Destination: Idaho!

We’re out adventuring in Alaska today, so I thought it was a good time to share another post in our Wanderlust series with you! We’re still creating the Alaskan memories to share with you later, but we’ll take you to the great plains of Idaho while you’re waiting!

Last summer we headed up to Nebraska for AJ + Michelle’s wedding – and launched our Wild West Adventure from there! We hopped on a plane to Denver, rented a Kia Sportage, and commenced our 2 week exploration of national parks, state capitals, and quest for the best local coffee.

We’ve shared our favorite memories from Denver, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park – and now we’ve jumped in the car for a long (and beautiful) road trip through Idaho on our way to our national park filled itinerary in Utah!

I hadn’t thought all that much about Idaho while I was planning out this trip. I definitely didn’t expect our drive through Idaho to get a J&A Wanderlust feature all of its own!

But Idaho, you proved me wrong. You are amazing.

We made it just over the state line to Idaho Falls before stopping for the night. After camping a few {cold, very cold} nights in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, our hotel in Idaho Falls was incredibly inviting. Hot shower and breakfast we didn’t have to cook over our little camp stove? All the happy faces here.

We went out in search of waterfalls. I mean, Idaho Falls should have waterfalls, right? We didn’t have to look too far because we found a beautiful little waterfall scene right downtown. If I could transport this park back to Alabama, I totally would! It might make me take up running again, just to be able to soak in the beauty of that waterfall park.

You definitely delivered, Idaho Falls!

After grabbing some doughnuts for the road from a tiny little local bakery {and ate them before we even thought about our camera…}, off we went to see as much of Idaho as one day would allow!

First stop: Atomic City.

When I saw Atomic City on the map, I put it right on our detour itinerary. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but there was….nothing?

A few buildings along a very quiet road. Population: 25. But we saw, we conquered, and we drove on to Craters of the Moon National Monument.

On our way, we stumbled into EBR-I, which is the world’s first nuclear plant turned museum-literally-in-the-middle-of-nowhere. It was extremely interesting and just a little creepy.

On to Craters of the Moon! That was neat place. We walked along miles of old lava flow and took in the unique beauty of such a sight. There’s not much out there, so we had grabbed stuff for a picnic lunch and ate on the brink of this fascinating place.

And…off in search of more waterfalls! The last official detour on our agenda was Twin Falls, Idaho. Driving through hours and hours of nothing but rolling farmland was so beautiful…but also coffee-less.

Twin Falls promised both waterfalls and coffee, and it was a great ending to our Idahoan adventure. :)

Thanks for following along on our J&A Wanderlust adventures! Have you traveled through Idaho? We’d love to hear about it!!

*hugs*

Amber