4 compelling reasons to add Twin Falls, Idaho to your travel bucket list

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affected the travel sector in 2020, but with continued limitations on international travel to numerous destinations, many Americans are opting for nearby adventures. This surge in interest has resulted in extended airline wait times, car rental shortages, and overcrowding at popular national parks.

Our family's travel experiences over the past 18 months reflect this trend as well.

In the year leading up to the pandemic, we explored Spain, Chile, Bolivia, London, and northern Italy. However, since returning from Italy on December 1, 2019, we've only traveled within the United States, visiting places like the North Carolina mountains, the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland (to take advantage of the Work from Hyatt program), and Duluth, Minnesota.

Recently, we enjoyed our most memorable trip since the pandemic began: a week-long getaway in Twin Falls, ID.

Here’s why this charming town in southern Idaho deserves a spot on everyone’s travel itinerary.

The Snake River

One of the most striking reasons to explore Twin Falls is the stunning Snake River and its namesake canyon located just north of the city. This river stretches over 1,000 miles, beginning in western Wyoming and eventually merging with the Columbia River in southeast Washington before flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The breathtaking view of the canyon as you approach the city on Highway 93 is truly captivating, and the local visitor center is an excellent first stop, offering a spectacular vista of the Perrine Bridge spanning the canyon.

Yet, it’s not only the picturesque scenery of the Snake River Canyon that warrants a visit; there's also a multitude of activities available along its banks.

On our first full day in town, we took a 40-minute drive downriver to Hagerman, ID, where we joined Idaho Guide Service for an exhilarating whitewater rafting adventure. Despite the heatwave affecting the western U.S. in early July, making it quite warm by our 11:30 a.m. launch, the refreshing waters of the Snake River provided the perfect relief from the heat.

Our adventure included navigating class one, two, and three rapids, which thrilled our six-year-old daughter (the minimum age for this tour). After a break for a picnic lunch — arranged by the tour company for an additional fee — we floated through the next series of rapids, a fantastic way to immerse ourselves in the region's beauty.

We revisited the canyon several times throughout the week, initially to admire the stunning Shoshone Falls (often called the "Niagara of the West," though it's notably smaller during summer) and then for a zip-lining adventure with AWOL Adventures in Centennial Park. However, our most memorable experience came on our final afternoon when we reserved a combo boat-kayak tour with AWOL to the foot of Shoshone Falls.

Following a swift ride to Pillar Falls, our group climbed into kayaks for a two-mile journey to Shoshone. This offered us a unique perspective of the falls, different from the view at the canyon's summit — complete with a refreshing swim and some cave exploration. After paddling the two miles back downstream, we enjoyed ample time to relax in the natural pools near Pillar Falls.

As residents of Florida, we love spending summer by the water, but the mesmerizing beauty of the Snake River was a breathtaking experience unlike any we had encountered before.

After all our adventures, we developed quite the hunger for some exquisite food. Fortunately, Twin Falls came through with plenty of delicious options.

The cuisine

It's quite uncommon to go on a week-long trip and relish every single meal — but that was precisely our experience in Twin Falls. From our first night’s takeout from Scooter's Chillin' -n-Grillin' (yes, that’s really its name) to adhering to my daughter's cherished "Pizza Friday" ritual at Lucy's on our final evening, the food was truly exceptional.

Notable mentions included:

• Elevation 486: One evening, we enjoyed a delightful dinner with a canyon view (reservations for the outdoor patio 45 minutes before sunset are highly recommended), and we returned later for a quick happy hour after kayaking. This place could easily settle for average food and service, but we were impressed by the top-notch experience — plus, we even earned OpenTable points!
• Koto Brewing Company and Miler's Gate Brewery: We sampled these two downtown breweries on consecutive nights, both serving fantastic beer alongside amazing food. I genuinely can't recall which I preferred — so you'll have to visit both!
• Cloverleaf Creamery: After our rafting adventure, we made a pit stop in Buhl, ID on our way back to Twin Falls and savored some huckleberry ice cream (huckleberry is Idaho's state fruit). There's also a Cloverleaf stand at the 2nd South Market food hall — another excellent spot for diverse cuisine while in town.

