Idaho
Where potatoes are just a small part of the story.
Boise · Twin Falls · Orchard
The Journey
Potatoes. That is all we thought we would see in Idaho! And that is probably the first thing most people think of when they think Idaho.
Visiting the state gave us an inside scoop on potatoes, and much more. We made a stop at Idaho’s magnificent Shoshone Falls and were surprised to learn that they are even taller than Niagara Falls. The surrounding canyon made the entire scene even more dramatic. It was really beautiful. The town of Twin Falls was charming, and we had a blast.
We visited the famous Big Idaho Potato Hotel, a giant potato sitting in the middle of the Idaho countryside, one of those wonderfully strange American roadside experiences that the girls could hardly believe was real.
In Boise, we visited the State Capitol, surrounded by a city that felt young, clean, and alive. We also visited the Aquarium of Boise, where we were able to reach into the open pool and touch the stingrays as they swam past us. It was a really nice experience.
And, of course, we had some delicious locally grown potatoes, because how could we not?
Beyond Boise, the landscape opened into mountains, farmland, rivers, and enormous stretches of open country where we hiked, meditated, and simply enjoyed being there.
That became my surprise about Idaho. We arrived expecting potatoes and discovered they were only a small part of the story.
Jewish Idaho
In Idaho, like in many states, we did not know much about the local Jewish story before arriving.
We made a stop at Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel in Boise, where we were met by the warmest community. Outside was a beautifully painted white bus belonging to the congregation, covered with a colorful tree. It was such a simple detail, but it gave the place so much character.
Standing there also reminded us of Moses Alexander, one of the early leaders of the congregation. He later served as mayor of Boise and became Idaho’s eleventh governor, as well as the first practicing Jewish governor in American history.
The synagogue itself was completed in 1896 and remains the oldest synagogue building in Idaho. Its beautiful architecture seemed almost unexpected in Boise, which made standing there even more special.
Jewish life in Idaho is small, but it is alive. Boise today has established Jewish life and Chabad, with smaller communities spread across other parts of the state.
What interested me was not the size of Jewish Idaho, but the commitment it takes to maintain it. In New York, Jewish infrastructure can sometimes feel automatic. In Idaho, every synagogue, minyan, kosher meal, and Jewish institution exists because somebody decided Jewish life should exist here too.
What Stayed With Me
What stayed with me about Idaho was how vibrant a state can be even when it is rarely in the news.
Yes, we saw the giant potato. We embraced the potato. We ate the potatoes. They became part of the trip.
But beyond that came another Idaho, open land, waterfalls, mountains, farmland, small communities, and a state with much more personality than I had expected.
That is one of the things I have loved most about traveling through all fifty states. The places we think we already know, or barely think about at all, are sometimes the ones that surprise us most.
Idaho may be famous for potatoes.
I am glad we went far enough to see what was growing around them.
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