Nature Within Reach— Boise Area Skiing

By Stephanie Olsen

Idaho is a state known for its abundant and varied natural beauty. This winter, I explored Idaho’s west central mountains with one thing on my mind—hitting the slopes as a family! We were welcomed to Boise by the stylish, well-appointed Hotel 43, located in the heart of downtown Boise. Named for their location on the 43rd parallel and for Idaho as the 43rd state in the union, Hotel 43 is a lovely northwestern destination with pleasing city and mountain views, impressively immaculate rooms and convenience to downtown entertainment. We feasted on amazing international cuisine, enjoyed shops and the river greenbelt all within blocks of the hotel and the capitol. Charming Boise offers a small city atmosphere that is downright comfortable. It feels safe and offers city amenities, all with a laid-back vibe. The Hotel 43 Arts Passport, which includes complementary tickets to the Boise Art Museum, makes it simple to enjoy a cultural visit. However, this trip we hit the slopes to explore the close proximity of Boise to the mountains. Hotel 43 offers military members standard rooms for only $85 with ID.

I found it interesting that Bogus Basin mountain recreation area is a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Bogus was built and continues to expand with the vision of a community-run snow mecca. They tout the fact that they are the ski area that brought affordability back to the sport! The terrain was welcoming to my family’s varied skill levels (especially their expansive beginner/intermediate runs from seven chairlifts, 2,600 skiable acres) and we were particularly impressed by the friendly, helpful staff and patrons on this mountain. Initially as we drove up the mountain out of Boise, I was worried by the lack of snow. 16 miles later (after a somewhat thrilling drive), we arrived and found that Boise’s moderate climate offers direct access to the mountains tops, sporting great snow and sunshine. Servicing the mountain from 10 am-10 pm daily—even professionals can take some turns on the hill after work. Bogus offers military members a generous 50% off daily lift tickets, rentals and walk-in lessons with ID, as well as purchase of $239 Alpine/Nordic season passes ($89 Nordic only).

And then there was McCall. This quaint, mountain resort town captured my heart like few others. In less than two hours of scenic driving north of Boise, one finds McCall nestled in the forested mountains, the valley filled with lakes, rivers and breathtaking vistas. This small town is a regional favorite, especially for the outdoor enthusiast. Downtown McCall overlooks Lake Payette, with resorts and luxury homes lining the southern shore. Famous for their Winter Carnival and year-round outdoor activities, McCall is memorable to say the least. The Hunt Lodge Holiday Inn Express offers well-rounded, family-friendly accommodations with exceptional customer service and a style that reflects McCall’s natural beauty. The hotel is filled with various hunting trophies and offers a full, complimentary breakfast buffet, welcoming guests visiting McCall for a myriad of activities: skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, tubing, romantic getaways, hot springs and local sports events. To top it off, this hotel has by far, the best hotel pool and over-sized spa we’ve seen. Housed in a beautiful, lodge-style wing of the hotel, even spectators can enjoy the picturesque pool. Military members qualify for $80 room rates (with some black-out dates, please inquire).

We loved our visit to Brundage Mountain Resort, known for plentiful snow with the highest average snowfall in the state! After only a comfortable 20-minute drive from McCall, we dropped my youngest off at Brundage Bears ski school, a kid-friendly, modern, clean facility. I was thrilled with the amount of progress she made in only one day at Brundage, which offers a wide array of lesson choices and plentiful beginner/intermediate terrain. As for my intermediate skiers, they zoomed around exploring new areas all day long, while I played in the trees on the expert terrain with my oldest. They offer a “Go with a Pro” option on weekends to help you improve skills and find appropriate terrain. Brundage is a great mountain, much bigger than expected, with five chairlifts and 1,500 acres of skiing, and a cozy atmosphere that will please all skill levels, including the adventurous ones who may want to experience the Snow Cat adventures (19,000 available acres). Active military can purchase season passes for only $199 and get $5 discount off day passes (also check into group pricing).

This trip was a memorable peek in to what Idaho has to offer—Boise, a bustling city within easy reach of the outdoors, complemented by McCall: a cozy, idyllic town that exemplifies a nature lover’s dream destination. Both delivered with good times and happy memories on the ski slopes for my entire family.