge for us with always The Kneadery for breakfast.

Travelkitty

Thanks for your information, Musicfan! I've ordered a book on scenic drives in Idaho, and I've skimmed it but haven't had a chance to read in detail yet. The drive from Stanley to Ketchum is one that was highlighted though.

And thanks for the tips on restaurants!

I've done a number of "long weekend" trips recently, but this is the first week long "exploring" trip I've taken in years so I'm getting very excited!

NorthwestMale

I did some of this last summer, for the first time ever.

Stanley was an obscure interest for me, only because I'd seen it listed in USA Today so often as the coldest place in the lower 48 on numerous days.

I loved the Sawtooth Mountains, the name being something that never strikes you until you lay eyes on them. A photographer would love the Stanley area.


Looking back, though, IF I had it in my head to go to Idaho Falls, I can clearly sense it would be far more cost-effective (in terms of time, convenience and ultimate appeal) to opt for Jackson/Yellowstone vs. Stanley/Sun Valley.

Sun Valley might be fun to navigate when it's the middle of winter, and snow is everywhere, and you can be holed-up in a condo that somebody else paid for, but in the spring-summer it is just lots of pricey stores and lodging areas all clustered together and gunning for the tourist buck. It was OK to walk around, and even drive around a little bit, but I don't know that I would have gained a whole lot by staying there.

Also, the roads on Highways 21 and 75 tend not to go as fast as would be ideal, so you really have to commit yourself to get to Stanley. But the mountains are beautiful, and a strategic spot might let you photograph the river in the foreground and the Sawtooth Range in the background in spectacular fashion. (you can buy a similar shot on a postcard, but I don't recommend sending the darn thing from the Stanley Post Office - I arrived there, bought a stamp, addressed the card correctly, left it with the nice ladies there, and it never arrived at the destination!!

Stanley seemed like a cozy-ish, winter-ish place, even in summer.

Galena Summit, between Stanley and Sun Valley, offers impressive views and is definitely worth a stop.

What road did I take... perhaps it was Hwy #20 from #75 back toward Mountain Home and then Boise... that long, straight-ish road is just... SO rural and SO empty-ish... that it kinda drones on and on forever (though I imagine a photographer could find some things of interest to stop and capture) (SOME of the rural homes along that path are indicative of how others live, and photographs capture as much)


I still have the vibe that IF you talk yourself into Idaho Falls, from so far away, that you should at least weigh further the alternative of visiting Jackson/Yellowstone instead.