Idaho Falls

Hit the town, catch a show, cheer on hockey pros —do it all and more in Idaho Falls! From baseball games, and a celebrated zoo and museum to local shops and restaurants throughout downtown, it’s no wonder Idaho Falls has firmly secured its spot on the must-visit Idaho destinations map. The region’s largest city, Idaho Falls has grown quickly—it now boasts more than 60,000 residents—and is the cultural hub of Eastern Idaho.

Idaho Falls truly has arrived. The city’s cutting-edge entertainment, vibrant downtown, and ample outdoor fun combine the best of the West with everything else you’d expect in a growing metropolis. With its museums, exciting outdoor adventures, delicious dining, and family-friendly amenities, all within a few hours of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, it is no surprise the bustling hub of Idaho Falls was named one of the “Top 100 Cities” in the U.S. in a 2019 survey from CNN, while another from AARP named it a top city to call home. And after nearly a decade of watching this highly anticipated event center come to life, the Mountain America Center is now open! The 48,000-square-feet, multi-purpose facility located at Snake River Landing, just south of Idaho Falls and immediately adjacent to Interstate 15, welcomes national acts, conventions, trade shows and business expos; ice hockey, rodeo, basketball and volleyball tournaments, and indoor soccer; and a variety of music and family entertainment events, such as Cirque de Soleil and Disney on Ice. The list of things to do in Idaho Falls just got longer.

Whether for business, pleasure, or the basecamp for your national park adventure, Idaho Falls is a place worth exploring. See the city like a local and stroll downtown where breweries, restaurants, and unique mom and pop shops line the scenic streets. Arts and cultural amenities are a plenty throughout the city. A vintage theater restored to its original glory, a noteworthy museum, art centers and galleries, dance studios, restaurants, shops, even the public library—all of this and more is within just a few blocks in the Idaho Falls Cultural District in historic downtown Idaho Falls. Set against the scenic Snake River, the cultural district has attracted kudos nationally. Catch a show at the Willard Arts Center and Colonial Theater where nationally known acts from musicians like Lyle Lovett and renowned plays pack the calendar. Nearby galleries include the Willowtree Gallery and Elegance in Art. ARTitorium on Broadway is a technologydriven interactive arts center for youth. The Museum of Idaho is an anchoring part of the state’s story and a visitor favorite. Enjoy permanent Idaho displays as well as several different traveling exhibitions every year. It is the place where adventure begins, and Idaho history comes alive! The family-focused fun doesn’t stop there. Delight with wild animal sightings and otherworldly ocean wonders at Idaho Fall’s Zoo at Tautphaus Park or the East Idaho Aquarium. The aquarium is the newest addition to the area, bringing the wonders of the oceans, rivers, and streams to Eastern Idaho. Discover starfish, sharks, and even water-loving tropical birds inside this underwater adventure.

Check everyone off your souvenir list with shopping galore. You’ll discover everything from malls with national brands to small family-owned shops with one-of-a-kind finds. The city is the regional shopping center for the entire area, from West Yellowstone, Montana, to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

MUST SEE!

A Sports Fans Hub

Okay, sports fans! Are you ready for a vacation stacked with edge-of-your-seat jaw-dropping excitement? Pick your flavor. Are you a hockey fanatic, a baseball diehard, or both? Idaho Falls has you covered. For more than a century, Eastern Idahoans have enjoyed the sport of baseball, starting with locally owned teams in the early 1900s and moving into “farm club” status in 1955. Today, June through September, we root for the Idaho Falls Chukars, a minor-league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and part of the Pioneer League. Order up a hot dog and cold drink, and head out to the ball game. The Chukars home stadium, Melaleuca Field, was first used in the 2007 season and houses 3,400 seats and a natural-grass playing surface. A night at the ballpark is plenty of fun for everyone, with frequent promotions sponsored by local and regional companies.

Now, Idaho Falls is also the home of The Idaho Falls Spud Kings, the newest franchise in the United States Premier Hockey League’s Tier 3 Mountain Division. The Spud Kings home stadium is the Hero Arena, part of the Mountain America Center in Snake River Landing. Just after one season, the Spud Kings are already known for their unmatched experience in Junior Hockey, with a 4,100 seat arena, complete with state of the art video board and ribbon boards, over 2,000 season ticket holders, invested corporate partners, and other fan experiences. The team kicked off their season to excited hockey fans from all over in December 2022 and are sure to become an anchoring part of the Idaho Falls experience. Hit the ice and cheer on the Spud Kings!

