Idaho is sort of a forgotten state, yet it’s one of the more varied states in the country. It’s got mountains, lakes, trees, and desert; it can be hot, cold, wet, or dry. One impression that is accurate, though, is that Idaho is pretty lonely, and that’s just fine by me when I want to “get away from it all.”
Boise is the capital and, by far, the largest metro area in the state. I’ll get back to “the big city,” but I’d like to start with a hidden gem of an event in a small town about 30 minutes outside of Boise. The Emmett Cherry Festival, always held during the second full week of June, is weird, small-town fun at its best.
This year’s Festival, which is free by the way, features the ever popular Gem Cloggers and the Old Time Fiddlers (they are what the name suggests). There actually is a lot to see and do during the festival, but the area is known for its fruit growing. You will see cherries (and parts of cherries) used in ways that you couldn’t imagine—some of them disgusting, most of them delicious.
If you go, you can stay in Boise or in a soul-sucking chain motel. Or, you can set up camp at my recommended place to stay: Frozen Dog Digs Bed and Breakfast. B&B is cheap, and the breakfast portion of the equation is excellent. The rooms are habitable and relatively clean. The attraction here, though, is that it’s off the beaten track, so the views are stellar. The owner has created a kind of idyll, with a Japanese garden and multi-level waterfall that washes your stress away.
Frozen Dog Digs also offers a helpful service, if you’re feeling adventurous. They will set up a “fun bus” with a knowledgeable guide who will show you the local sites (tours cost extra). Food and beverages are on board, so you can simply relax and see what you see.
The big town—I have a hard time calling it a city—of Boise offers some pleasant surprises. It’s big enough that you have choices of things to do, yet small enough that traffic jams are virtually non-existent. Plus, you can be in the foothills on a mountain bike in a matter of minutes from city center. Here are a couple of diversions in or near Boise:
• The Summer Shakespeare Festival takes place in a gorgeous open-air amphitheater on the Boise River. The location is worth a visit, and the Shakespeare isn’t bad either (actually, it’s excellent).
• Southwest of Boise, you’ll find one section of Idaho’s wine country. Yes, you read that right—wine in Idaho. It has not yet achieved the success of neighboring Oregon or Washington, but there are some nice surprises. Ste. Chapelle is the largest winery and hosts outdoor jazz concerts on Sunday afternoons during June and July. They offer some nice whites, in particular, and the ice wine is excellent. You can even enjoy a picnic while watching the Snake River flow by.
You see, visiting Idaho certainly is more than just a bowl of cherries . . . and it certainly isn’t the pits.
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