Bed and Breakfast Inns Across Idaho

We’re kicking off our list with the oldest hostelry in northern Idaho, aptly named The Northern Hotel. Located on Priest Lake in Coolin, Idaho, this two-story log hotel was built in 1900 and restored into an inns in 1993. You can choose from six rooms named for a geographic feature of Priest Lake, or guests can reserve the whole place. While all of the suites feature period antiques, old lake cabin furnishings, and handcrafted quilts, two have sitting rooms and private bathrooms, and two other rooms have separate entrances.

Enjoy the private dock where you can safely swim and moor your boat after a day spent on the lake. Or, spend your day on the large deck in front of the inn, watching the activity on the water while you share lunch at the shaded picnic tables. The stone fire pit on the deck and the stone fireplace in the parlor are the perfect places to reminisce about your adventure as the day turns to night. 

Continuing on, we find a unique and elegant ranch experience known as Elkhorn Bed and Breakfast tucked away in Mesa, Idaho. This working goat and sheep farm welcomes you to stay amongst friendly dogs, goats, lambs, and horses. Your guest room is a comfortable place to disconnect (there’s no Wi-Fi but cell reception is good) and features charming western decor, a king bed, and an ensuite bathroom inside the log home. 

The food here is a real treat. You can savor farm-to-table dishes with milk and cheese made from the farm’s goats, as well as other locally sourced ingredients. The signature ranch house breakfast includes favorites like eggs, hash browns, sausage, homemade bread, and fresh fruit. It’s the perfect start to a day spent hiking or simply soaking up the ranch atmosphere while admiring views of the Weiser River watershed and Payette National Forest.

As we reach the high country, we find ourselves one-half mile from the Utah border at The Blue Bird Inn. Located in Fish Haven, Idaho, the inn is surrounded by the Bear Lake Valley and overlooks the shores of Bear Lake. You can choose from five themed rooms: anniversary, bear, beehive, bluebird, and hummingbird. While the rooms look different, they each have a shower, tub and double sinks, and a fireplace. Should you want lots of space or are seeking more privacy, you can choose The Apartment. This accommodates from two up to eight guests and comes complete with two full bathrooms and full kitchen privileges to prepare your own meals.

There’s also a dining area, where you can join fellow guests for a hearty breakfast before striking out to ride ATVs, bike, fish, boat, and more, in the dining area. Each morning you can enjoy gourmet fare made fresh daily, including breakfast pizza, easy eggs bearnaise, French toast casserole, frittata, and quiche Lorraine. Each breakfast is served with fresh fruit and fresh biscuits served with homemade raspberry and apricot jam.

Rounding out our Idaho B&Bs is the Syringa Lodge Bed and Breakfast located in Salmon, Idaho. This enormous log cabin lodge is situated on 19 acres of an old homestead that overlooks the town, Salmon River, and the surrounding mountains. You can choose from six rooms with two you can convert into a suite by adding an adjoining bedroom. Each room has its own charm. The fine touches include a canopy bed, hourglass velvet chair, a curly maple vanity with matching desk, and a picture of Elvis Presley, to name a few. 

Before you head out to hit a hiking or ski trail or any other number of outdoor activities, indulge in a home-cooked breakfast. There’s something to tempt every taste bud, with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, savory sausage links, fluffy pancakes, breakfast casseroles, as well as fresh fruit, biscuits, and homemade granola.