A Good Day for a Staycay

BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

We’re all feeling the need to get out extra hard these days, a sentiment left over from years of looking forward to summer

vacation and the absence of school. Even into adulthood, the first signs of summer instigate a little twinge of that travel bug, despite the fact that most of us are still working for most of the summer. Still, this is a great time (under normal circumstances) to get away for awhile. But even if we feel like Covid-19 is canceled, it isn’t--we’re still encouraged to limit travel and wear masks out in public.

Locally, people are traveling mostly for leisure, says Steve Steading, General Manager at The Grove and Hotel 43. Though a few corporate travelers have passed through, most folks are looking for an easy vacation in which they can drive from point A to point B with little hassle. Idaho hotels fit the bill--The Grove, Hotel 43, and Courtyard by Marriott Boise Downtown are all looking to the Center for Disease Control for guidance regarding safety protocols. “We disinfect everything after each guest as usual, but we’ve added additional layers. We’re spraying everything with a 24/7 disinfectant. We’re requiring our employees to wear masks, and we’ve got access to thermal readers for temperatures. We’ve also taken high-touch items out of rooms, though most things are available if requested,” explains Steading. At The Grove, they’ve also added additional seating and more sanitation procedures in Trillium, the inhouse restaurant.

Vicki Carley, the regional director of sales for Block 22 hotels, says that this has been the hardest three months she’s ever experienced in her hospitality career. “It’s been really hard seeing events canceled, and we’re excited to bring people into the city,” she says.

But what exactly does a Boise staycation offer? Plenty,

agree Carley and Steading. If you’re looking for a downtown experience, look no further than The Grove, Hotel 43, or the Courtyard by Marriott Boise Downtown.

CITY DWELLER

For families, a downtown hotel is the way to go. “There’s such a wide variety of things to do. A family of four with different interests can find something for everyone,” says Steading.

If you’re interested in exploring Boise, there are a lot of great options within walking distance, pandemic or not. The Grove offers a cool Boise Brew Trail package that offers special deals on walkable breweries and, as a summer promotion, free parking, so there’s no need to worry about your car. If you want to see the city via bike, Hotel 43 and The Grove offer free bikes for checkout, so you can see your city through different eyes.

In fact, you don’t

REASONS to book even have to leave a downtown Boise your hotel. At the staycation: Courtyard Marriott, • Get out of the house! located across from • Try a new restaurant the Whole Foods, • • Ride bikes around the city Enjoy a pool or hot tub guests have access to a great courtyard. “People don’t realize • Room service how pretty it is,” explains Carley. “There’s a fire pit and overstuffed chairs, and guests often take their beer or beverage out to gather there.”

Hotel 43, named because Boise is on the 43rd parallel in the 43rd state, is a great place to simply stay in your room too. Offering PURE® Wellness Allergy-Friendly rooms, a patented 7-step purification process that removes 99.99% of pollutants and allergens, Hotel 43 guests are likely to get a great night’s rest at the only hotel of its kind in the state. Chandlers Steakhouse also connects to the Hotel 43 lobby and offers room service to guests, so you can relax in your jetted tub while you wait for your gourmet dinner.

At Trillium at The Grove, you can dine on local favorites (trout, huckleberries) or enjoy something a little more unique like tomato ice cream. If you want to work out (even if you aren’t a guest), check out the panoramic views that make the treadmill feel less like punishment, and go for a swim at the beautiful indoor pool and hottub. There are nutritionists, personal trainers, and everything you could want in a fitness facility.

EXPLORE IDAHO

From downtown Boise, you’re a quick drive to so many places, which makes it a great place to base your staycation. Head to Bruneau Sand Dunes or Hells Canyon and be back in time for dinner. Check out Idaho City, McCall, or Sun Valley, or one of the many great Boise attractions. Go for a hike, see some birds of prey, or ride your rental bike along the Boise River. Or ask the front desk attendants for recommendations--they’re sure to have ideas you haven’t yet considered.

Behold the staycation, a perfect solution to your travel woes, and one with a plethora of advantages. When you’re traveling in your city, you don’t have to pack a lot. You don’t have to rely on a too-small data plan to help you navigate unfamiliar roads, and you’re not going to spend a lot of money on fuel. If you forget something, you probably already know where the closest Target is (you know, in case you want to preserve the illusion that you can’t just pop into your home).

And, Idaho perk alert--if you’re staying at The Grove, enjoy a special resident rate!

Hotel 43 and the Grove offer free bikes to explore downtown. The greenbelt is easy to access.

For over 100 years, the McLeod family has lived on and cared for the thousands of acres that comprise Avimor. Avimor was part of a larger ranch known as the Spring Valley Ranch, which traces its roots to 1890 when a small ranching community known as “Howell” began to thrive in the area. It was an 80 acre ranching settlement that boasted a general store, blacksmith shop, and post office. In 1916, Colin McLeod, a Scottish immigrant, arrived in Howell and purchased what became known as the Spring Valley Ranch.

Colin McLeod raised his family on the ranch and began to purchase surrounding parcels, ultimately growing the foothills ranch to about 37,000 acres. The ranch stayed in the hands of the McLeod family, passing from Colin McLeod., to Colin “Smokey” McLeod II., and then on to Colin “Sandy” McLeod III. Conservation and land stewardship have always been a priority of the McLeod Family. They were implementing sustainable practices many decades before it became popular to do so. It is their heritage of land stewardship that is the basis for The Avimor Master Plan. In early 2000, Sandy McLeod and his family sought to develop a “place” where the land was preserved for future generations and folks could live side-by-side with nature. The McLeod’s desired a smalltown feel, a community where kids could freely enjoy the outdoors and residents could get to know their neighbors.

The McLeod family considered many alternatives for development. They first considered selling individual parcels, resulting in a patchwork quilt of development throughout the foothills. They decided, however, that a master plan concept with an emphasis on conservation and small town values would be the best way to meet their vision for the land.

As the McLeod’s and planners began planning, one of their primary goals was to find a way to alleviate the natural conflict between private development and conservation of the scenic foothills. They decided on cluster development. Cluster building, also known as conservation design, requires planners to consider environmental features and natural areas while designing any development. It is a way to avoid the simple “checkerboard” development and instead integrate trails, natural open space, creek beds, and parks into the design. Scenic resources and native habitat are preserved while still allowing public access and recreational use.

Avimor has set the standard for inclusive conservation-based communities. Like the foothills it’s built on, Avimor is living and growing. The plan is well designed with conservation at the forefront. The foothills lifestyle is affordable and open to all.

Located North on Highway 55 a Mile Above Shadow Valley Golf Course Model Homes Open Daily 10 am - 5 pm 208-939-5360 • www.avimor.com Marketed by Epic Realty LLC • RCE 35084