Terrain and Geography

Hi, about 20yrs ago I drove thru the northern tip of Idaho and thought it was gorgeous........but haven%26#39;t seen the rest of Idaho........Looking at the map there are pockets of mtns, and valleys. My question is this!

I am a 50yr old single adult and curious as to any areas in Idaho that would have several greenways, parks, rivers, really great downtowns, or historical cities.......Looking for something with at least 120,000 or less people.......Not into really huge cities, but like availabilities of good recreation, and cultural activities.

I know the weather must be different in the state with its overall terrain........What areas are the best for winters, and not so humid summers.........I can take a little cold, but do not like humidity. Also, more of a flowering tree, and green grass person that a desert person......Anyone have any suggestions for places to relocate too? or opinions on any of the areas?

Terrain and Geography

We also live in NC. Two years ago we vacationed in Idaho. We went from Couer D%26#39;Alene to Boise to Twin Falls to Stanley to Salmon and back to Boise via Sun Valley. The state is absolutely blessed with spectacular scenery and many open undeveloped spaces. I understand a wholesale immigration from California is underway and I certainly understand why. I loved Boise and it sounds like a good fit for your specs. My advice, buy a ticket and spend a couple of weeks travelling around. Idaho will steal your heart.

Terrain and Geography

You have asked a tough question(s) about a single place in Idaho. Not sure anyone place would fit all those qualities. Overall humidity anywhere in Idaho is not a problem as compared to any where in the midwest or south. Outside of Boise metro area (population around 500,000) no other cities are as large as 120,000 people although Kootenai County (Coeur d%26#39; Alene area) is approaching that size. Boise and Kootenai County are the rapidily growing areas. Almost everywhere in Idaho will give you easy access to outdoor recreation. The larger cities which would offer both cultural activites and recreation would be from north to south: Sandpoint, Coeur d%26#39; Alene, Moscow (home of University of Idaho), McCall/Cascade, Boise, Twin Falls, Pocatello (home of Idaho State University), Idaho Falls. I%26#39;ve lived in North Idaho most of my life, but most of my relatives, my early childhood, and parents early adulthood was in the Boise area. I like North Idaho because of the weather (less summer heat but more snow in winter) and being in the midst of and surronded by evergeen forested areas. Most of the populated areas in southern Idaho are located along the Snake River plain and as such are drier and warmer in the summer than North Idaho. Best answer to your question is to take some time and drive the whole state.

Silly, you ought to come and visit Boise. While the metro area is large, Boise itself still has a small town feel. No skyscrapers, that%26#39;s for sure!

Twin Falls, while growing, is still very much a small agricultural town. Idaho Falls might be worth looking into, although the winters there are much colder than in Boise and it is not nearly as cosmopolitan

If you do come to Boise, I recommend the Idaho Heritage Inn Bed and Breakfast for your stay. The hosts can give you a lot of good information and rent you a bike so you can try out the Green Belt for yourself, and you won%26#39;t pay any more than for a nice hotel/motel room.

Best wishes,

Pug

If you%26#39;re ';not a desert person,'; then you probably want to stick to central or north Idaho. Anywhere would qualify as under 120,000 people. Availability of good recreation would also be anywhere, but for cultural activities, you are pretty much going to be limited to the Boise and Couer d%26#39;Alene areas. As a transplanted Idahoan, I have to admit I hate the humidity here in North Carolina and get away from it as often as I can in the summers! (If I were to move back, I%26#39;d take a long look at the McCall area as well.) I don%26#39;t think you can beat the beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains and Lakes Pend O%26#39;Reille and Coeur d%26#39;Alene!