Things to Do in Idaho

1. Visit Lava Hot Springs

Lava Hot Springs is a curious little city in the Portneuf River valley, on the route of the old Oregon and California Trails, which developed as the popularity of the nearby Lava Hot Springs grew.

In the late 1800s, the land and the springs, which were part of the Fort Hall reservation, were bought from the Indians by the United States Government.

The hot springs are rich in minerals and were known for their healing properties by the original inhabitants, the Shoshone-Bannock people, who called them Poha-Ba, the Land of Healing Waters. Today, the Hot Springs are under the management of the Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation's Lava Hot Springs Foundation. Lava Hot Springs are famous for five hot pools where temperature ranges from 102° to 112°, as well as the Olympic pool, water slides, diving platforms, Indoor Aquatic Center and Portneuf Kiddie Cove.

Address: 430 East Main, Lava Hot Springs, ID 83246, Phone: 208-776-5221

2. Have fun on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene is a natural lake next to the city of Coeur d'Alene. It is 25 miles long, and from 1 to 3 miles wide. In the past, it was used to transport lumber, but today, it is a popular tourist destination for many because of its wonderful beaches, scenic views and endless opportunities for outdoor activities. The North Idaho Centennial Trail runs along the lake's north shore and is very popular among hikers, bikers and joggers.

Many other trails circle the lake and offer spectacular views. Water sports are, naturally, very popular. You can boat, kayak, fish, sail, and swim in the crystal clear water. One of the popular activities is watching bald eagles feeding on the kokanee in the Wolf Lodge Bay.

Where to stay around Lake Coeur d'Alene:
- The Coeur d'Alene Resort
- Blackwell Hotel
- One Lakeside

3. Stroll through lovely Idaho Botanical Garden

What was once the grounds and the tree nursery of the historic State Penitentiary in Boise's Old Penitentiary Historic District, is today a living museum that holds a diverse botanical collection, educational programs, high quality entertainment and numerous cultural and community events. This lush 15-acre mosaic of pleasant shade and splashes of color contains domestic and Idaho native plants that are well adapted to the local conditions.

There are more than 800 species from 42 families, planted in 14 distinct specialty gardens at the Idaho Botanical Garden. Some of the specialty gardens are: The Water Conservation Landscape, which focuses on plants that require very little water; The Meditation Garden; and the Lewis & Clark Native Plant Garden, which contains 145 plant species that the two explorers collected between Great Falls in Montana and The Dalles in Oregon.

Address: 2355 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise, Idaho 83712, Phone: 208-343-8649

4. Take the kids to the Museum of Clean

Museum of Clean in Pocatello is not a cleaning museum, it has no detergents or brooms; it is a museum of clean. It is an immense 75,000 square foot complex of education, excitement, and inspiration. It is based on the fact that clean dominates everything that affects our life, such as clean air and water, clean language, health, clean bed and floors, clean politics, teeth, jokes, art, even clean arteries.

The museum's goal is to present as many dimensions of clean as possible through displays, artifacts and participation.

It takes a minimum of an hour and half for a tour with kids, but much longer if you are a history or art buff.

Address: Museum of Clean, 711 S 2nd Ave, Pocatello, Idaho 83201, Phone: 208-236-6906

5. Have fun at Silverwood Theme Park

Silverwood Theme Park is located near Coeur d'Alene, about 47 miles from Spokane, Washington. It was opened in 1988 with a bunch of carnival rides, an original steam train that took guests on a loop around the park's property, and a "main street" with various shops and restaurants.

Over the years, Silverwood has grown into a major regional theme park and today, stretched on 413-acres, is the biggest theme and water park in the northwest.

In 2003, Boulder Beach Water Park was added with its 65 rides, slides, attractions and shows. Some of the most famous are the new Riptide Racer, Aftershock, Corkscrew and Panic Plunge.

Address: Silverwood Theme Park, 27843 North Highway 95, Athol, Idaho 83801, Phone: 208-683-3400

6. Discover the scenic Route of the Hiawatha

The Route of the Hiawatha is considered the 'crown jewel' of mountain bike adventures, with views that are among the most beautiful in the country. The trail is 15 miles long and has 10 train tunnels and 7 high trestles. One of the most exciting parts of the trail is the 1.66 mile long St. Paul Pass Tunnel. The trail follows the peak of the Bitterroot Mountains close to Lookout Pass Ski Area.

Lookout Pass Ski Area, located at the Idaho/Montana state line, serves as the information center, bike rental and service shop.

What makes this trail such a wonderful family adventure is that the entire trail goes downhill - shuttle buses will bring you and your bike to the top.

Address: Route of the Hiawatha, I-90, Mullan, Idaho 83846, Phone: 208-744-1301

7. Learn about history at the Warhawk Air Museum

The Warhawk Air Museum is a 40,000 square foot museum in Nampa, Idaho, that aims to teach and preserve the history of American veterans and their contributions to the country's freedom, as well as to show the relationship between the United States and its citizens and those foreign wars which so immensely impacted the country and the world. The museum's exhibits cover World War I, World War II, the Cold War Era, the Korean War and Vietnam War.

The Warhawk Air Museum Education Program has a goal of igniting student's appreciation and respect for the sacrifices made to preserve the freedoms they enjoy. The museum features a range of historical memorabilia and personal stories, but also a large collection of airplanes, including two Curtiss P-40 World War II fighter airplanes and a rare World War II P-51C razorback Mustang fighter airplane.

Address: 201 Municipal Way, Nampa, Idaho 83687, Phone: 208-465-6446

8. Learn about the gray wolf at The Wolf Center

Located in the magical Nez Perce Tribal Wilderness, The Wolf Center is a serene place surrounded by meadows and trees. There are miles of beautiful trails to explore the flora and fauna of the region before or after visiting the wolves. The Wolf Education and Research Center is dedicated to providing public education and scientific research about the gray wolf and its native habitat in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

It provides education on the captive wolf care, complex ecology considerations and the fine balance between human recreation, cultures and industry on one side, and the untouched wilderness that is home to top natural predators such as wolves. In 2008, the Wolf Education & Research Center offered home to five out of seventeen wolves rescued from Murphy, Idaho. The center's biologist nursed the wolves back to health and they are today the new public face of the Center's programs as people are free to come and see them in their natural habitat.

Address: 518 Joseph Ave, Winchester, ID 83555, Phone: 888-422-1110

9. Learn about mining at the Wallace District Mining Museum

The small mining town of Wallace, Idaho, located in Idaho's scenic Silver Valley, is known as the "Silver Capital of the World." More than 1.2 billion ounces of silver came out of Shoshone County since 1884. The whole town of Wallace is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. Wallace District Mining Museum & Visitor Center is an Education and Research Center and repository of documents and objects that celebrate the history of silver, zinc, lead and gold production in the district.

Artifacts, photographs, models, paintings and techniques and mining activity displays faithfully capture the feel of the mining industry in Northern Idaho from the early gold rush days to the recent world-record silver production periods. Some exhibits are inside a timbered mine, offering an authentic mining experience.

Address: Wallace District Mining Museum, 509 Bank St, Wallace, Idaho 83873, Phone: 208-556-1592