*Originally published in Idaho Falls Magazine
I have been obsessed with snow globes since I accidentally broke my teacher’s
Empire State Building beauty in 1996. I loved it so much and, to this day, would likely
trade my first-born to own a 1996 New York City snow globe. Growing up on the East
Coast afforded me some of the most picturesque holidays imaginable. There is a catch,
though. It takes a special kind of resume-worthy skillset to ignore the grime and
sadness that surrounds the holidays in cities like New York or Philadelphia. Combined
with frantic, less than friendly people crowding the streets, holidays can often appear
much prettier from the outside looking in.
{Enter Idaho Falls stage left}
I moved to East Idaho in 2011 and wanted to turn right back around when I saw
feet upon feet of snow piled up in parking lots and a temperature of -10 degrees
Fahrenheit. Take me back to Virginia where the only consistent snowfall was hourly in
the Christmas section of Yankee Candle in Williamsburg. I survived the winter and
thought maybe I could just grin and bear it. I was not prepared to be enraptured by
holidays in this area, but here I am 10 years later and I’m not sure anybody will ever be
able to pry my cold, wrapped-up-like-a-burrito body from this stunning area in the winter!
From the tree lined numbered streets leading to downtown to the beautiful lights strung
along our downtown’s lettered streets, we truly live in a winter wonderland. It’s a bit
corny, I know, but I mean it when I say I feel like I live in a real-life snow globe here in
Idaho Falls! There is something so intimate and special about our downtown. The
juxtaposition of big-city amenities like a delicious and diverse offering of restaurants
combined with the small-town charm of friendly residents and so many fluffy dogs
makes for a perfect setting to make holiday memories.
Because I’m a total foodie, I can’t not tell you my favorite downtown eats. In a
perfect world, I would spend every day eating downtown. For breakfast, I would head to
Carsten’s Bakery for a strawberry and cream cheese danish! I know it isn’t very winter-y,
but you can never go wrong with a fresh pastry!
Moving on, I would visit Diabla’s Kitchen in their beautiful new location right next
to the falls! One of my favorite parts of dining at Diabla’s is their shifting menu. I tend to
order the same thing any time I go out to eat, so their menu challenges me to try
something new and I have never been disappointed! Now, realistically, at this point I
would be entirely too full to eat anything else, but follow along on this fantasy with me
anyway!
For late lunch, I would definitely head to Lucy’s Pizza. Their pizza is one of my
absolute favorites and, hello, I already mentioned I grew up in and around New York
City, so you know it must be good!
Obviously, I can’t spend my entire day eating delicious food, so I would have to
shop, shop, shop and man, there are some incredible shops downtown! Lyn’s Ladies
and Babies Shoppe is definitely a favorite and I can always find an excuse to spend
money as it doesn’t count as much when you’re buying something for the kids,
amiright!?
Some other fun shops include Shaddow Domain (for unique and creepy gifts),
WeeBee Toys (for all of the kids), and San Michelle (for my mom and I!). Honestly, my
entire shopping list could be done in a single day downtown and I could look adorable
carrying all of my cute bags down a snowcovered street. I would look like a postcard
and who doesn’t want that? To round this dream day out, I would head to Krung Thep
for crab fried rice before heading home to wrap all of my goodies up and put them under
the tree!
Honestly, even without eating five times, downtown is a dream during the
holidays. Santa, lights, music, decorated store windows and a beautiful tree set up a
scene from even the most romanticised holiday movie. In fact, if I could open up that
dreamy 1996 snow globe, I can almost guarantee it wouldn’t be as perfect as this idyllic
town I call home.
