Travel Access
Southern Idaho has friendly people, gorgeous wilderness, and the serenity we all crave for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of our regular lives. To get to our cottage, you can fly into Twin Falls (drive in 45 minutes west), Pocatello (1:15 hrs E), Idaho Falls (1:45 hrs E), Hailey (2 hrs N), Idaho Falls (2 hrs), Salt Lake (2.5 hrs S), or Boise (2.5 hrs NW). In the winter, we recommend a 4-wheel drive.
Local Haunts
Albion is remote. We are 8 miles from the closes grocery store. You’ll probably want to grab food in Burley on your way in. Smith’s grocery is my favorite. Best hardware store is Ace in Rupert. Other than Walmart, shopping is limited. But a cute home decor shop in Burley is Real Deals. Lulu Bella Boutique is also great. Take small town speed limit signs in Idaho seriously. When the highway goes from 65, 45, to 25 mph (like in Declo), slow before you hit the sign. I cautioned Brad his first time in town and, sure enough, he was pulled over. Small population means more law enforcement per capita. Which I’m grateful for, because it is why Albion is so safe.
Happily, we have One Punch Pizza just down the street for delicious dine-in or take-out food. You can also pick up food, gift items, or ice cream a few doors down at Albion Mercantile. Creekside 66 gas station .7 miles up Hwy 77 also has supplies. Wick’s Steakhouse is down the road in Declo 8 miles from the cottage. For adult beverages & snacks, pool, darts, and live music on Saturdays, check out the smoky local tavern Shakers in Declo,. Our favorite for dinner is Morey’s Steakhouse (homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie – yum) alongside the Snake River. For the most incredible stuffed baked potatoes, check out Stevo’s in Heyburn (15 miles away). For yummy sandwiches, salads, and homemade cookies, go to Upper Crust Bistro and Grill in Heyburn. Want the biggest down-home breakfast for the best prices with the friendliest servers ever? You MUST go to the Wayside Cafe and order the biscuits and gravy. Other secret local favorites include El Caporal for Mexican food, Edith’s Café for delicious burgers and fries, Doc’s Pizza in Rupert, and Shon Hing for Chinese food.
Adventure Awaits
Haunted Mansions of Albion
This famous spook show is a short walk from the cottage. Our teens LOVE this tradition; guaranteed to freak out even the most stoic in your party. Although our little cottage is spook-free, it’s reputed to be the school marm’s house from The Normal School where the haunts are said to reside…
Pomerelle Mountain Resort
Best powder in the state, this family-owned resort 7 miles from the cottage is affordable and perfect for family fun. I grew up skiing here with a nickel in my mitten for hot chocolate at the lodge. Hot chocolate is no longer a nickel, but you’ll find lift tickets and food ridiculously affordable. You can rent ski and snowboarding equipment and arrange for ski lessons at the lodge. With an annual snowfall of 500 feet, Pomerelle is often the first resort to open in the state. It has two triple chairlifts and a beginner’s lift and 24 expertly groomed slopes. In the summer, Pomerelle has an 18-hole Frisbee disc course.
Lake Cleveland
A gorgeous snowmelt lake 20 minutes up the mountain, enjoy wild flower gazing, picnicking, hiking, canoeing, camping, and fishing. Stop to put your feet in the cold and refreshing Bennett Springs and take a drive to Mt. Harrison Fire Lookout. The view is incredible, and if you’re lucky you may spot local wildlife like deer, elk, antelope, coyote, bear, or mountain lion.
City of Rocks National Reserve
World renown for amazing rock climbing, birding, bike riding, photographing, camping, hunting, auto touring, horseback riding, and hiking, you’ll be awestruck by the spectacular sites of Castle Rock, City of Tall Spires, Steeple Rocks, and the Silent City. Stop at Camp Rock to see the axle grease “autographs” of wagon train pioneers from their journey on the Oregon Trail in the 1850s.
More, more, more
For a moderately difficult hike to a gorgeous snow-fed lake and great trout fishing and wildlife viewing, check out Independence Lakes Campground near Malta. You can take dogs on a leash. I recommend you have a 4-wheel drive for the bumpy drive there. Be warned, it is a 7-mile round trip hike with a steady 2,063 ft. climb. (Track it on the AllTrails app). Take snacks and water. What nobody else will tell you but we figured out, don’t try it if you’re old, lazy, or fat. 😉 For boating, waterskiing, and kayaking rentals on the beautiful Snake River, call Idaho Water Sports. Albion is famous for its four-wheeling and snowmobiling.
