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Spring Break in Idaho: The Ultimate Guide 2020

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Whether you are a sun seeker every Spring Break, a keep-your-head-down and try to keep the kiddos engaged for the week, or the weekly warrior that sees the time off school as the perfect excuse to unwind and reset, I’m going to show you that there are plenty of places right here in Idaho that are worthy of your Spring Break bucket list!

Growing up in a family that moved around a lot-my parents made it a priority to maximize our weekends no matter where we were! We spent our weekends riding bikes to new restaurants, hiking new trails, and camping with friends all summer long. Winter breaks were spent making the trek from our home in Albuquerque to Idaho Falls to visit family. Along the way, my parents always packed the lengthy road trip with stops at national monuments, ancient ruins, hidden waterfalls, and all of the classic American road trip destinations!

No matter what you have planned, you might want to consider adding any one of these amazing Idaho hotspots to your list of must-see places really soon. If I’m being honest, I am dying to set up shop in some beach shack , and if I don’t feel sand between my toes, I’m concerned it may become a medical emergency. However, I would consider anyone of these places a fierce competition for a crowded beach anywhere. My idea of the ideal break from winter has never looked anything like what you’d see on MTV anyway!

So, without further adieu….

Top places to visit for Spring Break-right here in Idaho!

#1. Shoshone Falls

LOCATION – Twin Falls

WHAT-Natural Attraction

WHEN-Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

COST-$5 per car

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW- Spring may just be one of the best times of the year to see the waterfalls in Idaho. The winter melt has started and the falls are typically roaring this time of year. Known as the “Niagara of the West”, Shoshone Falls is actually taller than the iconic New York waterfall. Plus, its only a couple of hours from East Idaho-making it an ideal place to add to your Idaho Bucketlist, and it can be done in just a weekend!

CURRENT CONDITIONS-It varies day to day, but you can check out the live video feed here: shoshonefalls.tfid.org 

WANT TO MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE?
  • Stop in at Elevation 486 for lunch or dinner-you won’t be disappointed! (195 River Vista Place, Twin Falls | 208-737-0486
  • Consider checking out this amazing AirBnB. It is gorgeous!

#2. Lava Hot Springs

LOCATION – Lava Hot Springs

WHAT-Hot Springs, Pool

WHEN-Hot pools are open year round, Olympic pool is open in the summer

COST-$2-8 per person, depending on age and day of the week

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW- Lava Hot Springs is a fan favorite for those local to east Idaho. It’s nestled deep in Bannock County between two mountain ranges and the pools are naturally heated by an active underground spring. The pools are considered mineral pools, but there is no sulfur odor! There are five different gravel/rock bottom pools, all of differing temperatures. The hot springs are strictly soaking pools, but if you have little ones, I’d consider checking out the Indoor pool center.

CURRENT CONDITIONS-It varies day to day, but you can check out the live video feed here: lavahotsprings.com/

WANT TO MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE?

  • If you have little one, I’d consider adding to the Portneuf Kiddie Cove to your trip. It is located inside the Indoor Aquatic Center and it has both an indoor kids’ pool and a 10 person natural hot pool. 

  • Consider planning a trip in February and hitting their Fire + Ice Festival-it’s considered one of the zaniest winter festivals in the country!

#3. Mountain Coaster

LOCATION – Bogus Basin, Boise

WHAT – Mountain Coaster | Glade Runner

WHEN – Only open on the weekends

COST – $15 one driver, $25 driver + passenger

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW- The mountain coaster on Bogus Basin is also called the Glade Runner, and its Idaho’s only mountain coaster! Prepare yourself for 4,330 feet of high speed twists and turns as you plummet down the mountain. Its the perfect way for non-skiers and non-snowboarders to experience something incredible, with no gear and no skill required. You control how fast you go, but speeds top out around 25 miles an hour.

CURRENT CONDITIONS-There is still plenty of snow on the mountain in late March, and with the exposure to the chilly air, the altitude and the speed, plan on experiencing the hill in full snow gear!  Check out today’s conditions before you head out here!

WANT TO MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE?

  • Tack on different activities to make this trip one you’ll never forget! Alpine skiing, winter tubing, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing can fill out your lineup and keep you busy morning till night. They offer lessons and equipment rentals so you can come to learn, and you can pack light. Plus with lodging and dining right at the mountain, you can really get cozy and stay awhile!