Lastly, I must highlight Stevo's Restaurant in Heyburn, ID, about 40 minutes from Twin Falls. If you choose to enter Twin Falls via Salt Lake City (SLC) — as we did — make sure to stop for a meal here on your way in or out. This family-run establishment offers exceptional potato dishes (made from potatoes sourced directly from the owner’s farm) and boasts a lovely outdoor patio.

It was the ideal conclusion to a fantastic culinary adventure.

On the topic of locations beyond Twin Falls ...

The neighboring region

Initially, we thought this trip would offer us a ton of relaxation time. While downtime isn't necessarily a negative aspect of a vacation, Twin Falls isn't a large city, so we were unsure about the variety of activities available.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of activities to enjoy in the southern Idaho area.

Following our rafting adventure, our first significant excursion outside the city took us to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, and the $20-per-vehicle entrance fee was absolutely worth it. We made a point to arrive early to benefit from the cooler morning temperatures (and to dodge any potential crowds), granting us unobstructed access to the main attractions. Even if you explored every single trail along the short loop road, the preserve can easily be enjoyed in a day — just remember to bring a picnic, as amenities are limited within the park.

(Tip: If you're interested in exploring one or more caves, make sure to stop by the visitor's center when you arrive to obtain a free permit.)

On our return trip from Craters, we visited the Shoshone Ice Caves, a fascinating place that felt more tourist-oriented than anything else we experienced. Still, escaping the afternoon heat for sub-zero temperatures in a natural setting was incredibly refreshing — pun intended.

There are plenty of other activities within a two-hour drive of Twin Falls that we didn't have time to experience — including several hot springs (the idea of soaking in hot water while temperatures soared above 100 degrees was hardly enticing) as well as fly fishing and the Sawtooth National Forest. We're even contemplating a return visit this winter to possibly ski at Sun Valley.

The cost-effectiveness

Ultimately, we were amazed at how budget-friendly our trip turned out to be. Despite hearing numerous accounts of increased prices and outrageous fees from vacation rental platforms this summer, our very comfortable Airbnb was only $77 per night before a 10% discount for booking a week. This wasn’t a unique case, as many properties are similarly priced.

Our kayak tour was priced at $75 per person and lasted nearly four hours, while our whitewater rafting experience, also about four hours long, cost $80 for adults and $72 for our daughter — which included a fantastic lunch by the river. The ice caves tour was just $12 for adults and $8 for kids, lasting almost an hour.

One afternoon, we took a break from the heat to paint ceramics at Hands On, and it only set us back $45 for three pottery pieces along with all the necessary supplies (try to go on a Wednesday like we did for discounted studio fees).

We also discovered that the dining options were quite budget-friendly. Even our "splurge" meal at Elevation 486 — which included a bottle of wine, an appetizer, two main courses, and a generous tip — came to just over $125.

Getting to Twin Falls

Twin Falls is located in southern Idaho and has its own commercial airport: Magic Valley Regional Airport (TWF). Delta operates three daily flights from Salt Lake City (SLC), while United provides one daily service from its Denver (DEN) hub. However, considering layovers and limited flight choices, you might find one of the following travel options easier.

• Fly into Boise (BOI) and then drive approximately two hours to reach Twin Falls.
• Fly into Salt Lake City (SLC) and then drive about three hours to get to Twin Falls.

We chose the latter option, using Virgin Atlantic miles for a nonstop evening Delta flight from Orlando (MCO). After spending the night just north of Salt Lake City (and enjoying a delicious lunch at Sticky Bird), we had a relaxing drive to Idaho.

Final thoughts

When I mentioned to coworkers or friends that we were vacationing in Idaho, the response was almost always, "Why?" Indeed, part of our motivation for visiting Twin Falls was the fact that Idaho would be a new state for both my wife and daughter — the latter of whom has now explored 28 states in her six-and-a-half years.

However, after the trip, I can confidently say that everyone should consider a visit to Twin Falls.

With stunning landscapes, fantastic outdoor activities, and delicious cuisine — all in an affordable and easily accessible location — this charming city in southern Idaho offers plenty to enjoy.

All images by the author.