Just make sure that the Idaho wines you buy are really from Idaho, or properly labeled if not. In 1986 one winery, Ste. Chappelle (then owned by the family of Sen. Steve Symms) was caught falsely labeling its wines made from grapes brought in from Washington state as "Idaho" wine.

Ste. Chappelle has since been acquired by Cananduigua, and is making very good wines. And the Idaho wine industry is now very strict about labeling the wines as to origin. Not that there's anything wrong with Washington grapes; but if you want something grown in Idaho you should be able to rely on the label of origin.

I flew into Spokane and drove through Idaho and Montana, Glacier Natl Park and flew home from Calgary...Idaho was lovely and a highlight for sure....

Great trip for us was rafting trip on the Snake River. And the drive from Boise to the outfitters was a beautiful and scenic trip. We too are from Florida and this was a welcome change of scenery.

We LOVED it there. Visited Coeur d'Alene while staying in a lovely community called Black Rock.

It was August and the weather was quite lovely. We spent a day on the Lake, a day walking the quaint city, DH got some great golfing time in. We had a lovely dinner at a place called The Cellar. Homemade pasta with a great Caymus.

I would buy property there in a minute. I agree with Nora, it kinda is a secret, Shhhhhhhhhh!

Nora_S, the wine we were given was from Carmela Vineyards. Do you know of them?

We spent a memorable day in Driggs, Idaho. Were visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone and since we had never set foot in Idaho and are keeping track of visited states, we made a spur of the moment decision to drive thru a mountain pass and see where we ended up - had a large map of the state, but not much else.

Drive thru mountain pass from Jackson Hole was beautiful - stopped several times for photos. Ended up in town of Driggs, where we found a small cafe at the local airport. Had one of the best meals on our trip - everything made to order, fresh, creative without being weird. After lunch discovered airport had a small museum of vintage planes, so took a free walk-thru, watched some planes take off and land, and then meandered thru area.

I am sure there was more in the area we could have seen or done, but headed back thru mountain pass and back to Grand Teton.

Sludick---I have not encountered Carmela wines, but th ewinery looks very interesting---a vineyard and golf course above the Snake River:

http://www.idahowine.org/Carmela.htm

Sounds like it's worth a vist---only about an hour's drive from Boise.

Sounds like they are owned by a native Idahoan, and committed to Idaho-grown grapes. I'm going to look for this one---thanks for the recommendation!

As for your trip---will you fly into Boise and work your way east towards Yellowstone? Be sure and include the Ketchem/Stanley region if you love mountain scenery.

I will just mention that on our last trip we flew into Hailey and spent the night there before heading up to Stanley. We stayed at the Inn at Ellsworth Estate, which is very nice with a really good breakfast. Dined at CJ's which was fabulous. I love Boise and Coeur d'Alene, but if your time is limited, Hailey may work for you. Whereever you go, Idaho is a treat!

Sorry, it is CK's not CJ's.

We have not actually vacationed in Idaho, but we stayed overnight and drove through it as part of a larger vacation trip from Rocky Mountain N.P, to Glacier to the Grand Tetton last September. Idaho is beautiful (especially from Ketchum north) and will be on a planning schedule for a longer stop in the near future. The Craters of the Moon National Monuement was facinating and well worth a side trip. If you stay in Stanley you must go to dinner at the Pioneer Saloon on main street and have the blackan Idaho trout and potato. Its almost worth the trip in itself. The drive from Ketchum, through Stanley, and along Hwy 93 and the Sawtooth National Recrecation area to the Montana border at Lewis & Clarks Lost Pass was beautiful. Any stays along this area for trout fishing, etc., should be great...
Enjoy the planning and have a great vacation.
Lee

Well Dick Cheney goes to Idaho & Jackson Hole to fish & shoot at his friends... It can't be all that bad. Seriously though there is quite a bit to do. The fishing truly is world class, and even if you've never fished you can take a lesson and be a pro in a day. If you look in the Victor & Driggs area you will see affordable lodging options and easy access to Yellowstone & Teton National Park without paying Jackson Hole prices. Depending on your taste there is the Teton Springs Lodge & Spa which is a brand new lodge and a Super 8.

S_T, thanks for the post. Since I'm no friend of Dick Cheney, I should be safe enough...on second thought, better to stay alert.. <):)

We'll be in Idaho this fall for a short time, as we're traveling to and from Yellowstone. Have a couple of nights that we can spent near the Tetons, and were wondering about Victor & Driggs, actually.

If you fly into Spokane, it's an easy drive to Coeur d'Alene, which is just gorgeous, and then you can go north to Sandpoint or south towards Sun Valley. I was there in the autumn and just blown away by the high desert south of Boise, and the beautiful Snake River, with fly fishermen in waders and no-kidding cowboys on cattle drives. Huge canyons, ruts from wagons traveling the Oregon Trail still clearly visible and knee-deep in places. On the other hand, Pend Oreille lake outside Sandpoint is also fantastic, as is the fabulous Schweitzer Mountain ski resort, which few people seem to know about. What a great place! Enjoy!

A year old post resurrection?

Yes, and it's ok. I plan for vacations a couple of years out, and we are finally just getting around to our first trip to Idaho. Probably next year will be a longer trip. All this is good information -- thanks, everyone!

Awesome places to see in EYE-DE-HO

1. Sawtooths- Red Fish Lake, Numerous day hikes and backpacking; check out great mtn biking
2. White Clouds and Boulder Mountains
3. Sun Valley- Skiing (XC/Alpine), Hiking, Mtn. Biking; faboulous art gallerys; fishing in Wood River Valley
4. Hagerman- Check out hot springs, beautiful canyon, box springs
5. Owyhee Mountains- Ghost town: Silver City; lots of desert hikes and canyons; remote areas to hike, bike, and camp
6. McCall Area: swim, hike, mountain bike
7. Boise: to numerous to list; we have great mountain biking in foothills, artwalk for first Thurs. ;of month, vibrant downtown; cross country and downhill skiing 16 mi. from town
8. Frank Church Wilderness
9. Seven Devils
10. Gospel Humps Wilderness
11. Rafting on the Salmon River
12. Craters of the Moon Park: great lava hiking and XC skiing in winter
13. Great fresh potatoes
14. N. Idaho: 75 mi. bike trail by Lake Cour D'Alene, lots of lakes, Sandpoint, Moscow and the Palouse, Hobo Grove Cedar Trees, Bonners Ferry, the Selkirk Mountains

Enjoy.

From an Idahoan.

EIPelar, what a great list! Thank you so much. I will have a couple of days this fall for eastern Idaho, but want to plan a dedicated 2 weeks, allowing plenty of time for western and northern Idaho. Do you have some suggestions as to time of year? We normally vacation in early autumn, but could go any time.