Take time to experience a bit of history while visiting Bonanza and Custer Ghost Towns. These two towns came to life in the late 1800’s during the gold mining boom. A $20,000 gold find in 1875 sparked a flood of miners who converged on Custer and Bonanza in hopes of making a stake and a fortune in mining. Now visitors can take a step back in time and experience what life was like during the height of their prosperity. Recently purchased by the U.S. Forestry Service in conjunction with Friends of Custer Society, the towns are slowly being renovated and reconstructed.

Visitors can enjoy a self guided walking tour of these two towns and view seven original structures that were a hub for mining activities. In addition to the buildings, visitors can also view old machinery that is lying near the entrance of the General Custer Mill. On your way out, be sure to check out the Boothill Cemetery where you will spot three unmarked graves that rumor has it is the final resting place of a love story gone bad…

Cold weather is no match for the spirit of locals and visitors to Stanley, Idaho. With temps that can reach thirty-below zero, the winter months can be a time of quiet and solitude. It is also a time for outdoor enthusiast to experience some of the most amazing backcountry skiing and to discover a landscape that is untouched by modernization. Skiers enjoy deep powder and steep chutes that only the Sawtooth Mountains can offer.

Perhaps you would rather take it slow on some of the best groomed Nordic ski trails around. Enjoy miles of trails with unmatched views of the mountain range. Nordic skiers have come to love the annual Sawtooth Ski Festival held every March. During this two day event skiers can navigate miles of groomed trails, enjoy hot homemade food and great music followed by a silent auction.

There is just no better place to spend the winter months than Stanley, Idaho!

Take a drive down highway 21 and stop in at the Elk Mountain Resort and Pot Belly Cafe, you won’t be disappointed. Housed in a converted barn, the Pot Belly Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner where each meal is carefully crafted in one of three antique stoves that have been in use since 1895, hence the name. Whether pork ribs or the prime rib, visitors are warmed by a roaring fire and down home cooking.

Not only is the food amazing but, the service is top notch where everyone is welcomed with a smile. Woodsy, cozy and friendly is a great way to describe the Pot Belly Café with the most amazing food at prices that can’t be beat! After a long day of enjoying the great outdoors, stop in for a hardy meal sure to warm your insides. Save room for a huge selection of homemade pies sure to finish off the meal perfectly!

Real food served by real people is what you can expect at the Pot Belly Café at Elk Mountain Resort 4 miles west of Stanley, Idaho.

In a town surrounded by Idaho’s most impressive outdoor area and with the raw beauty of the Sawtooth Mountain Range piercing the sky in the backdrop, it might be hard to fathom that the town of Stanley knows how to pamper. Yet it’s true – for every flashing cutthroat trout on the end of a taut line and for every mountain goat viewed through a set of binoculars, the rugged outdoorsy town of Stanley, Idaho can bring your tired body back to life courtesy of Meadow Creek Inn and Spa.

Meadow Creek Inn and Spa is located at 955 Eva Falls Ave near downtown Stanley, Idaho, and offers lodging and a full spa facility. Relax on their amazing property, which includes six guest rooms, all with unhindered views of the mountains. Even those who are not staying in a guest room can schedule an appointment for a massage. Meadow Creek Inn and Spa is open May through October, with normal business hours between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

At Meadow Creek Inn and Spa, the list of spa treatments is impressive and there really is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for the ultimate “mother/daughter retreat” or simply want to work some kinks out of your neck after a day on the trail, the folks at Meadow Creek Inn and Spa can help you find the ultimate relaxation. The perfect capper to the night? Soak in their hot tub and enjoy your choice of wine from their impressive selection.

Contacting Meadow Creek Inn and Spa

Call them at 1-800-811-5745
Find them at 955 Eva Falls Ave.
Visit them online at www.meadowcreekinn.com

A perfect summer day in Idaho could be spent along Redfish Lake, located approximately 6.5 miles from the town of Stanley, Idaho. The Redfish Lake Lodge has made visiting the lake a “must do” activity for those in the area. The lodge features cabins and rooms for guests, a marina with boats for rent, and a fine dining experience with views of the lake that cannot be beat. The lodge is open April 1^st through October, with the busiest time of year mid-June through August.

There are numerous trails that run along the lake and, although rarely done, it is possible to hike the entire circumference of the lake. Redfish Lake is 11 miles around, but the trail is a total of 17.5 miles in length. That’s a long day of hiking, but possible to do in one day for the seasoned hiker. A more relaxing way of hiking the lake is by bringing your tent and spending a night to make the journey a two-day backpacking trip.

If hiking isn’t up your alley, there are lots of other activities to participate in at Redfish. Scenic boating tours are offered daily and, if you rent a boat, you can try your hand at catching some fish. Redfish Lake takes its name from the thousands of spawning salmon that used to spawn in such quantities that the lake would glisten with red. Alas, the fish is now an endangered species and the name merely reflects a time before dams along the Columbia and Snake Rivers blocked the fish from moving upstream.

Horseback riding is also a fun activity near the lake. The Redfish Corrals offer a variety of tour options, ranging from 1.5 hours to a full day of riding. The rides are a great way to see some of the amazing trails in the area without breaking a sweat.

Of course, the favorite activity of many visitors is grabbing a drink from the lodge and relaxing along the beautiful shoreline in the hot Idaho sun. With an occasional dip in the lake’s waters and sand on your feet will make you realize that, yes, paradise does exist in Idaho.