#4. Couer d’Alene Blues Festival

LOCATION – Couer d’Alene

WHAT – Blues Festival

WHEN – March 20-22

COST – Varies, but event tickets start around $29/each or overnight stay packages at the resort start at $289/night

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW- The 11th Annual Couer d’Alene Blues Festival has been dubbed “Best Blues Festival” and is being hosted at the CDA resort and features the most popular blues bands on the planet! There are many events scheduled during this two-day festival, including a Cruise to the Blues around Lake Couer d’Alene and a Rooftop Blues Party.

OTHER AMENITIES OF THE RESORT: “It’s all about our Guests,” is what is boasted on their website, and I’d have to agree. Everything from luxurious spa treatments, to lake cruises, paddle boarding and golfing the floating green (starting April 1), there is plenty of activities to keep you busy!

MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE!

  • If you venture out of the resort, you MUST make a stop at Hudson’s Hamburgers! They’ve been a staple in downtown CdA for over 100 years! A very unassuming lunch counter indeed, they offer a basic burger, no bells, no whistles, (no fries even!)…and I can promise you-you’ll simply have no regrets. They open at 9:30, and there will certainly be a line by 11:30-so get there early if you want to saddle up to the counter and get the full experience!

#5. Treefort Music Fest

LOCATION – Downtown Boise

WHAT – Music Festival

WHEN – March 25-29

COST – Depending on when you buy your ticket, you can get a festival pass as low as $100. Check out the TICKET INFO page for all of the details. The Treefort Golden Rule is to buy as early as possible!

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW- Treefort is an annual music and arts festival where several “forts” are set up across multiple venues in downtown Boise. There is an Artfort, Comedyfort, Filmfort, Foodfort, even a Kidsfort. It’s the place to find your new favorite ______________ (fill in the blank: musician, comedian, chef, storyteller, yoga instructor…)! Over the course of 5 days independent artist (in all forms) are gathered together to display their pioneering ideas to groups of audiences of varying tastes to stir creativity!

DOWNLOAD THE APP: With so much going on over a span of five days, you’ll definitely need the app to point you in the right direction to make sure you have a plan and can get to where you’re going! treefortmusicfest.com/app

MAKE IT AN ADVENTURE!

Check out the variety of forts by clicking here!

Well, there you have it. The guide on what’s hot for Spring Break in Idaho. There are truly countless ways to make memories in our beautiful Gem State. Consider this my small attempt at helping you know where to go to find the fun right here in our home state. I hope you have an amazing Spring Break no matter what you plan on doing, and don’t forget it’s always an option to STAY + WANDER!

I am a local realtor, and independent contractor at Keller Williams Realty East Idaho. I am Idaho Proud and have an intense appreciation and love for southeast Idaho and its residents. I’d love to help you find your next #Idahome, or if you’re already settled into your dream home, let’s stay connected through our mutual passion for this amazing corner of our state!

Time to eat more hole foods!

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Even though Idaho Falls doesn’t have the commercially recognized Krispy Cremes or Dunkin’ Donuts like bigger cities do-we still have the best mom and pop donut shops that keep us craving their glaze for days! Check out this list of Idaho Falls’ best Donut Shops!

Growing up in Idaho Falls, my first job was for my friends grandparents bakery in downtown Idaho Falls. Cartstens’ Bakery has been around for over 50 years, and the twisted pretzel sign that stands above their humble shop is as iconic to Idaho Falls as the red, white, and blue water tower!

I spent afternoons, weekends and summers displaying, packaging, selling (and sampling!!) all of the tasty treats that went out the door. The owner, Willi, arrived daily before dawn to fire up the ovens and start raisin’ dough! Thankfully-you don’t have to wake up too early to snag delicious treats from these local shops.

Here are the top donut shops in Idaho Falls!

(Listed alphabetically!)

BAKERS DOZEN

LOCATION – 561 S. Woodruff

WHAT THE LOCALS KNOW- This may be the only exception to my previous statement, because you actually might want to get here early! They do sell out, and sometimes there’s a line out the door. But don’t let that stop you-their super friendly staff is quick and they always seem happy that you stopped in! Everything on the menu is good, and this is definitely the best place in town to get a large variety of donuts. Fan favorites are the fruit and cream cheese items, the coconut crisp donut, anything with fruit filling, but you absolutely can’t leave without snagging a blueberry cake donut!

