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The panhandle might as well be another state. It has much more in common with Western Montana and Eastern Washington than with the rest of Idaho. They do share that Northwest laid-back vibe, I guess.
CDA is much wetter, cloudier, and colder on average compared to Boise, cabin fever really sets in as the winter drags. The plus side to that is it has near perfect summers and is very green and beautiful while Boise is pretty brown and can be almost too hot at times in the summer months.
If you like snow sports, winter in the north won't be an issue. Alpine and cross country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, etc. There are plenty of indoor activities as well if you just get out and do them. Triple Play in Hayden and Silver Mt in Kellogg have good indoor water parks. Basketball, racquetball, indoor pools, health clubs, movies theaters, roller skating, etc. Things for active kids and adults. Cabin fever tends to be self-induced from what I've seen in most cases, or can hit people who are less mobile/active. But if you're not big on long dark gray winters, north Idaho is NOT the place for you.
Can someone share the difference in weather between CDA and Boise ?
Is CDA that much colder in winter ?
Also can someone share the difference in "vibe" between those two cities ?
Sage hit it right on considering weather. CD'A gets colder with more snow in the winter than Boise does. Boise gets hotter during the summer but it is tolerable, but this is Idaho heat not Arizona heat. A lot of us in Boise generally like the summer heat. It is great for growing huge heirloom tomato's in your back yard.
Here is my take on the difference in the vibe between the two cities. CD'A is smaller, has more of a touristy vibe because of being right on a lake and feels, and I mean this in a good way, backwoodsy sophisticated, artistic and laid back. Boise is much larger, fast paced (for Idaho), is the government, finance, and business center of the state and also has BSU in the downtown area, so lots of younger and older creative and professional people, and has sophistication and artistry too. Both cities also have similar vibes, but I'm familier with both cities well so it is my take on it.
Both cities are outdoorsy, and big on bikes and being fit and active. Both host Ironman each year, both have claims to having the states largest collection of high rise buildings. Both have a ski mountain in close proximity. CD'A is obviously built in the woods, Boise is a green, urban forested, and verdant city in the high desert with deep woods a half hours drive away. So, in some respects in Boise we have the best of both worlds, the forested mountains at the back door, which continue unbroken all of the way up to North Idaho, and beautiful desert scenery to our south to check out. On the weekends it is like, do I want to go check out deep desert canyons or head up to the forests and sit in a hot spring along a river, tons of choices. The sunsets in the Treasure Valley are the most beautiful I have seen anywhere in Idaho.
Quote:
Originally Posted by runnerguy45
Sage,thanks for the reply. This past suummer I was in Utah and the furthest north i got was Bear Lake, I guess CDA looks much different ?
I grew up in Eastern Idaho and not far from Bear Lake. Bear Lake is much more arid than the CD'A area. Imagine the land around Bear Lake covered in moist forests and you would have similar scenery to CD'A. Although in Bear Lake, on the Idaho side you can access forests pretty easily in the mountains directly on the east side of the lake.
I just saw where in Boise it looks like you can get a nice house for $200,000, looks like you can get a nice bungalow for $150,000. 3 bedrooms , 2 baths type deal. I looked at the CDA area and it looked a bit more expensive but its hard to tell because I don't know the areas and such. I saw homes in Post Falls that seemed reasonable but know nothing of the area. I really wish I had drove up there when I was in Utah back in June.
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