Idyllic Idaho
June 15 - 20, 2023 (6 Days)

Our 2021 Mystery Tour of southern Idaho was such a success that we are offering it again - without the mystery! We will explore Boise, a lively, clean, artistic city nesteled among trees and mountains. We'll experience dark night skies, sunny dyas and old-world charm. Join us for a fun trip that will have you saying,"I didn't know that about Idaho!"

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Included meals are denoted: B, Breakfast, L, Lunch, D, Dinner

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DAY 1       D

We depart the ABQ Sunport and fly north and west to Boise. Upon arrival, we enjoy a tour on the local trolley, before checking into our hotel. Tonight we gather for a Welcome Dinner together.

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DAY 2        B,L

The lush 15 acres of the Idaho Botanical Gardens offers us insights into the gardening and farming practices of Idaho's Treasure Valley. The vibrant Basque Block is a compact Downtown district home to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, which highlights Basque communities in the American West through oral history exhibits, artifacts, and photographs. The Basque Center stages traditional dance and music performances, and homey restaurants and bars serve pintxos (Basque tapas), paella, and Spanish  .  We enjoy lunch, then travel to the Old Penitentiary.  Whether you’re a history buff or not, it’s easy to see why the Old Idaho Penitentiary draws a regular crowd of visitors. When it first began operating in 1872 and throughout its 101-year history as Idaho’s state prison, it was home to some of the West’s most notorious criminals. Its infamous inhabitants included the man dubbed “Idaho’s Jack the Ripper,” the assassin of Idaho’s fourth governor, and even an alleged member of Butch Cassidy’s nefarious gang. Built of sandstone from the nearby quarry by prisoners’ labor, the Old Pen building is a unique and fascinating sight.

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DAY 3         B,D

Today, we head east to the Twin Falls area, but not before a visit to the World Center for Birds of Prey. Learn how the dedicated research center is working to conserve raptors around the world and get up close with these feathered friends and other birds of prey. Enjoy an independent lunch before arriving at our next destination, Thousand Springs State Park. Here, the Malad River crashes down stairstep falls and cuts through a beautiful 250-foot gorge on its way to the Snake River. Spend time exploring the park and taking in the views before we continue into Twin Falls and enjoy a group dinner.

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DAY 4         B,L,D

Lace up your walking shoes for a day of adventure among lava craters and caves, but not before a visit to Shoshone Falls, the “Niagara of the West”.  Enjoy the sights and sounds of the water rushing down the canyon walls before we are off to Craters of the Moon National Monument for an out of this world experience. Walk among the vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. As its name implies, the terrain is lunar-like, even drawing American astronauts to the site for training and education on the volcanic geology. This afternoon, the rocks begin to fade in the distance as we take the Sawtooth Scenic Byway into Ketchum for the evening. 

DAY 5         B

Stanley is our destination today, and we reach it via a scenic route that cruises alongside the famed Sawtooth Mountains, named for their many jagged peaks. We embark on a relaxing float trip on the Salmon River with no rapids or whitewater—only serene water and beautiful views. Enjoy an independent lunch in town before we make the picturesque drive back into Boise to prepare for our return home.

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DAY 6         B

Today we return to Boise Airport, where we board our flight to return to Albuquerque. With memories of mountain towns and scenic waterfalls and rivers, we soon return to the vastly different desert landscape and the place that we call home. 

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Itinerary subject to change.