Visiting Pocatello (Idaho Falls, Teton, Hope: rental, travel, lease)

[breer23]

Hi all,

After months of preparation, my wife & I are finally coming back to Pocatello to take a longer look before deciding whether we are moving there in August. We had been through Pocatello for a day in the summer of 2006, and are excited to be coming back for a much closer look. We'll have three full days in town (with no travel involved), though some of that time will be spent with faculty & researchers at ISU.

My question is this: We'll have Saturday evening & all day Sunday to check out the area, socially. Please send some ideas of things we might want to check out while we are there that you don't find in the touristy brochures: local restaurants, hiking and nature (though we won't be able to ski), etc.

Thanks!

[cleosmom]

Well, the snow is practically melted and it's basically warmer read: above 32 degrees

I'm from Bonneville County and only go to Pokey on the rare occasion so I'm afraid I won't be of much help.

I do know they have a really unique and quaint downtown area where I'm certain you can find things that aren't in the brochures.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

[breer23]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Well, the snow is practically melted and it's basically warmer read: above 32 degrees

I'm from Bonneville County and only go to Pokey on the rare occasion so I'm afraid I won't be of much help.

I do know they have a really unique and quaint downtown area where I'm certain you can find things that aren't in the brochures.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

Thanks for the info, cleosmom!

Also (to everyone), we'll be looking to scout some areas for rental properties. Other than around the university, are there any particular areas that we should steer towards? I know picking will be a bit slimmer than for most, as we have two cats, but I'd like some more info than I can get online, which has mostly been from the Id. St. Journal and BengalDens.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by breer23

Hi all,

After months of preparation, my wife & I are finally coming back to Pocatello to take a longer look before deciding whether we are moving there in August. We had been through Pocatello for a day in the summer of 2006, and are excited to be coming back for a much closer look. We'll have three full days in town (with no travel involved), though some of that time will be spent with faculty & researchers at ISU.

My question is this: We'll have Saturday evening & all day Sunday to check out the area, socially. Please send some ideas of things we might want to check out while we are there that you don't find in the touristy brochures: local restaurants, hiking and nature (though we won't be able to ski), etc.

Thanks!

Well, breer23, if you were planning on shopping at Dillards in Pocatello, scratch that from your list. You'll have to go to Idaho Falls for both Dillards and the other anchors of Grand Teton Mall.

Dillards is closing in Pocatello. Employees and customers were just told last week.

Since you seem to like the college campus - college life feel, check out the Isubengal or contact the SUB at ISU to see what is going on. It probably depends on when you are going to visit.

Have a safe flight and I hope this is a worth while trip for you.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by breer23

Hi all,

After months of preparation, my wife & I are finally coming back to Pocatello to take a longer look before deciding whether we are moving there in August. We had been through Pocatello for a day in the summer of 2006, and are excited to be coming back for a much closer look. We'll have three full days in town (with no travel involved), though some of that time will be spent with faculty & researchers at ISU.

My question is this: We'll have Saturday evening & all day Sunday to check out the area, socially. Please send some ideas of things we might want to check out while we are there that you don't find in the touristy brochures: local restaurants, hiking and nature (though we won't be able to ski), etc.

Thanks!

Well, breer23, if you were planning on shopping at Dillards in Pocatello, scratch that from your list. You'll have to go to Idaho Falls for both Dillards and the other anchors of Grand Teton Mall.

Dillards is closing in Pocatello. Employees and customers were just told last week.

Since you seem to like the college campus - college life feel, check out the Isubengal or contact the SUB at ISU to see what is going on. It probably depends on when you are going to visit.

Have a safe flight and I hope this is a worth while trip for you.

[twinprism]

Breer23,
I've been away for a while and just saw your post.

Was it this past or coming weekend that you are visiting? If you've already visited I hope you had a good trip. If not here's some ideas:

Local restaurants:
I like the Grecian Key and Sanji's Taste of India on the same block of N. Main street, or Pasta Vino if your tastes are a bit more upscale. Buddy's is pretty Italian food with a unique dressing that is a Pocatello institution.

Rentals with Pets, there isn't really a good local source besides the ISJ, I can put you in touch with a Realtor who may know more if you would like.


