Stanley, Idaho: Soul of the Sawtooths
On our way to pick our daughter up from camp last week we were fortunate to have a little extra time to poke around in central Idaho. This was an area I was very familiar with, as I attended the same camp for 8 years when I was younger. I had not, however, spent any time in Stanley, Idaho.
It was a super cute little town with absolutely STUNNING views of the Sawtooth mountain range. There were several little hotels and cabins, a gas station, and a couple of restaurants in town making it the perfect stop for your adventures in the area. While we didn’t get to spend a ton of time there, I just wanted to share our experience with you.
Dining in Stanley:
We were able to enjoy 3 meals in Stanley. Once on the way to drop off my daughter and the other 2 times on the way back to pick her up. On the way to drop her off we stopped for lunch and ate at the Mountain Village Resort restaurant. The views are amazing, the food was good, and the service was fantastic. While we ate inside, they also had a really nice patio. You could sit and have great views of the mountains while you enjoyed the fresh mountain air.
Both the second and third time that we ate in Stanley, we stopped at Peaks and Perks. Its a small coffee shop right near the Mountain Village Resort. They have a huge selection of amazing coffees, baked goods, smoothies and more. I could not recommend it enough! My favorite item was their iced White Avalanche Mocha, it was absolutely delicious! I would also recommend trying their lavender lemonade. It was the perfect drink for a hot day.
Shopping :
While there aren’t a ton of shops in Stanley, Idaho, there is one that you absolutely NEED to stop at if you’re in the area. The Made in Idaho store is one of the coolest stores I have been to yet! It’s like a farm store meets high mountain art festival, and it has some beautiful and unique items that you do not want to miss!
If you’re looking for groceries, a quick sandwich for the road, or some quick souvenirs, make sure to stop at the Mountain Village Mercantile. They have a wide variety of groceries, toys, and even clothing and shoes. Basically if you forgot something, they’ll probably have it. Their deli sandwiches looked really good as well if you want something to take on a picnic elsewhere.
Last but not least, if you are looking for more high end gear (thing national outdoor brands) then you’ll want to stop over at Riverwear, right next to the Mountain Village Resort. They have everything you need to gear up for an outdoor adventure. They have a really nice selection and they had some great sale prices. Definitely worth dropping by the see what they have!
Nearby Attractions:
Sunbeam Mine Historic Site: Visit the site of the old Sunbeam Mine. Learn how the miners lived, and view what’s left of the dam.
Sunbeam Hot Springs: A beautiful natural hot springs along the Snake River with a historical stone bath house.
Redfish Lake: A beautiful high mountain lake with views you can’t miss!