***Thank you so much Bakers Dozen for providing all of the donuts on this post! Nothing can quite beat the eye candy they can provide!***

CARSTENS’ BAKERY

LOCATION – 243 Cliff Street

WHAT THE LOCALS KNOW- The glazed donut is king-raised, fried and glazed scratch every day! Whether you find yourself in the glazed donut or cake donut camp-both are unbeatable here! Although not technically donuts, don’t pass up the opportunity to try the creamhorn or the eclair!

DAYLIGHT DONUTS

LOCATION – 1225 E. 17th Street

WHAT THE LOCALS KNOW- This is the only shop on the list that is open Sundays! This is the place to go to get your fill right before the work week starts! Check out their marquee to see what unique recipe they’re cooking up that day-or try their fan favorite raspberry cream bear claw and the fritters!

***NOT TECHNICALLY A DONUT SHOP-BUT DEFINITELY WORTH AN HONORABLE MENTION!***

BROULIM’S

LOCATION – 2730 E. Sunnyside (*They have several locations throughout East Idaho)

WHAT THE LOCALS KNOW- Although they’re not exactly a donut shop-Broulim’s has (by FAR) the best donuts of any grocery store in town. (I must admit, I have a really hard time classifying Broulim’s among other grocery stores…they’re in a class all their own!) These donuts definitely hold their own against the other bakeries on this list and therefore must be mentioned! Broulim’s offers a wide variety of donuts, from glazed to cake, rings to bars, and chocolate to maple! They are baked in their stores everyday, and do not come frozen like other grocery chains. Personally-I can’t leave without one of their custard-filled chocolate bars!

I was able to speak with Allen, the baker at the Idaho Falls location. He’s a second-generation baker for Broulim’s and he and his dad are proud to share decades of experience getting those little rings perfect! Go try them out and see if you agree!

There you have it! Whether you’re new to town or just a local looking for the best of the best-give these great shops a try and tell them I sent you!

(I can’t be held responsible for any changes in waistlines or scale readings! If you’re worried about it-check out this post on where to go burn it all off!)

I am a local realtor, and independent contractor at Keller Williams Realty East Idaho. I am Idaho Proud and have an intense appreciation and love for southeast Idaho and its residents. I’d love to help you find your next #Idahome, or if you’re already settled into your dream home, let’s stay connected through our mutual passion for this amazing corner of our state!

Where to break out in a cold sweat in Idaho Falls!

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Trying to reach your health and fitness goals, but think East Idaho has other plans? Think again! You just need to know where to go, and I’ve got you covered! Check out this list of paths in Idaho Falls you can hit this winter.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who committed to health and wellness this year! After the holidays, it can be tough to get it in gear, especially with the amount of snow that just dumped on us! If your resolution was to get outside and get moving, don’t let Idaho winters keep you from reaching your goals-it’s a new year a new opportunity to prove that you can do this! Here’s a whole post about local paths to hit for that hurts-so-good, post-holiday burn! (Paths that are maintained year round of course!)

So…who’s in?!

IDAHO FALLS GREENBELT

LOCATION – Along the Snake River

DISTANCE – 1 – 5+ miles (depending on the route you chose)

WHERE TO START: Park downtown, along Memorial Drive (if you are starting in the center)

SECRETS OUT: On almost any given day rain or shine (or snow!), visitors and residents take advantage of the beautiful scenery and the paved paths along the greenbelt. Enjoy the crown jewel of our local parks!

INSIDER TIP: A collaborative project with the Idaho Falls Arts Council, the Idaho Falls Historic Downtown Foundation, the City of Idaho Falls Division of Parks and Recreation and the City Beautification Commission is displayed along the green belt called, Art you can sit on. Various local artists created unique benches that reflect life in Southeast Idaho from all angles. Snap a photo sitting on the various benches and create an ongoing collage of this emerging art project!

Click here for a map of all of the locations of the benches, and here to see a compilation of these works of art.

COMMUNITY PARK

LOCATION – Corner of Holmes and 25th Street

DISTANCE – 0.75 mile loop

WHERE TO START: Park anywhere in the parking lot, and you’ll have quick access to the path

SECRETS OUT: The Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation department has recently improved the walking path that encircles the park, widening it from 8′ to 12′ around the entire path. (Don’t worry, no trees were removed during the construction!)