It is kind of in between season for getting out into nature, and we've had an abnormally cold March, so there is still quite a bit of snow in the high country. We still have as much snow as we did mid season at Pebble Creek because it just hasn't melted. Even ifi you don't want to ski, you could drive up there for nice views of the valley. You could probably get some snowshoes at the wilderness center and go up West Fork in Mink Creek or if you are prepared for a little mud, City Creek in town might not be too bad. Temp is supposed to get into the 50s today though, and 56 tomorrow so it's getting better. It's been cold so things really haven't started to turn green yet. I think this is the ugliest time of year, though the snow on the mountains is still pretty contrasted with the brown mud.

MtnStates, Dillard's is planning on closing in May, which to me is a strange move as they expect Costco to bring some more shoppers into town, though they are not expected to open until fall. (still speculative)

[breer23]

Originally Posted by twinprism

Breer23,
I've been away for a while and just saw your post.

Was it this past or coming weekend that you are visiting? If you've already visited I hope you had a good trip. If not here's some ideas:

Local restaurants:
I like the Grecian Key and Sanji's Taste of India on the same block of N. Main street, or Pasta Vino if your tastes are a bit more upscale. Buddy's is pretty Italian food with a unique dressing that is a Pocatello institution.

Rentals with Pets, there isn't really a good local source besides the ISJ, I can put you in touch with a Realtor who may know more if you would like.


It is kind of in between season for getting out into nature, and we've had an abnormally cold March, so there is still quite a bit of snow in the high country. We still have as much snow as we did mid season at Pebble Creek because it just hasn't melted. Even ifi you don't want to ski, you could drive up there for nice views of the valley. You could probably get some snowshoes at the wilderness center and go up West Fork in Mink Creek or if you are prepared for a little mud, City Creek in town might not be too bad. Temp is supposed to get into the 50s today though, and 56 tomorrow so it's getting better. It's been cold so things really haven't started to turn green yet. I think this is the ugliest time of year, though the snow on the mountains is still pretty contrasted with the brown mud.

MtnStates, Dillard's is planning on closing in May, which to me is a strange move as they expect Costco to bring some more shoppers into town, though they are not expected to open until fall. (still speculative)

Thanks for the info, twinprism. We'll be in Pocatello beginning next weekend. The NE dept. chair knows of a realtor (wife of a faculty member) who is showing us around for an afternoon, and we'll also be trekking up to IF to meet some of the faculty there.

I recall that in northern AZ, spring wasn't the pretty season either, but with the snow still in the mountains, that will do just fine. Probably won't get any skiing of off-roading in (though we will have a rental SUV), but taking a drive up the mountain would definitely be on our list.

[Mtn. States Resident]

TwinPrism wrote:

MtnStates, Dillard's is planning on closing in May, which to me is a strange move as they expect Costco to bring some more shoppers into town, though they are not expected to open until fall. (still speculative)[/quote]

Thanks for the update, TwinPrism. I don't get the "business climate" in Pocatello. Announce a store is closing so employees panic (naturally), announce a Costco and who knows?

BTW - wasn't sure if I should have posted this in the thread about I.F. growth or not. One reason Costco hasn't opened in I.F. yet is the very thing about traffic congestion where you nailed it. You may or may not be aware of the ground they first had selected for the I.F. Costco.

Are you saying they will build a new building and be open by fall (Costco in Pocatello)? I know you do business in Idaho Falls - Pocatello and maybe many other cities, I don't know. I have to say I certainly can follow the Bonneville County/Idaho Falls developments and plans more easily than what happens in Pocatello.

In no way am I saying YOU are responsible, I'm saying I just get so lost trying to understand how annoucements get made in Pocatello. I sort of wonder if timing has something to do with it. What do you think?

Let us know, breer23, how the visit goes.

Oh, did you hear about the 4 new university teams selected to work with INL? You can go to the general INL website and see them. One is UC Santa Barbara, one is U. of NC and I've forgotten the other two. Their specific projects are listed... ......maybe you are involved, breer23, I don't know. If not, you might find the info useful.

[breer23]

Thanks for the foodie info, twinprism...any one else suggest some food finds - we'll be eating there for 4 days, so need a little variety!

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by breer23

Thanks for the foodie info, twinprism...any one else suggest some food finds - we'll be eating there for 4 days, so need a little variety!

Just noticed in another post that you'll be trekking up to IF for a few meetings. You might want to check out some of the places on the Greenbelt; The Snake Bite & Rutabaga's to name a few.

My favorite place for pizza is tucked away up in Heise Little bit of a drive, but we enoy that as well.