Campers and nature lovers will find acres of rolling hills, wooded areas, sparkling waters and natural wildlife in the north and north central regions of Idaho. Panoramic views of breathtaking mountains line Lake Pend Oreille, Priest Lake and Coeur d'Alene Lake, which are in close proximity to north Idaho cities and towns such as Hayden, Pinehurst, Kellogg, Blanchard, Prichard, Mullen and Bonners Ferry. The towns of north central Idaho feature numerous forest preserves and wilderness recreation areas. Those towns include Cottonwood, Grangeville, Whitebird, Pierce, Potlatch, Elk River, Kooskia and Lewiston.
There is also plenty to do and see in the southern regions of Idaho. Southwest Idaho is home to Boise -- one of the largest metropolitan areas in the state -- and McCall, a historical vacation destination since the 1800s, now popular for skiing and snowboarding. Other southwestern towns include Glenns Ferry, Horseshoe Bend, Silver City and Warm Lake, all withing driving distance of the Snake River Birds of Prey Area. South central Idaho residents and visitors to Hagerman, Hansen, Hollister, Twin Falls, Wendell and Minidok can enjoy the City of Rocks National Reserve, a Minidoka Wildlife Refuge.
Eastern Idaho has a just as much character and natural beauty as the southern regions of the state. Idaho Falls is not only known for its 14 miles of wooded mountain-view trails of the Snake River Greenbelt, the city is true to its name, boasting a natural waterfall in the center of the community. Driggs, Idaho features outstanding mountain views from the Teton Valley at the bottom of the Big Hole Mountains that border the Wyoming state lines. Rexburg is widely known for its abundance of camping and recreational areas, RV parks, cabins, cottages and lodging facilities. Other eastern Idaho cities include Island Park, St. Anthony and Swan Valley.
Central Idaho has all the natural wonder of its neighboring regions, with an added bit of glamor. The central Idaho town of Sun Valley is historically known for being one of the first ski resort destinations in the country. Typically popular among wealthy ski enthusiasts, Sun Valley is known to be the vacation community of celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Central Idaho is also home to the cities of Fairfield, Hailey, Arco, Bellevue and Mackay, as well as Wood River Valley and the Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve.
If you're interested in exploring the more metropolitan areas of Idaho, you'll find that The Gem State features some rather large cities, based on population. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the 10 largest cities in Idaho have populations ranging between 17,257 and 185,787. The largest city in the top 10 was Boise. Others included, in descending order, Nampa, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Coeur D Alene, Twin Falls, Caldwell, Moscow and Rexburg.