INSIDER TIP: The paths are maintained well during the winter, but this park is a real treat throughout the summertime! Our family loves spending an evening walking the path while catching the local softball leagues battle it out on the four baseball diamonds in the center.

THE SUNNYSIDE PATH

LOCATION – Sunnyside Road, Idaho Falls

DISTANCE – Varies (out and back style)

WHERE TO START: Park at any public parking area along Sunnyside

SECRETS OUT: The route along Sunnyside Road is another well maintained path on the south side of Idaho Falls. The north side of the street seems to have less ice, due to the exposure to the sun during the day. (The south side is definitely more popular during the summer). For a similar route with less traffic, there is a designated bike lane that runs along 25th Street from Holmes Avenue to Hitt Road (roughly 3 miles).

INSIDER TIP: The walking path along Sunnyside Road is an integral part of the cities plan to connect several trails in Idaho Falls.  They’re working to create an intricate system of paved paths for bikers and pedestrians to get around and explore our city! 

Honestly-how lucky are we to have such amazing opportunities in our small town?! Make sure you take advantage of these groomed paths our city offers to keep up on any fitness or health goals you set for the New Year! If you’re anything like me, nothing keeps me on track like keeping things simple. Thanks to the great area we live in, working out outdoors is possible year-round!

Nothing makes you feel more empowered than running (or walking) in the snow!
(Especially when everyone else is sitting around a fire sipping cocoa + you’re out their crushing goals!)
Don’t forget to pack a playlist! What do you listen to when you workout? I rotate between upbeat music with steady tempos and engaging podcasts. Whatever it takes to keep my mind off the burn!
According to a study recently published in the journal ‘Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism’, colder temperatures may in fact help you lose weight. Prolonged exposure to cold requires our bodies to work harder to keep warm, thereby increasing our energy expenditure – i.e., our calorie burn. Who would’ve thought?

Winter comes whether we’re happy about it or not, whether we’re working towards our goals or we aren’t. Make the most of it, and STAY + WANDER and find ways to enjoy the beauty this season brings! #Idahome

I am a local realtor, and independent contractor at Keller Williams Realty East Idaho. I am Idaho Proud and have an intense appreciation and love for southeast Idaho and its residents. I’d love to help you find your next #Idahome, or if you’re already settled into your dream home, let’s stay connected through our mutual passion for this amazing corner of our state!

How Marie Kondo is Fueling My Thrifting Goals!

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Whether or not you’ve bought into Marie Kondo’s wildly popular method of tidying up, there’s no denying that the current decluttering trend has had a significant impact on one industry in particular—thrift stores are bursting with donations.

For the uninitiated, Marie Kondo is a Japanese “tidying consultant” who employs a method of purging items from your home that do not “spark joy.” Between her New York Times Best Seller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and her new Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, her KonMari method is in full effect, and what doesn’t spark joy for others, might spark joy for you. Here are some great items to look out for:

Books

Gently-used, vintage children’s books are common in many thrift stores. These and uniquely-colored books can be great to use in decorating.

For the flippers out there, good-condition, used box sets like the Harry Potter series can sell for around $30 to $50 on eBay. Other popular box sets include The Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, and Little House on the Prairie.

Wood furniture

Thrift stores are a great place to score solid wood furnishings at bargain prices. Even if you don’t end up finding your vintage dream piece, items that look more “grandma” than Mad Men can be transformed with a little paint, varnish, and fresh fixtures.

Dishes + Glassware

Vintage dishes can be particularly valuable, so do a little research when you’re out thrifting. Glassware lovers enjoy vintage Pyrex cookware, as well as glass in different shapes and colors, so keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

Mirrors

Mirrors make your space feel bigger, so they are the ultimate accessories for your walls. New mirrors can be expensive, however, so you can save big bucks by finding one at a thrift store.

 

Vintage + Antique items

Just look for pieces that are in good condition. Bonus if you can find a collection of items, such as antique cameras, globes, or copper pots. Display them in your home on a buffet or open shelf.

Best places to shop in Southeast Idaho?

-Thrift stores

-Facebook Marketplace

-Garage sales/Estate sales

-Local “For Sale” groups on Facebook

-Consignment shops

 

Happy hunting-and don’t forget-only get items that Spark Joy! 🙂

Why the Zestimate is broken

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Things I trust more than any automated valuation model:

  1. Gas Station Sushi
  2. An elevator ride with Ray Rice
  3. Bill Cosby as a bartender
  4. A seasick crocodile
  5. A prostate exam by Captain Hook
  6. 3M Strips on a freshly painted wall…

One of the greatest evolutions in real estate in the last decade has has been the power of the internet. With countless sources of information available at the click of a button, it’s no wonder more than 90 percent of home buyers begin their home search there. It’s fast, user-friendly, portable, and available 24-7!