Things To Do Further Up the Road
Twin Falls Snake River Canyon
Twin Falls is 45 minutes west of Albion and a great day trip for explorers. We recommend huge Idaho breakfast at the Buffalo Café, lunch at Elevation 486 in full view of the amazing Perrine Bridge (famous for base and bungee jumping), and delicious happy hour at Milner’s Gate – Idaho Craft Brewery. If it’s a hot day and you want to picnic and swim, check out Dierkes Lake in Twin Falls, where I spent my adolescence sun basking to surf music. An awesome place for a big-group picnic, it’s next to the majestic Shoshone Falls. Twin Falls has all of the huge chain stores for convenient shopping like Home Depot and Costco as well as a cute shopping district.
Spelunking
I know I’m getting carried away here – but seriously you won’t know what you’re missing if I don’t tell you. When we were teenagers, we would 4-wheel in the desert and ditch each other in the clay caves. I couldn’t tell you how to get to those if I tried. But If you love geological history, the Shoshone Ice Caves and Mammoth Cave and Bird Museum are 85 miles away. The Bear Claw Trading Post tourist store about 10 miles past the ice caves is amazing for kids, with everything for sale from geodes, to coyote skulls, to silver jewelry. My favorite antique store, The Whistle Stop, is in Shoshone by the railroad tracks.
Ketchum & Sun Valley
Ketchum is a 2-hour drive north of Albion. We stay at the Best Western Kentwood Lodge, because it’s clean and quiet and right in town for walking. The historic Pioneer Saloon is the best steak dinner you’ve ever had, and Whiskey Jacques has raucous music and dancing. For shuffle board and adult beverages, stop at The Cellar Pub. This resort town has cute boutique shopping, but it’s pricey. Sun Valley has incredible intermediate to expert skiing, and you may even spot see a celebrity or two. Bring mosquito repellant if you plan to fish or hike. They always eat me alive up there, and it’s rare you don’t spot elk. If you are really looking for a decadent treat after a stunning hike in the area, book a massage at Zenergy.
Redfish Lake
Stunningly gorgeous Redfish Lake is further up Hwy 93 from Ketchum. Catching minnos with butterfly nets and collecting frogs in ice cream buckets at our annual family reunion in Redfish are among my favorite childhood memories. Redfish Corrals offers trail rides with pine lake views only Idaho has to offer. There is no more beautiful country in the world. We lovingly released dad’s and his beautiful wife, Susan’s, ashes by kayak there in 2015.
Our Favorite Southern Idaho Ghost Towns
If you can’t stop yourself because you’re overwhelmed with splendor, Stanley is further on and will not be a disappointment. I don’t know about you, but our family is NUTS about ghost towns. For little kids, these historic sites teach so much about the gold rush that developed Idaho in the 1800s. For adult kids, we never tire of learning about our ancestors among the ruins surrounded by the majestic Sawtooth Mountains. Our very favorite Idaho ghost towns Bayhorse and Custer with the Yankee Fork Dredge tour and museum. Located four hours north, we recommend you use the cottage as your base camp and head up there for a few days to explore. Stanley Idaho and Redfish Lake are our go-to addition to Albion. In fact, my dad asked that his ashes be spread at Redfish Lake in memorial. Stanley has amazing farm-to-table restaurants and breweries and the hikes near the lower Salmon are unparalleled in their beauty.
Links for more things to do:
https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/home
http://southernidaholiving.com/hunt_fish/ten-flies-for-idaho-guys-and-gals/
I want to make a special shoutout to our property management partner Trina at the Marsh Creek Inn. If I’m not available to answer questions, Trina is our right-hand-woman. 🙂
In the cabinet under the remote to the furnace/air conditioner is a collection of brochures for the fun things this area has to offer. Feel free to add to the collection if you run across anything unique. Most importantly, we hope you enjoy this beautiful and magical place. We are so excited to host your visit at our secret little Idaho getaway. Enjoy!
The Bennett Family
