Photo by Constance Chen from Unsplash

A lot of people hear “Idaho” and immediately think “potatoes.” As a native Idahoan, let me tell you…we know, we have the potatoes. But, I know this might be shocking, Idaho has so much more to offer than potatoes. Idaho has many breathtaking places to visit that you may not have even heard about yet. So let me get you in on this potato state’s secret, here are four places in Idaho you’ll want to make a trip to see.

1) Island Park

Island Park is beautiful. It is full of trees, wildlife, and cozy cabins. This is the place you’ll want to visit for a weekend cabin getaway in the woods. Many people like to visit here during the summer. The Idaho weather is warm, but not too hot, and the entirety of Island Park is beautiful and green. Personally, I prefer visiting Island Park in the winter. If you can handle some cold, Island Park is the perfect place for a winter vacation. There are lots of trails and open fields for snowmobiling. My family always takes a snowmobile trail ride up to Big Springs. It’s the head of Henry’s Fork River and it’s cool to see the water bubble up seemingly out of nowhere.

2) Victor

Victor Idaho is a beautiful place to live and visit. It’s a community that loves nature and golf. The area has similar scenery to Island Park with lots of trees and wildlife and has a small community of around 2,000 people. It’s full of small-town charm. Victor is close to Jackson Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park, and not too far from Yellowstone National Park. It’s a place where nature lovers need to visit.

3) Albion

Albion Idaho is probably not a location you would find on most “Places to Visit in Idaho” list, but let me tell you why it is on mine. Albion is home to the college, Albion State Normal School. This two-year college was first opened in 1893 but closed in 1955. People claim the old campus buildings are haunted and ghost hunters travel to study the supposed paranormal activity people claim to experience at Albion. Three of the buildings have been transformed into haunted houses, while one is left as is (this is the haunted building where people claim to see ghosts), and the last building has been transformed into a cute bunkhouse you can rent and stay in. If you are a lover of Halloween and haunted houses, Albion is the place you need to check out next.

4) Coeur d’Alene

Northern Idaho has a very different feel than southern Idaho. My favorite place in northern Idaho is the town, Coeur d’Alene. This place is beautiful. There are many ways to appreciate the nature surrounding this city, like boating, biking, hiking, swimming, golfing, sailing, camping, and even skiing during the winter. When you get hungry after your day in nature, there are many gourmet restaurants with beautiful views of the lake to enjoy. You could also visit the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. There really are so many things to do while you visit this beautiful northern Idaho city.