Cyrelle & Benjamin
Cyrelle & Benjamin
Things to Do
Soak in natural hot springs
Idaho has more hot springs than any other state in the union (suck it, Wyoming). If you have never visited a hot spring before, they are kind of like hot tubs, but the temperatures are more variable (tepid to scalding), and they smell like farts. Nearby hot springs worth checking out include Campground Hot Springs, Pine Flats, and Kirkham Hot Springs.
Go on a hike
Idaho has tons of hiking. Alltrails is a good resource, but if you are looking for more options, let us know, and we will consult our greater boise area hiking guidebook. There are some nice hikes right around Garden Valley, though you may want to consider heading North towards McCall or East towards Stanley.
Take a Scenic Drive
If you would like to take a tour of Idaho, this wouldn't be a bad route. The town of Ketchum is home to Sun Valley, which claims to be America's first destination ski resort. I'm not sure what the additional qualifier of "destination" means, though I suspect it is to smooth over what amounts to a blatant lie. In any case, Ketchum is a cute town, and supposedly Ernest Hemingway completed "For Whom the Bell Tolls" in the Sun Valley lodge.
Speaking of lies, our local ski hill, Bogus Basin, is apparently so named because of area prospectors trying to pass of gold-painted lead bars as the real thing back in the 1800s. There's not too much to do up there when there isn't snow, but it's a place that's special to us, and it has a cool name.
The route also takes you through Stanley, which offers beautiful views of the Sawtooth mountains. The town of Stanley is tiny, with a permanent population of just over 100, but the surrounding area has some of the most beautiful hikes in Idaho, including ones that will take you up to some gorgeous Alpine Lakes.
Though not included in the loop, the town of McCall is only an hour or so north of the wedding venue. It's a nice drive and the town is a least vaguely charming. Salmon River Brewery is probably the best place to stop for a bite.
If you were to keep going north to Riggins and then on to Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint, my understanding is that things just keep getting prettier. I've actually never been up there, as apparently the number of hate groups per capita rises exponentially the further up you go.
Book a Fishing Trip
Supposedly parts of "A River Runs Through It" were filmed in Idaho. Which parts? The best parts! (obviously).
If you've never caught a trout on a fly rod, it's an experience. If you're considering a guided trip, we recommend the folks at Idaho Anglers in Boise. They primarily cover southern Idaho, but if you are interested in a trip near Stanley or Sun Valley, I bet they could direct you on who to talk to.
White Water Rafting
It's not for sure yet whether they will still be running trips into early September, but there is a company that does rafting trips out of Garden Valley called Idaho Whitewater Unlimited
Places to Eat in Boise
Casual
- The Funky Taco
- Madre
- Lemon Tree
A Bit Fancy
- Wepa Cafe
- The Modern
- The Wilder
Spendy
- Percy
- KIN
- Chandler's
Places to Drink in Boise
Beer
- Barbarian (Boise or Garden City)
- Payette
- Western Collective (Garden City)
Cider
- Meriwether
- Peaceful Bell Farm (Caldwell)
Wine
- Telaya (Garden City)
- Split Rail (Garden City)
- Indian Creek Winery (Kuna)
Spirits
- The Nook
- Press and Pony
- Gatsby
Places to Eat and Drink In Garden Valley
There are a handful of places in Garden Valley/Crouch to get something to eat and include:
- Longhorn Restaurant and Bar
- Dirty Shame Saloon
- Tante Emma
We haven't personally eaten at any of these, but we have looked at the pictures and would recommend tempering your expectations
It looks like there are also a couple places where you can get breakfast/coffee:
- The Mud Room
- Wild Bill's Coffee and Bistro