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Idaho
Wedged between Montana and Oregon, and often overlooked as a result, Idaho is one of Western USA's most underrated destinations. This rather large chunk of land has 114 mountain ranges and some of the most rugged mountains in the Lower 48. Over 60% of the state is public land, and with 3.9 million acres of Wilderness, it's the third-wildest state in the union.
Boise, the state capital, is a pleasant place to linger, Sun Valley is a classic US ski resort, and the wild treasures range from Craters of the Moon National park and the National Bison Range to Teton Valley and the dramatic Sawtooth National Recreation Area, one of the West's premier adventure areas.
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Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Idaho.
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Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve
This otherworldly, apocalyptic landscape, born from millennia of volcanic activity, is arguably the richest volcanic landscape in the Lower 48. Open year-round, its main hiking trails and the Loop Rd only open when snows permit.
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Boise River Greenbelt
The glowing emerald of Treasure Valley began as an ambitious plan in the 1960s to prevent development in the Boise River's floodplain and provide open space in a rapidly growing city. Today the growing collection of parks and museums along the tree-lined riverway is connected by more than 30 miles of multiuse paths, and hosts an insanely popular summer floating scene. A white-water park, complete with hydraulically controlled waves, is one of the largest in the country.
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Basque Block
Boise is home to one of the largest Basque populations outside Spain, with up to 15,000 residing here. The original émigrés arrived in the 1910s to work as shepherds when sheep outnumbered people seven to one. Few continue that work today, but many extended families have remained, and the rich elements of their distinct culture are still very much alive – glimpses of which can be seen along Grove St between 6th St and Capitol Blvd.
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World Center for Birds of Prey
The Peregrine Fund's worldwide raptor conservation programs have brought many species back from the brink of extinction – including the iconic California Condor, successfully bred in captivity here for release in California and the Grand Canyon. A pair of condors reside at the center, along with a dozen other impressive birds including the northern aplomado falcon, whose mating pairs work in tandem to hunt grassland sparrows. The live raptor presentations are excellent.
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Idaho State Capitol
The joy of US state capitol buildings is that visitors can admire some of the nation's best architecture for free. The Boise building, constructed from native sandstone, celebrates the neoclassical style in vogue when it was built in 1920. It was extensively refurbished in 2010 and is now heated with geothermal hot water. Tours can be arranged in advance.
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Yankee Fork Gold Dredge
The biggest spud in Idaho is not a potato, but the 17.5-ton pylon that held the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge in place as it chewed its way upstream, digging for gold. Fourteen miles northeast of Stanley, the fully intact dredge is an impressive machine and makes for a great side trip into Idaho's nostalgically destructive mining past. Reach the dredge via a 10-mile gravel road along its tailings piles – a sterile legacy of riparian annihilation only now being restored to viable spawning grounds.
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Driggs Geotourism Center
This museum and information center packs a lot of knowledge into a small space. Exhibits on the culture, heritage, food, geology and recreational opportunities of the area inspire you to get out and experience them yourself. There are plentiful maps and brochures, and volunteers to answer question.
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Idaho State Museum
After a multi-year renovation, which brought this museum back to life, traditional exhibits now share space with multimedia installations for a fascinating journey through the state's history. The Origins Gallery, with its Native American voices, is especially rewarding.
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Pend D’Oreille Winery
The in-town tasting room for this local panhandle winery is a fine way to get a sense of the local wine scene – their signature drop is a chardonnay, but they also produce albariño, pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah varieties.