West USA
Colorado
Colorado: experience an all-American adventure
Whether you’re looking to ski the world-famous Rocky Mountains, explore the many cities and towns or enjoy breathtaking natural beauty, you’ll find your perfect adventure in Colorado. The state’s four distinct seasons, 300 days of annual sunshine and great vacation values make this the perfect time to plan a trip.
Colorado Tourism: Awake
From vast prairie grasslands to the majestic mountains, rushing rivers to desert landscapes, Colorado is unlike anywhere else. The highest-altitude state in the USA offers an unbelievable selection of wildlife and natural wonders as well as rich cultural heritage found in frontier forts, narrow-gauge railways, mining museums, dinosaur fossils, ancient cliff dwellings and in the art of local American Indian tribes. From ice climbing to a hot springs soak, a stay in a historic hotel or a trip through a ghost town, Colorado’s Western legacy is everywhere.
Beyond the rodeos and dude ranches, visitors will find an invigorating culinary scene, with plenty of farm-to-table restaurants, breweries, vineyards and wineries. Twenty-five top-notch ski resorts immerse visitors in the alpine culture. Wildlife festivals, gardens and scenic byways make it easy to linger in the great outdoors.
With so many great things to see and do throughout the state all year long, there’s never a bad time to be here.
Idaho
A thrill-seeker’s paradise throughout the year
Idaho has more kilometers of designated wilderness than anywhere else in the continental USA. These wilderness areas, national forests, and state and local parks offer easy access to spectacular waterfalls, blue ribbon trout streams, ancient lava flows, surprising sand dunes, free-flowing rivers, sparkling lakes and towering mountains. Cities and towns provide the comforts of home with lodging, dining, food stores and fuel stations, and serve a natural base camp for outdoor recreation. Take the road less traveled on any of Idaho’s 31 scenic byways to explore while learning about the state’s history, geology and outdoor recreational opportunities. Idaho’s highways and byways showcase the state’s diverse beauty and lead to memorable adventures.
Can’t-Miss Destinations
Idaho’s odd shape allows for diversity in not only temperature and terrain, but also activities and experiences. Travelling from top to bottom, start with a visit to Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene for water recreation, including canoeing, kayaking, boating and lake cruises. Continuing south through the Palouse agricultural region, plan a stop to learn about the Nez Perce American Indians. Then, embark on a thrilling jet boat tour through Hells Canyon on the Snake River – North America’s deepest river-carved gorge – to see striking scenery, historic sites and wildlife. The small town of Riggins in the Salmon River Canyon is well known for river rafting and fishing, while the lakeside community of McCall is a basecamp for more water sports, hiking, hot springs and winter recreation. Boise, in the southwest corner of the state, is packed with locally owned restaurants, craft breweries and wine tasting rooms, as well as arts, culture and entertainment. Turning east, the communities of Ketchum, Sun Valley and Stanley offer skiing, hot springs and fly-fishing, accented by stunning views. Explore ancient lava fields at Craters of the Moon National Monument as your journey continues eastward. Eastern Idaho also has a number of hot springs, trout streams and waterfalls, and is a popular location for snowmobiling in the winter.
Four Seasons of Adrenaline
Idaho also has more whitewater than any other state in the continental USA. In the spring and summer, book a half- or full-day adventure on the Payette River just north of Boise, or half-to multi-day trips on the Salmon River in central Idaho. Fall is the ideal season for mountain biking and hiking. Local Idahoans relish the lower temperatures, clear skies and fall colors that signal the coming winter. Idaho’s 18 ski areas offer skiing the way it ought to be – on fresh powder, with short lines and under bluebird skies. Destination resorts such as Schweitzer Mountain, Sun Valley and Grand Targhee, as well as local ski areas, including Lookout Pass, Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area and Tamarack Resort, welcome winter travelers. Activities include alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoe trails, tubing hills, fat-tire biking, cat- and heli-skiing, and snowmobile tours. State parks also open their trails in the winter for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing.
Bright Stars and Dark Skies
Idaho’s beauty doesn’t end when the sun goes down. The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which includes the communities of Ketchum, Sun Valley and Stanley, and the Sawtooth Mountains, was designated in December 2017 and is one of only 13 Dark Sky Reserves in the world, and the only one in the United States. Idaho’s low population base coupled with its rural landscape and wilderness lands makes it easy to find dark skies. Set up camp in the Dark Sky Reserve, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Bruneau Dunes State Park, or just about anywhere in Idaho’s rural or wilderness areas, and marvel at the unbelievably brilliant, starry sky. Treat yourself to an out-of-this-world experience you won’t soon forget.