A lot of home buyers say that they begin their search on large internet platforms like Zillow, Trulia, or Realtor.com. Many of these sites offer what is called an “automated valuation model” -AVM for short- that will offer their prediction of the current market value for many homes. Zillow has dubbed their AVM the “Zestimate” and it is seen on almost every property that is listed in the state of Idaho. Now, to their credit, they have done an amazing job creating technology, utilizing complicated prediction algorithms, and have an ever-growing brand awareness with consumers. However, there is one thing that they do fall short on: accuracy.

Now, I do want to clarify that I cannot attest to the AVM accuracy in other states, but here in The Gem State, they seem to fall short on both accuracy and consistency, and there IS a reason why.

As a real estate agent, one of the most difficult tasks I face, is pricing a home. It is not a task I take lightly when there is so much at stake, for both buyers and sellers! The market is ever-fluid, and pressure can change from week to week, or even from subdivision to subdivision. Motivation, condition of the property, available inventory are all factors that must be considered when pricing a home. Poor curb appeal, or a newly remodeled kitchen are simply not things that can be valued through automation.

The state of Idaho is what is considered a non-disclosure state. We are one of only twelve states that are considered non-disclosure, where transaction sale prices are not available to the public. Not even the county records the sales price of homes. The only place that sales prices are recorded are in a private version of the MLS that is available only to realtors and appraisers. Without having access to final sales prices of homes, even Zillow admits that the information is sketchy at best. “Since we rely on public county records as our primary data source driving our Zestimate algorithms (which take comparable sales prices into account), it poses a challenge to calculate accurate Zestimates when sale prices are not available.” (Taken directly from their webpage). Furthermore, they can rate (by state) how accurate the information they have access to is in determining a home’s value, and Idaho is ranked as the lowest level for accuracy.

 

How does an inaccurate estimate affect me?

As a seller: Whether a Zestimate, or any AVM, is off of the current market value of your home, you will be affected by it. It may seem obvious that having a zestimate listed for your home at $322,000 while it is actively being marketed at $350,000 may be detrimental to your selling success. Buyers tend to believe the estimate and assume you have overpriced your home and may even chose not to see the home in person. They don’t want to make a purchase that could cause them to overpay, or be upside down immediately upon moving into your home.  Some buyers will go into negotiations feeling confident you should take a lower price, thus beginning the emotional roller coaster of low-bid offers. However, have you considered how an over-priced estimate may affect you as a seller as well? As consumers, we go into a “bargain mentality” when we view that something is a “steal”. Homebuyers have called me and asked if I think a particular seller would take an even lower price since the estimate indicates this seller is already motivated! Think of the phrase, “It never hurts to ask…”. Other buyers, however, may wonder what is wrong with the property? Why are the sellers are giving away so much equity? There must be something wrong with it…

As a buyer: Counting on the information that is provided by the automated systems is not the most wise way to go into making one of the biggest investments of your life. Emotions can be stirred in many directions based on the information you are seeing about perceived value on a home. A home that looks under-priced may cause you to act rashly, and proceed without due consideration. Offers are written, inspections avoided, and timelines rushed so as not to miss this “amazing opportunity”. Inversely, the perception a home’s price has been inflated may also cause you to proceed emotionally. “They’ll never get that!” or “I’d never pay that, it’s clearly $28,000 high!” Either of these responses may just cost you your dream home! Bottom line: do not feel overly confident about a potential price you would offer to a seller until you have talked with an agent about the home’s value.

Only a Realtor

Don’t be fooled into thinking access to a mountains of information is the same thing as access to accurate information. Reliable sold data, active and pending inventory, and a deep insight of neighborhood trends is the only way to get an accurate reading on a homes value. Additionally, having a (real, live) person that has seen (and sometimes more importantly, smelled) the home is far superior to questionable and antiquated date being fed to and interpreted by a computer! You deserve to know that what you are paying for a home is fair. Contact a realtor (me!) to make sure you have someone in your corner, invested in your interests with access to correct information. You simply cannot beat this expertise!