Fall is in the air, we can feel it with the cooler mornings and shorter days. But this fall is a different kind of fall: You may be working from home, your kids may be going to school online, and you’re trying to figure out the new “norm.” While adjustments are happening, we’ve pulled a list of five places to visit this fall, all right here in Idaho. Each destination offers something interesting to see and learn in a different part of our great state.
Stop one is right out our back door— the Hemingway Memorial. Located on Sun Valley Road not far beyond the resort, this memorial celebrates the rich life Ernest Hemingway spent in the valley, from hunting and fishing to writing and creating a legacy. To learn more about Hemingway, you can also check out the Community Library’s Hemingway tour.
For stop two we head south to Craters of the Moon National Monument. It’s quite the sight! Most people would never expect to see a vast lava field spread across the Idaho desert. With walking paths and cross-country skiing trails in the winter, Craters of the Moon is a must-see, no matter the time of the year!
Stop three is a tribute to WWI, WWII, and the Vietnam and Korean wars. Located in Nampa, the Warhawk Air Museum is the perfect excursion to take this September. The Museum was founded in 1989 as a place to preserve military aviation history, and since that time, it has become a popular educational destination for thousands of visitors each year. To learn more about the Warhawk Air Museum and to plan your visit, click here. (September is the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII.)
Stop four takes the adventures to Boise. The Old Idaho Penitentiary is a real Wild West prison. Built in the 1800s and officially opening its doors in 1872, the Old Pen held some of the West’s most desperate criminals. While no longer an active prison, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is now open for tours, haunted houses around Halloween, winter events, and more! For more information click here.
Our final stop, Redfish Lake Visitor Center, takes us over Galena Pass to the Sawtooth Valley ( a little more than an hour north of the airport). Here you can learn about the impressive history of Redfish Lake and its important roll in the growth of the Sawtooth Valley, the salmon spawn, and so much more. If you plan to visit the Visitor Center in September, be sure to take a walk near the lake’s outlet. You’ll get to see the spawning Kokanee turning red!
We hope you have a wonderful experience during your time in Idaho and can get out and explore! We’d love to hear about the “hidden gems” you encounter along the way and what you’ve enjoyed most about your time in the Wood River Valley and beyond. Send us an email here!
