Set on the beautiful 600-foot-wide falls on the Snake River, Idaho Falls is a charming city with a range of attractions for the whole family. Hikers and bikers can cruise the city along the Greenbelt, a paved trail that runs along the river and passes the city’s downtown, the market, and a waterfall. The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho presents works by renowned and new artists, local and national, while the Museum of Idaho celebrates local history and culture with eclectic exhibits such as an entire re-created 1800s town. Idaho Falls Zoo is one of the best small zoos in the country, with animals from six continents.
1. ARTitorium on Broadway
Located on Broadway in downtown Idaho Falls, ARTitorium is a fun and educational family attraction that offers kids up to the age of 12 a way to experience art and engage their imagination. There are art classes, field trips, and a whole range of interactive, hands-on exhibits. The kids can use a green screen studio, art-making software, and animation stations and can take part in making murals and, the kids’ favorite, noise making projects. Kids use imaginative unexpected materials for their art installations, such as scrapbook paper, pipe cleaners, and much more. For inspiration, kids can look at more than 300 artworks showing on six large touch-screens available to the little artists in the Virtual Gallery.
271 W Broadway St, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-552-1080
2. The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho was opened in 2002 to promote the visual arts through a range of innovative exhibits that focus on art education. The museum is located along the urban Greenbelt walkway that runs along the Snake River in Idaho Falls. It has five galleries, an art classroom and workshop area, a children's interactive art area, and a gift shop. Visitors are free to explore the museum on their own or join one of the tours, family days, studio classes, or art lectures. The museum’s exhibitions represent not only regionally, nationally, and internationally renowned artists, but also emerging local artists. It is the only art museum in eastern Idaho.
300 S Capital Ave, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-524-7777
3. Collectors Corner Museum
The Collectors Corner Museum is a product of the collection passion of Jim and Nida Gyorfy. They just love to collect and have 125 different, very eclectic collections of collectibles of all sorts. They decided to share their passion and opened the museum in 2003. The museum is located in a former grocery store and it can go unnoticed unless you know where to look. Once inside, you will be delighted by the nicely arranged exhibits behind clear glass. There are Precious Moments figurines, coins, Ron Lee clowns, stuffed animals, hubcaps, commemorative plates, troll dolls, model planes, mechanical monkeys, and so much more. Not all of exhibits were made as collectibles, but Nida and Jim found them interesting and added them to their collection. Sometimes total strangers bring their own collections to share with the public. For older people, visiting the museum brings back childhood memories, with Pez candies and other familiar and now forgotten toys. Next read: Best Romantic Weekend Getaways in Idaho
900 John Adams Pkwy, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, Phone: 208-528-9900
4. Hell's Half Acre
Hell's Half Acre lava field is a lava plain located on the Snake River Plain, about 25 miles from Idaho Falls. This huge 2,000-year-old plain of hard lava flow is full of large open cracks, sharp jagged rocks, and other obstacles. The 68,760 acres of the site southeast of the National Natural Landmark has been declared a wilderness study area. The site is popular with hikers and there are two trails marked by flags: A short half-hour one and a longer one that requires a whole day and which leads to the central volcanic vent – a dark, low hill, about 700 feet long and almost 200 feet wide. This is the spot where the lava broke through the surface of the land thousands of years ago. About half way along the trail is a gazebo and a lovely scenic overlook. If you come in the spring, you will notice clumps of wild flowers, bright green lichens, and mosses, starkly contrasting with the dark volcanic rocks.
Interstate 15, Mile Marker 101 on I-15, Idaho Falls, ID 83221
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5. Idaho Brewing Company
The Idaho Brewing Company is well known all over Eastern Idaho for its delicious award-winning craft ales and lagers. Their tasting room is located on the banks of the scenic Snake River and is a popular spot with the locals and visitors to relax, enjoy the views, and taste some of many very different styles of beer. Besides the cozy indoor space, there is a large outdoor deck to sit in the fresh air and enjoy your brew. If you are lucky, there will also be live music. Those interested in the process of making beer can join the tour of the brewery. They currently brew 18 different styles of beer with their ten-barrel brew system.
