Stay Idaho Rentals, Vacation Rentals in Idaho

Idaho was first suggested as a name in 1860 for the region that became the Colorado Territory, but was rejected because it was not a real Native American word; a United States congressman had made it up. However, in 1863, the name was chosen for the territory that became Idaho because the name became popular in the region. Idaho is nicknamed the "Gem State" because it is known as the "Gem of the Mountains." Boise, the state's capital and largest city, is nicknamed the "City of Trees." The abbreviation for Idaho is ID. The Rocky Mountains cover most of Idaho's land. In fact, the state is known as the "Gem of the Mountains." The large, treeless Snake River Plain runs across the southern region of the state. Most of the state's largest cities are on the Snake River plain. The plain is also responsible for most of Idaho's farm production, but parts of the region are some of the most barren areas in the Pacific Northwest. Idaho's diverse landscape includes fast rivers, evergreen forests, steep waterfalls, canyons, plateaus, and lakes.

Prior to the arrival of European and Mexican explorers, roughly 8,000 American Indians, representing two distinct groups, inhabited Idaho: the Great Basin Shoshone and Bannock tribes of the Shoshone-Bannock, the Shoshone Paiute and the Plateau tribes of the Coeur d'Alene, Nez Perce and Kootenai. Today, Idaho's American Indian heritage, their tribes, and chiefs are reflected in county names like Nez Perce, Benewah, Shoshone, Bannock and Kootenai counties and the communities of Shoshone, Pocatello, Blackfoot, Nezperce, White Bird, Kamiah, Lapwai, Weippe, Kooskia, Picabo and Tendoy. Spanish explorers made trips west beginning in 1592. Spaniards introduced pigs, horses, domestic fowl, tomatoes, beans, corn, and garlic to the American Indians of the Northwest. Between 1900 and 1920 a large number of Basque immigrants came to Idaho from the Pyrenees to work as sheepherders. Today, Boise has the largest Basque community in the United States. Idaho was the first state in the nation to elect a Jewish governor. Moses Alexander was elected in 1914 and re-elected in 1916. In 1990, Larry Echo Hawk was the first Native American to be elected attorney general of any state in the United States.

The four seasons are distinct in all parts of Idaho, but not simultaneous. Spring comes earlier and winter later to Boise and Lewiston, which are protected from severe weather by nearby mountains and call themselves "banana belts." Eastern Idaho has a more continental climate, with more extreme temperatures; climatic conditions there and elsewhere vary with the elevation. Mean temperatures in Boise range from 29°F in January to 74°F in July. The record low, –60°F, was set at Island Park Dam on 16 January 1943; the record high, 118°F, at Orofino on 28 July 1934. The corresponding extremes for Boise are –23°F and 111°F. Humidity is low throughout the state. Precipitation in southern Idaho averages 13 in (33 cm) per year; in the north, over 30 in. Average annual precipitation (1971–2000) at Boise was 12.2 in, with more than 21 in of snow. Much greater accumulations of snow are experienced in the mountains.

Boise: Also known as "The City of Trees," Idaho's capital city is home to more than 205,000 people, making it the fifth largest city in the Pacific Northwest. Over the past few years, Boise has become a hot spot for business in the United States and continues to attract new companies annually, giving it top rankings in publications such as Forbes, Inc., and Business Week. Idaho Falls: Situated along a driving route to Yellowstone National Park, Idaho Falls is a popular resting place and has much to offer visitors.

Lewiston: Named for the famous explorer Captain Meriwether Lewis, the city of Lewiston was Idaho's first territorial capital. Located in north-central Idaho at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, the city has a population of over 31,000 people and has much to offer to its residents and visitors. The area east of Lewiston consists of national forests and private land and the climate is great for wildlife.

Pocatello: This southeastern Idaho city is located in the western foothills of Idaho's Rocky Mountains and sits along the historic Oregon Trail. Pocatello got its name from a Shoshone Indian chief who granted the railroad a right-of-way through the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The coming of the railroad provided further development of Idaho's mineral resources and "Pocatello Junction" became an important transportation crossroads as the Union Pacific Railroad expanded its service.

Sandpoint: This northern Idaho town of approximately 7,300 residents is located on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, one of America's deepest and most beautiful lakes and only 11 miles from the well-known Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort in the Selkirk Mountains. The town is also located just 60 miles from the Canadian border and 75 miles northeast of Spokane, Wash. Its location and pleasant four-season climate makes Sandpoint and the surrounding area a wonderland for outdoor activities.

Skiing and Boarding: Try our long, perfectly groomed runs and our “died-and-gone-to-heaven” back country skiing. Ski in style at world-class resorts including Bogus Basin Mountain Resort, Brundage Mountain Resort, Silver Mountain Resort, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sun Valley, and Tamarack Resort.

Fishing: Idaho’s Silver Creek, the Henrys Fork, and the South Fork of the Snake are world renowned for their fly-fishing opportunities. Whether you hope to catch dinner or just catch and release, Idaho is the perfect place to drop a line.

Parks: Idaho offers some of the best in outdoor recreation and sightseeing in the west. Almost 70 percent of Idaho is public lands, from state parks and county parks to national monuments and reserves.

Golfing: From world-class resorts to undiscovered municipal gems, Idaho has golf courses that will both challenge and delight. Take the Idaho Golf Trail – a golf vacation package that combines eight of Idaho’s best courses with resort style accommodations. Or, if you prefer, blaze a trail of your own.

Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking: Idaho has more whitewater river miles than any other state in the lower 48, including the Lochsa River, the Payette, the Snake and the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Grab an oar and have an adventure.

Air Travel: Major airports include the Boise Airport serving the southwest region of Idaho, and the Spokane International Airport, which serves northern Idaho. Other airports with scheduled service are the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport serving the Palouse; the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, serving the Lewis-Clark Valley and north central and west central Idaho; The Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls; the Idaho Falls Regional Airport; and the Pocatello Regional Airport.

Rail Travel: Idaho is served by two transcontinental railroads. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe connects North Idaho with Seattle, Portland and Spokane to the west, and Minneapolis and Chicago to the east. The BNSF travels through Kootenai, Bonner and Boundary Counties. The Union Pacific Railroad crosses southern Idaho traveling between Portland, Green River, WY, and Ogden, Utah and serves Boise, Nampa, Twin Falls, and Pocatello. Amtrak's Empire Builder crosses northern Idaho, with its only stop being in Sandpoint. There has been a push recently to return Amtrak service to southern Idaho, as well.

Ports: The Port of Lewiston is the farthest inland Pacific port on the west coast. A series of dams and locks on the Snake River and Columbia River facilitate barge travel from here to Portland, where goods are loaded on ocean-going vessels.