With it’s location surrounding the gorgeous Snake River, the city of Idaho Falls remains one of the most stunning wilderness destinations in the state of Idaho. Visitors to the city will find plenty to do and see, and we’ll be taking a look at some of Idaho Falls’ best activities in this video! From checking out the scenery at Grand Teton National Park to visiting the Idaho Falls Zoo, join ViewCation as we take a look at the very best things to do in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Check Out the Scenery at Grand Teton National Park
There are a couple of notable national parks located in close proximity to the city of Idaho Falls, and they both stand as some of the best places to visit for those who find themselves within the confines of the city. The first of these two national parks that we’ll be taking a look at is Grand Teton National Park. The drive to Grand Teton National Park from Idaho Falls will only take travellers around two hours, and it’s well worth it for the incredible scenery that they’ll get the chance to peruse while they’re there. Grand Teton National Park is a mountainous wonderland of unique terrain, with several alpine valleys, and lakes that are fed by staggering glaciers. There’s also the unmatched beauty of the Teton Rage itself, which is a specific mountain range along the Rocky Mountains that the park is named after.
While venturing through Grand Teton National Park, tourists will get the chance to see a wide array of wildlife, with some of the many creatures that can be viewed within the boundaries of the park including marmots, bears, and moose. Not everyone who visits the park gets the chance to see a moose, but moose sightings are fairly common! Of course, some of the best ways to explore Grand Teton National Park include it’s plethora of hiking trails, with the most popular of them all being the Teton Crest Trail.
Though the Teton Crest Trail is the most popular and expansive trail that can be found within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, trails such as the Jenny Lake Loop and the Cascade Canyon Trail provide shorter journeys that are just as dazzling. Finally, Grand Teton National Park is only a very short distance from the gorgeous valley of Jackson Hole, which is another of Idaho’s preeminent wilderness locations for tourists to visit. If you’ve already made the two-hour drive from Idaho Falls to Grand Teton National Park, seeing Jackson Hole is a must!
Visit Yellowstone National Park
The second national park that we’ll be taking a look at in this video is Yellowstone National Park, which has just as much beautiful scenery to offer tourists to the Idaho Falls area as Grand Teton National Park. Similar to Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park is only around a two-hour drive away from the city of Idaho Falls, and it’s well worth it!
Though Yellowstone National Park has just as much to offer visitors as Grand Teton National Park, the two differ in terms of their scenery quite a bit. While Grand Teton National Park is defined by it’s moose and mountains, Yellowstone National Park is defined by it’s geysers, hot springs, and herds of bison! As with Grand Teton National Park, one of the best ways to explore Yellowstone National Park is by taking it’s hiking trails. When it comes to Yellowstone National Park, the most popular hiking trail is arguably the Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk. This trail allows you the chance to see Old Faithful, which is a gigantic cone geyser. There are also several hot springs located along the trail.
See Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest
Once you’ve taken in all of the natural beauty that the area surrounding the city of Idaho Falls has to offer, you might want to take a look at some of the man-made wonders that have been created by it’s residents! One of these wonders is a gigantic statue that is known colloquially as the Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest, but was christened by it’s creator as “The Protector”. This staggering statue has come to be known as one of the largest eagle monuments in the country, and it’s located along the scenic Idaho Falls River Walk.
The Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest is a statue consisting of two gigantic eagles perched atop a rock and tending to their nest while a mountain lion waits below to pounce. Of course, the monument was put in place to celebrate the tenacity of Idaho’s eagles, which will stop at nothing to protect their kin. The statue is so large that it’s hard to appreciate when you get too close, so it’s best viewed from multiple angles.
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Visit the East Idaho Aquarium
If you’re visiting the city of Idaho Falls and you’re into different types of wildlife, you should certainly take the opportunity to check out the East Idaho Aquarium. The non-profit organization was founded in 2013, and it’s much more than just a simple aquarium. The East Idaho Aquarium features several ecosystems, with some being aquatic and some being non-aquatic. Each of these ecosystems is designed to house a different type of creature, from sharks to birds! Visitors will even get the chance to interact with a bearded dragon! The East Idaho Aquarium has become an especially popular location for school field trips in the state of Idaho, and it’s open to visitors seven days a week.
Check out the Collector’s Corner Museum
If you’re into collectibles, you may want to check out the Collector’s Corner Museum. This little museum has been in operation for more than five decades, and it houses a staggering variety of collectibles that span back through the ages. Visitors to the Collector’s Corner Museum will get the chance to see everything from Barbie dolls to model trains, and the collection within the museum keeps getting bigger!
Peruse the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho
If Barbie dolls and model trains aren’t your things, you may get more of a kick out of checking out the fine art that resides within the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho. This is another location that can be accessed along the scene Idaho Falls River Walk. Like the aforementioned Giant Eagle Waterfall Nest, this is another part of Idaho culture that visitors to the city of Idaho Falls won’t want to miss! The museum features five different galleries, as well as a special interactive area designed for children. There are also events and classes held at the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, including poetry slams and watercolor classes. To top it all off, admission into the museum is free on the first Saturday of every month.
Take a Stroll Around Russ Freeman Park
Russ Freeman Park is an expansive open space adjacent to the Snake River, and it features plenty to do and see for tourists. There are numerous hiking trails that can be found within the confines of the park, as well as a fairly large disc-golf course that makes the park incredibly popular with active locals. There are a couple of baseball fields, as well as a stage for live music. Finally, there’s the Vietnam Memorial, which was designed by a local veteran of the Vietnam War.
Check Out the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium
If you’ve got tickets for a live event in the city of Idaho Falls, chance are that said live event is being held at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium! This auditorium has housed it’s fair share of celebrities over the years, and continues to be the preeminent venue in the area for putting on a show.
Experience the Museum of Idaho
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho is the best place to go in the city of Idaho Falls if you want to see fine art, and the Collector’s Corner Museum is the best place to go if you want to see old memorabilia, but the Museum of Idaho is by far the most impressive museum located within the city. The Museum of Idaho is a more general museum housing exhibits related to the unique history and culture of the state of Idaho. There are well over 20,000 artifacts featured within the museum, and each of these artifacts has a little bit to share about the state of Idaho’s long history.
Venture Out to Sportsman Park
Sportsman Park is another location accessible via the scenic Idaho Falls River Walk. Sportsman Park is actually a little island that sits out on the Snake River, and it marks the point where the first ever bridge crossing the river was constructed. Today, the little island functions predominantly as a tourist destination, and there’s plenty to do and see on it for visitors. The little island is most remarkable for it’s beautiful and peaceful scenery, making it the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon. There’s also the Japanese Friendship Garden, which was built on the island to commemorate the town of Idaho Falls’ longtime symbiotic relationship with the Japanese city of Tokai-Mura.
Visit the Idaho Falls Zoo
Finally, we’ll end this video by taking a look at another place where visitors to the city of Idaho Falls can check out some stunning wildlife. The Idaho Falls Zoo is located at Tautphaus Park. In addition to the Idaho Falls Zoo, Tautphaus Park also houses Funland Amusement Park. With both of these locations within it’s boundaries, it’s no wonder that Tautphaus Park has become such a popular location with tourists visiting the state of Idaho. The zoo itself is the most popular attraction within the boundaries of Tautphaus Park, and it features plenty of creatures!
With all of these great things to do and see, it’s no wonder that the city of Idaho Falls remains one of the preeminent tourist destinations within the state of Idaho. Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that the city of Idaho Falls has a unique and symbiotic relationship with the Japanese city of Tokai-Mura, and that the Idaho Falls also houses one of the largest eagle monuments in the world? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more globetrotting ViewCation videos are on their way!