775 South Capital, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-534-7232
6. Idaho Falls Chukars Minor League Baseball
The Idaho Falls Chukars is a popular Idaho Falls professional baseball club. The Chukars are members of Minor League Baseball and are affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They play all their home games at the 3,400-seat Melaleuca Field. The surface is natural Kentucky bluegrass and is 350 feet to left field, 390 feet to center field, and 340 feet to right field. The team also plays in the Pioneer League, which operates from June to September and is designated a Rookie Advanced League. The Chukars are East Idaho’s only professional sports team and they are proud of their large and loyal fan base.
900 Jim Garchow Way, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-522-8363
7. Idaho Falls Zoo
For a small zoo, Idaho Falls Zoo has an incredible diversity of animals. More than 330 animals belonging to 120 species from all over the world live in spacious, natural enclosures. The zoo, which is considered one of the best small zoos in the country, is part of the popular, large Tautphaus Park, one of the largest and oldest in Idaho Falls. There are 28 African species, including penguins, zebras, lions, and lemurs. Snow leopards, sloth bears, and red-crowned cranes come from Asia, while pelicans, otters, and golden eagles represent North America and kookaburra, singing dogs, and wallabies can be found in the section on Australia. There is also a children’s zoo with sheep, pigs, and goats that kids can feed and pet.
2725 Carnival Way, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-612-8422
8. Idaho Potato Museum
Idaho is famous for its potatoes the world over, so it is natural that there is a potato museum. It is located in the 1913 building that originally housed the Oregon Short Line Railroad Depot. Today, the museum showcases the history and the importance of the potato industry for the region and the state through a range of exhibits. These include the largest potato chip in the world, a Peruvian 1,500-year-old container made specifically to store potatoes, a timeline of potato consumption in America that includes the introduction of french fries to the White House during the time of Thomas Jefferson, and so much more. The renovated station baggage claim room has been converted to the Potato Station Café, offering potato-themed foods, including potato chips dipped in chocolate.
130 NW Main St, Blackfoot, ID 83221, Phone: 208-785-2517
9. Japanese Pavilion
The Japanese city of Tokai-Mura is a sister city to Idaho Falls. To celebrate this friendship, the city built the Japanese Friendship Garden on a small island in the middle of the Snake River near Broadway Bridge. There is a footbridge that provides access to the island from both sides of the river. A few decades ago, Tokai-Mura donated to Idaho Falls a large traditional stone lantern, which was placed in the Friendship Garden. It was the beginning of a community project that had the goal of creating a Japanese pavilion. Clarke Kido started landscaping the area near the lantern, and was joined later by Judy Sydel and Mike Zaladonis and many other volunteers. They planted bushes and trees, built a path and a deck, and slowly built a beautiful pavilion in the true Japanese tradition. The pavilion was officially opened to the public in 2016 and is today a wonderful, peaceful oasis, reflecting Japanese gardening and building esthetics and celebrating the friendship between the two cities.
Island in the river at Broadway, Sportsmans Park; the Friendship Garden, Idaho Falls, ID, Phone: 208-881-3569
10. Museum of Idaho
The Museum of Idaho is a great place to learn about Idaho’s history and culture, but the story of the museum’s creation is interesting in its own right. The building in which the museum is housed started its life as a public library, built in 1898 by the Village Improvement Society with the help of the Carnegie Foundation. The Improvement Society was run by a group of local women who wanted to bring culture to then dusty, wild, little town. When the library moved to a new location, they collected funds to renovate the dilapidated building and turn it into a museum. The exhibits that can be seen in the museum today were collected by the society members and today reflect Idaho’s history and way of life with exhibitions such as the Olde-Fashioned Christmas and Winter Festival, Space: A Journey to Our Future, and many others.
