Hagerman is home to over two hundred different species of fossil plants and animals. And, if you come out over memorial day weekend, May 25 – 27, you can experience all this fascinating history, plus tons of other fun diversions!

The list of fossilized creatures from this area includes Sabertooth Cat, a Hyena-like dog, Peccary, Mastodon, Otter, Bear, Shrew, Camel, and Ground Sloth and more. With over 3,000 new fossil fragments found each year, it is one of the most fossiliferous Pliocene-aged sites in the world. The monument also includes a portion of the Oregon Trail.

The Hagerman Fossil Beds Visitor Center

Hagerman Fossil Days Events

• A carnival Friday night with live music
• Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday
• The carnival continues on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.
• Parade winners announced at the carnival at 12:30 p.m.
• National Park Service (NPS) lab tours (various times on Saturday)
• Live music all afternoon on Saturday
• Sunday tours of the NPS labs continue

Location and Lodging

Events take place at the Hagerman City Park and State park. Peruse our list of Southern Central Idaho B&B‘s to find the right one for your trip.

Visited the Hagerman State Park?

We would love to hear about your prior trips to the park. If you have attended Fossil Days, was there a particular event you especially enjoyed?

For additional information on Idaho call 1-800-VISIT-ID

Challis Lilac Festival Events

North Custer Historical Museum Opening: May 24th – 26th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. This is the annual opening for the summer. There will be new displays of local history and artifacts from the local area, including Native American and some prehistoric items. A great way to learn more about the heritage of Challis and its local residents.

Show and Shine Car Show: May 31, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. At the Y Intersection in Challis – Many locals and out-of-towners bring their antique cars for this gathering! Stop by and enjoy the beautiful cars and relax in the park enjoying the sunshine.

Madsen Memorial Roping Contest at Challis Rodeo Grounds: May 31 – June 1

Land of Yankee Fork, Idaho State Park. photo courtesy of Idaho Parks & Recreation.

Veterans Custer County Memorial: June 7th. A Military Tribute at Land of Yankee Fork State Park. This day is a celebration honoring Custer County Veterans! It is also the Centennial Celebration of the Salmon Challis National Forest.

Salmon Challis National Forest Lilac Arts Festival: June 14 & 15, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Lilac Arts Fest at the Land of Yankee Fork State Park, off of Highway 93. The Lilac Arts Fest will feature fine Arts and Crafts by local and regional artisans and craftsman, and of course live music!

Round Valley Horse Show: June 21, Saturday: at Challis Rodeo Grounds.

10th Annual Mario D’Orazio Scholarship Golf Tournament: June 21, 10 a.m.

Central Idaho Lodging

Wherever your travels in the great state of Idaho bring you, make sure to check out our member bed and breakfasts as a great option for comfortable, clean and trustworthy accommodations.

For additional information on Idaho call 1-800-VISIT-ID

Here are some of the fun events taking place this month:

Confluence Grape and Grain. At 415 Main St. Lewiston April 19 from 6 – 9 p.m.
This is the 23rd annual confluence grape and grain, a beer and wine tasting and silent auction benefiting the Center for Arts & History and the Business Student Organization Scholarship Fund of Lewis-Clark State College. Enjoy wine and beer, hors d’ oeuvres, souvenir stem-less wine glass and a Silent Auction! Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at the LCSC Center for Arts & History, LCSC Business Division, Basalt Cellars, Riverport Brewing Company and Inland Cellular. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age as required by law.

Art Under the Elms. At the Lewis-Clark State College Campus April 26-28.
Shop and browse for fine, hand-crafted art and artisan work, featuring over 100 artists. Munch at the international food court with over 20 gourmet food vendors. With your family? Stop by the Family Fun Fair for tea with the Dogwood Fairies! All of this along with a community art mural and live entertainment. See all the festival info at the Art Under the Elms website.

Dogwood Concert: Shambala (Three Dog Night Tribute Band). At  Boomers’ Garden (301 Second Ave., Lewsiton) April 27 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Buy online at ticketfly.com

See the rest of the Dogwood Festival events on their website.

Need Lodging while Traveling in Idaho?

We encourage you to choose an Idaho B&B when looking for lodging during your travels. Along with supporting a local business owner, you get a chance to have unique accommodations and a delicious, hearty breakfast in the morning!

For additional information on Idaho call 1-800-VISIT-ID

Get ready for big horsepower, amazing drivers and navigators, spectacular boats and engines, and lots of fun in the small town of Riggins! On Idaho’s Salmon River, no one puts on a better jet boat show than Riggins – this is their 29th year!

This is an event that lets you in on the fun and thrill of race boating. There is speed, adventure, risk and a lot of challenge involved.

Watch for free from the river bank in Riggins as jet boat racers from Canada, Mexico, New Zealand & the U.S.A. compete in the final legs of the 2012 U.S.A. World Jet Boat Championship! Don’t miss the action as jet boats race up to 140 mph on one of Idaho’s most thrilling whitewater rivers!

Other than the jet boat races, there are also boat shows, raffles, classic cars and BBQ. Attend the races if you are not participating and get some memorabilia.