ARTS & CULTURE AROUND EVERY CORNER

From historic relics to modern art and everything in between, Idaho Falls is teeming with a thriving arts district and ample opportunities to explore, experience, and take in the cultural attractions. A favorite of visitors and locals, the Museum of Idaho has permanent Idaho displays as well as several different traveling exhibitions every year. Since 2003, the museum has hosted more than thirty world-class traveling exhibits exploring everything from dinosaurs to human bodies. Discover the human and environmental story of Idaho and the West beginning from its first inhabitants through today in the museum’s flagship exhibit, Way Out West, which covers the story of our unique region. Perfect for kids and families, the Marie Putnam Discovery Room features climbing, a settler’s cabin, puzzles, books, and experiments all in one place.

Located next to the Snake River on Broadway, the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho serves as an anchor of the Idaho Falls Cultural District. It features five galleries of display space for a permanent collection and excellent traveling exhibits, as well as a children’s interactive art learning area, an art classroom and workshop space, and a museum store. “Eternal Momentum,” the sculpture out front, was created by Idaho artist Mark Stasz.

Downtown Idaho Falls is the cultural hub of the city with restaurants like The SnakeBite Restaurant and the Celt Irish Restaurant Pub & Grill and coffee shops and bakeries like City Bagels & Bakery inviting visitors to sit, sip, and stay awhile.

Walk On The Wild Side

More than 400 animals—Idaho’s largest collection (and its most diverse)—can be found in Idaho Falls, at the city-operated Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park. Representing six continents, the animals include rare species like snow leopards, African penguins, and red pandas, as well as zoo favorites like wallaby, gibbons, camels, and lions. Natural-habitat exhibits include Asian Adventure, Land Down Under, and Primate Discovery Center. Other highlights are the noisy and colorful selection of South American birds encountered in a walk-through aviary, and the entertaining Animal Encounters Wild Animal Show. At the Children’s Zoo, kids can pat a donkey or feed a pygmy goat.

The zoo includes ADA-accessible access through its beautifully landscaped grounds and hosts a number of special events, including Earth Day, Dr. Doolittle Day, Enrichment Day, and Boo at the Zoo, as well as offering a wide variety of educational opportunities.

The zoo is also a favorite spot to celebrate birthdays, meet for a family reunion, or adopt an animal and help care for a critter. The zoo, food service, and gift shop are open from mid-April through September. Other family-fun activities at the zoo are the Funland Amusement Park and a skate park.

WORTH THE TRIP: THE BUTTERFLY HAVEN

Located just 40 miles away in Pingree, the Butterfly Haven is Idaho’s largest butterfly house and a fun spring and summer day trip from Idaho Falls. A dream turned reality run by Karen and Randy Reed, the Butterfly Haven houses stunning and colorful butterflies like monarchs, buckeyes, painted ladies, and so many more inside a lovely greenhouse space. The Butterfly Haven educates visitors on the importance of butterflies, as well as bees to pollinate nearly 75 percent of all flowering plants. Don’t miss this truly unique and peaceful experience.

Outdoor Fun

Idaho Falls is your gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national park. But you don’t have to head out of town just yet to enjoy outdoor adventure sure to delight the entire family. Idaho Falls has 39 parks throughout the city and is home to the Idaho Vietnam Memorial. Challenging golf courses with reasonable greens fees beckon golfers to one of the three championship courses and a six-hole short course. Come winter, many courses offer cross-country skiing on beautifully groomed tracks.

If you believe “there’s nothing like a cold sheet of ice to keep a child out of hot water,” then you’ll want to know about Idaho Falls’ ice-skating rink: Joe Marmo/Wayne Lehto Ice Arena, by the zoo in Tautphaus Park.

Budding anglers can head to Ryder Park where two fishing ponds are open to the public and perfect for a family fishing experience. Bring the kids to practice casting and catch a trout or two. In the winter, the city streets are a winter wonderland, and the outdoor pursuits happen on snow and ice.

River Walk

One of the most vibrant parts of Idaho Falls, the Idaho Falls River Walk and Falls is no doubt the heart and soul of the city. Explore the paved trail system that runs for five miles on each side of the Snake River. Stroll, walk, or jog the path and visit the city parks and Historic Downtown along the way, or use the path for easy access to restaurants and shopping. In the summer, don’t miss the farmer’s market or free concerts on Memorial Drive.