200 N Eastern Ave, Idaho Falls, ID 83402-4029, Phone: 208-522-1400
11. Reed's Dairy Inc
Reed's Dairy has been providing milk, cheese, and other dairy products to Idaho Falls and the area since 1955. This 260-cow producer and handler has a processing facility that bottles non-fat and whole milk in half-gallon returnable plastic and glass bottles as well as less environmentally friendly plastic bottles sold in grocery stores. Their milk and milk products are free of artificial additives and growth hormones, so their customers get only the best, fresh milk. Local families like to come to the farm, visit the cows, and stock up on ice cream. Kids love playing with the baby calves. You can find all sorts of delicious Reed’s ice creams in their store on Broadway in Idaho Falls, all made the old-fashioned way with nothing added but milk, sugar, fruits, and other delights such as chocolate and peanuts.
2660 W Broadway St, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-522-0123
12. Snake River Greenbelt
The Idaho Falls Greenbelt is a great way to explore Idaho Falls. This joint project between Idaho Falls and the local resident volunteers covers 5 miles along the Snake River and it can be enjoyed by hikers and bikers. The paved trail passes by many local restaurants, shops, and the famous 600-foot-wide waterfall, runs along the farmers’ market and beautiful local private gardens, and provides access to the Idaho Falls Disc Golf Course. In the summer, the city extends the path with a floating bridge to run under Hwy 20, connecting it with the Freeman Park. The Greenbelt is used for the annual Great Snake River Duck Race, organized by the Idaho Falls Rotary Club.
Snake River Greenbelt – Idaho Falls City Center, Idaho Falls, ID 83402
13. Carstens' Bakery
Carstens' Bakery has been supplying Idaho Falls’ folks with delicious sweet delights since 1968. It is owned and operated by Willi and Shannon Carstens. Will was trained by German master bakers and the European influence is apparent in his famous delicious Danish pastries filled with cheese, fruits, and much more. There are also doughnuts, fruit bars, pies, cookies, and all kinds of special cakes for birthdays, weddings, and other celebrations. Everything is made fresh every day, so come early or they might run out of your favorite goodies. If you need cakes for a party, call a day in advance.
243 Cliff St, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-529-3629
14. Villa Coffeehouse
The Villa Coffeehouse and Cafe in downtown Idaho Falls is where locals hang out to get their favorite cup of java, relax, check their emails, or meet friends. They serve a large range of coffee drinks, classic or fancy, all freshly roasted by another local business, where they create an original house blend for Villa Coffeehouse. The atmosphere is relaxed and cozy, with high ceilings, comfy sofas, and a large bar. You can get a dessert to go with your coffee from their large menu – everything is freshly made from scratch. For lunch, there are always hot soups and imaginative sandwiches. No wonder people come and stay a while.
344 Park Ave, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, Phone: 208-524-8882
15. Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas
There are many ways of exploring Idaho. One of them is on the back of a llama. Not just any llama, but llamas specially bred and trained to carry people and their load on different mountain adventures, exactly as on a horse or a mule. Wilderness Ridge Trail Llamas breed pack llamas for rent and for other companies that wish to use them for adventures. They are based in Idaho Falls and everyone who would like to try riding a llama on an adventure has to go through a 45-minute orientation. You learn about llamas, what to expect from them, how to manage them and lead them, how and what to feed them, and about their gear. You can also just come to the llama ranch and pet llamas; they are such charismatic animals.
9038 E Ririe Hwy, Idaho Falls, ID 83401, Phone: 208-270-7749
16. Willard Arts Center
Immerse yourself in spectacular art and culture inside a gorgeous and historic building at the Willard Arts Center. Located in the downtown area, the Willard Arts Center is composed of a Colonial Theater, which hosts many performances and main stage shows, as well as two gallery spaces, the Carr and Hall Galleries. Both galleries feature breathtaking pieces of art from various mediums such as watercolor, oil, gauche, photography, and sculptures. For those visiting with children, the ARTitorium is a fun place to spend some time in thanks to interactive and stimulating art activities. Don’t forget to climb up the stunning spiral staircase of the gallery to see the HC Room, which is a popular events venue with large windows and a lovely brick wall.