Start out the fun at the Show and Shine boat Show at Salmon Rapids Lodge on Friday.

Racers Preliminary Runs: 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Boats will be doing some preliminary runs on the river before the show for your entertainment.

Boat Technical Inspection: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Beside the Salmon Rapids Lodge in parking area

Welcome outdoor Bar-B-Q: 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Outside Salmon Rapids Lodge. Adults $10, Children $5

Have You Attended to Salmon River Jet Boat Races?

We would love to hear about your experience or see some of your photos. Leave a comment on the blog!

North Central Idaho Lodging

When traveling in the great state of Idaho, support a local business owner and be treated to unique lodging by staying in an Idaho bed and breakfast. We have member B&Bs all over the state!

 For additional information on Idaho call 1-800-VISIT-ID

If you are already a musher (one that leads a sled dog team) and want to participate in some competitions or learn more about happenings in the sport, come to Stanley Idaho on March 9 & 10.

This is the forth annual Sled Dog Rendezvous. Most of the events take place in the beautiful snow-covered hills surrounding Stanley, a quaint country setting. The Rendezvous features multiple mid-distance dog sled races and skijoring. Anyone is allowed to come and enjoy the competition as a spectator.

Sled Dog Rendezvous Schedule and Fees

Check-in begins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8th. There is a Mushers meeting at Mountain Village Restaurant at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Applications and fees can be turned in at meeting. Dinner will be provided.

Beautiful scenery abounds during the Stanley Sled Dog Rendezvous, March 9 & 10, 2013

Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 a.m. race information will be available and check-in will continue. At 8:30 a.m. the races start. Skijoring will start about 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 10th at 8:30 a.m. the second day of races begins. Skijoring is at 12:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. the awards presentation will take place. For further details, go to www.stanley.id.gov or call 208-774-2286.

Lodging in South Eastern Idaho

If in need of great lodging next time you are traveling through Idaho, please consider staying with one of our member bed and breakfasts. Along with superior service and amenities, you can look forward to a home-made, pipping hot breakfast every morning. Plus, you can feel good about supporting a local business owner. So take some time to explore an Idaho Bed and Breakfast near your destination!

This is one of the leading displays of wood art in the nation. Competitors of all skill levels will showcase their work. The event also includes vendors, raffles, auction and a banquet. Enjoy seeing pieces made by woodturning, carving, burning, marquetry, scrolling, gourds and intarsia.

Do You Carve Wood?

An entry from the 2011 show.

Be a participant in the show! Registration is the Friday before the show opens from 1-6 p.m. at the Boise Conference Center. The participation fee is $5 for registrations at the door.  Youth 16 and under may compete without cost.

Artistry in Wood Featured Artist

The 2013 featured artist is Liz Meyers. She is a gourd artist and has worked with this natural medium for the last dozen years. Here is her artist statement:

“Perhaps one of the most unique things about gourd art is that you are using something that you have grown from a seed, watched, watered, and talked to through the growing season; harvested; let dry and mold through the winter and then scrubbed clean to create a palate on which to work. They are dimensional, something you can hold in your hand and feel texture, smooth or rough, dense or lightweight, large or very small.  They have their own unique colorings, some very light and creamy and some dark and mottled. They can be woodburned, carved, or painted. They very much mimic wood in their characteristics except for one thing, their shape and size was determined as they grew.”

Need Lodging for the Wood Carving Show?

If you are planning on attending the show, consider staying in a Boise bed and breakfast during your weekend. Experience superior quality and make a friend or two!

About the Hampton Jazz Festival

For 46 years, the University of Idaho and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival brought together jazz masters and students of all ages to share and celebrate a truly American art form: Jazz music. The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has grown from a one-day event to an amazing four-day experience!

Having hosted thousands upon thousands of students, spectators, and artists – including Doc Severinsen, Bobby McFerrin, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, The Manhattan Transfer, and countless musicians from around the world – the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival now includes student performances, workshops, clinics and remarkable world-class evening concerts.

Artists Attending the 2013 Festival

Here are the musicians and when/where they are performing. All times are p.m. All locations are on the University of Idaho main campus:

• Hamp’s Club – Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 6:30 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Dee Daniels – Thursday 7:30 & 9 (Student Union Ballroom)
• Fred Hersch – Thursday 8 & 9:30 (Haddock Performance Hall)
• Trio da Paz – Thursday 8:30 & 10 (Auditorium of Administration Building)
• Take 6 – Friday 8 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Jeff Hamilton trio – Friday 8 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Regina Carter – Friday 8 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Sara Caswell – Friday 8 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Shawn Conley – Wednesday 8-11 (Student Union Ballroom)
• Bruce Forman – Wednesday 8-11 (Student Union Ballroom)
•  Kevin Kanner – Wednesday 8-11 (Student Union Ballroom)
• Josh Nelson – Wednesday 8-11 (Student Union Ballroom)
• Traincha Oosterhuis – Saturday 8:30 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Maceo Parker – Saturday 8:30 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Byron Stripling – Wednesday 8-11 (Student Union Ballroom)
• Aaron Weinstein – Friday 8 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)
• Warren Wolf – Saturday 8:30 (ASUI Kibble Activity Center)

Lodging Near the University of Idaho

If you are looking for lodging during your stay in Moscow, we encourage you to support a local business owner by staying at a bed and breakfast. We have several member inns in town, as well as others in the areas surrounding the college town. Let us be your hosts!