489 A Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402, Phone: 208-522-5023
17. East Idaho Aquarium
In a landlocked state like Idaho, it’s difficult to get much interaction with sea creatures and aquatic ecosystems, but a visit to the East Idaho Aquarium solves this problem in an interactive and entertaining way. Founded in 2013, the aquarium has a total of twelve exhibits to visit. The Ocean Life Exhibit features colorful displays of jellyfish, fish, crabs, and eels, while the Fresh Water Life Exhibit has lovely and interesting fish native to fresh water sources. The aquarium also has the Stingray Touch Exhibit, which allows guests to pet and feed friendly stingrays, the Shark Exhibit, which educates visitors about a shark’s life, a Caiman Alligator gallery. Other animals to see in the aquarium include dozens of birds, an electric eel and albino boa, river giants, iguanas, bearded dragons, and a sloth. Of course, the aquarium wouldn’t be complete without an exhibit dedicated to fish native to Idaho.
570 E Anderson Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401, Phone: 208-569-2996
18. New Sweden Farms
If you know anyone that grew up on a farm, then you’ll know just how much fun it can be. At the New Sweden Farms, you can experience farm life for yourself with additional activities that will keep you and your family entertained for a full day of recreational fun. There are three main features to the New Sweden Farms: The Corn Maze, the Pumpkin Patch, and the Sweet Shoppe. The Corn Maze will test your sense of direction and perseverance, while the Pumpkin Patch will surprise you with just how huge pumpkins can get. No trip to the New Sweden Farms is complete without a stop by the Sweet Shoppe, where visitors can grab a snack or a sweet treat to enjoy while on the farm or to bring back home.
3512 W 17th Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401, Phone: 208-539-7271
19. Colonial Theater
The Colonial Theater is a historic and beloved performance arts center that is operated and maintained by the Idaho Falls Arts Council. Established in 1919, the theater is known for having one of the largest performance stages in the Upper West. The theater is also marked by its modern ramp to the balcony, a unique ventilation system that ensures fresh air in the theater every five minutes, as well as fantastic acoustics. The Colonial Theater has hosted many spectacular productions and sees over 25,000 patrons on a normal year. Apart from its rich cultural history, the theater plays a pivotal role in the local arts community through educational programs and fundraising events.
489 A Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402, Phone: 208-522-5023
20. Idaho Escape Rooms
Get immersed in a game that will challenge your wits, patience, and nerves at the Idaho Escape Rooms. One of two locations in the states, escape rooms have become quite the craze and with good reason. Each room comes with a unique story or theme that will bring a perplexing situation to life. While each room has varying difficulties, one thing is for sure, all of them will put your brains to the test through a series of bewildering puzzles and clues hidden in plain sight. Try it out with your friends and family or do like many corporations do and book a team-building exercise at the Idaho Escape Rooms.
387 Park Avenue, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402, Phone: 208-403-6621
21. Snake River Ferry
There’s nothing quite like a fun and relaxing steam down a beautiful river. At Idaho Falls, one of the best places to enjoy Mother Nature’s beauty is with the Snake River Ferry. Guests to Snake River Ferry can look forward to a leisurely 30-minute boat ride that is narrated by a knowledgeable guide who will tell you interesting historical factoids about the river and the area that surrounds it. The ferry operates from Tuesday to Saturday and has two separate docking locations at the Rock Gardens on River Walk Drive, and at the Snake River Boat Launch by the River Parkway. For a more adventurous tour down the river, the touring company also offers kayak and pedal boat rentals.
1415 River Parkway, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402, Phone: 208-557-1769
22. Dixie’s Diner
There’s something that just hits different about good old American comfort food, but at Dixie’s Diner, it goes beyond just nostalgia on a plate. A visit to Dixie’s is like taking a time machine ride back in time to the 50s with its retro ambiance, jukebox, and poodle skirts. Though the theme is certainly a draw, what really keeps customers coming back is the restaurant’s authentic and comforting menu of American diner classics. Some of the diner’s crowd-pleasers include their sausage, corned, and meatloaf, all of which are made in-house. Now if you’re really hankering for some classics, then a burger, milkshake, and fries are undoubtedly the way to go.
2150 Channing Way, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83404, Phone: 208-542-1950