The 2013 Winter Carnival events include favorites from past years including the cool Rail Jam, Cirque de Sandpoint, downtown bonfire, the Schweitzer Extravaganza and more. And, the very popular Skijoring will return as well. Let’s start with this event…

Skijoring – One Horse, One Rope, One Skier.

Combining two favorite pasttimes – skiing and horseback riding – Ski Joring involves horses and riders pulling skiers at high speeds around a course of jumps and gates. Some folks use dogs for these events, but not Sandpoint. These folks are speed junkies!

Ski Joring is an equally exciting show for spectators and everyone’s invited to watch the action. There will be booths, food, and some fun surprises. Skijoring is taking place on February 16 & 17 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds (two miles north of Sandpoint), in the rodeo arena.

The competition starts at noon and gates open at 11 a.m. Admission is $3 but parking and children under 12 are free and each paid admission will receive a raffle ticket to win great prizes. Vendors will be present so don’t worry about getting hungry or thirsty at the event…root for your favorite winter cowboys and cowgirls!

Downtown Rail Jam and Bonfires

One of the biggest events of Winter Carnival, the rail jam is a freestyle contest where skiers and snowboarders put up their best acrobatic moves while sliding on handrails and other man-made features. The Rail Jam is on Friday February 15th. Points are awarded for style, amplitude, difficulty and variety. Spinneybent Rails provides a rail jam setup that’s 30 feet wide and 100 feet long rail with two features, a handrail and box. Riders compete for prizes from 7B Boardshop and other sponsors. Spectators can keep warm and catch the excitement by roaring bonfires.

Sandpoint Lodging for Winter Festival

Look forward to a great night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast when you choose an Idaho bed and breakfast for your accommodations when in Sandpoint.

The town is renowned for it’s natural hot springs (hence the name “Lava Hot Springs”) but there are some pretty chilly events at this festival as well! Taking place the first weekend in February: 1-3, 2013.

The zaniest event is probably the Polar Bear Float – Jump into the freezing water dressed in your craziest costume, and float down the river on an inner tube!  In the past, costumes like the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and members from the infamous band KISS have made appearances floating down the Portneuf. Join in the jump for a chance to win prizes and maybe international fame!
The Polar Bear Float takes place on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Another fun event taking place on Saturday is the torchlight parade. Watch daredevils ski down the L Mountain with torches in hand, creating a beautiful trail of traveling light. This is best viewed from Main Street and Center (Shawn’s Market) about 6 p.m. Then join in the ceremonies by lighting up the night with floating sky lanterns. Lanterns will be sold at Lava Java (202 E. Main Street) with the mass launch at approximately 6:15 p.m. Purchase a lantern and join in for one of the dazzling traditions of the festival.

On Sunday morning, watch or participate in another zany event, the running of the bulls. Starting at 11 a.m., this is a foot race (for humans) from one set of hot springs, at the Lava Hot Springs Inn, to the other end of town, where participants jump into another set of steaming pools at Lava’s World Famous Hot Pools. Watch or join in this hilarious race, where everyone is wearing flip flops and bathing suits!

Get more information and a full schedule of events at the Fire and Ice Winterfest website.

Check out bed and breakfast lodging in Lava Hot Springs and the surrounding area.

Check out that Winchester Lake State Park Ice Fishing Derby, held Saturday, January 26th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Try your hand at Ice Fishing during the Winchester Idaho Ice Fishing Derby, January 26th.

There will be two categories: 12 years old and under or 13 and above. Prizes to be awarded to top three places in both categories. Some rules to keep in mind:
*Only trout will be considered
*Longest combined length of legal, six fish limit
*Fish must be measured by 2:00 PM at the boat launch to be eligible
*Bring your own food and beverage

Simply register at the boat launch at 8 a.m. and pay the $5 park entry fee.

1st Annual Cascade Ice Fishing Derby

This year, Cascade will also hold an ice fishing derby. It takes place the same day as the event above – so depending on where you are, you can choose between one of these two events. Come to the American Legion in Cascade for an entry ticket around 6 a.m., before heading to Cascade Lake. Cost is $25 and all funds benefit the Idaho Youth Outdoors Assoc. This competition includes cash prizes up to $500 for perch, rainbow trout and junk fish!  Get more details on the ice fishing derby website.

Need Lodging for your Visit?

Whether its Cascade or Winchester, we have comfortable and welcoming lodging throughout the state of Idaho. By choosing an Idaho bed and breakfast, you support local businesses. So, if you’re heading to Winchester, check out our Northern Central bed and breakfasts or if Cascade Lake is your destination, check out our local South Western Idaho bed and breakfasts in the area.