The Caribbean of the Rockies

"The Caribbean of the Rockies" is what the lake on the boarder of Idaho and Utah is often called. Bear Lake is a fabulous place to visit. The water has a beautiful turquoise-blue hue to it. The limestone particles floating in the water are the reason for this breath-taking color. This lake is 20 miles long, 8 miles wide and 208 feet deep which makes it an awesome attraction for a variety of water activities. 

Picture from americansouthwest.net

Anything you can do on the water can be done here and all the equipment is available for rent from several different vendors. I'm talking water-skiing, fishing, sailing, canoeing, jet-skiing and whatever else you can think of. I have even rented an inflatable trampoline which was super fun :) 

Not only can you rent the toys but you can rent a variety of accommodations as well. There are hotels, condos, cabins, holiday rentals, time shares, RV lots and camping spots all around the lake. 

Condos at Ideal Beach Resort

With 48 miles of shoreline, there is plenty of room for all. Speaking of shoreline, the beaches are great. The sand is dark tan to grey in color and is soft making it perfect for what I called "sand castle construction".

Garden City is the town I spent most of my time in. It is a small tourist town right on the lake. My favorite thing about Garden City is all the home town cuisine. You won't see Oliver Garden or McDonalds here. You will find family owned and operated places like La Beau's and Cafe Sabor. One of my favorite food places is a small hut where they sell fresh raspberries which is a major fruit grown in this area. The even have a weekend holiday called Raspberry Days during the month of August.

If raspberries and water sports aren't your thing, don't worry there are plenty of things for everyone to do. There is the Pickle Playhouse theater, the Pioneering Adventure experience, go-carts, quilting retreats, craft fairs, farmer markets, the parade of homes, car shows, golf courses, rodeos, horseback riding rentals, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snowmobiling, biking, hiking and one of my favorite attractions, Minnetonka Cave. This cave is 90 minute tour guide experience of a huge, half-mile, multi-room cavern. Just as a heads up, inside the cave it is only 40 degrees C year round and you will be climbing 400 steps throughout the cave. Definitely worth seeing.

Picture from willhiteweb.com

At Bear Lake there is something for everyone. The weather is warm in the summer reaching in the 70's to 80's and snowy in the winter with temperatures of 0-10 degrees. The forest covered mountains surround the green-blue water is beautiful from every angle. Just to top off the whole Bear Lake experience, what would a giant body of water be without a good sea monster. A distance cousin to Nessie, the Scottish Lockness Monster, we have the Bear Lake monster. Come and take a tour of the lake and they will tell you all about the mysterious creature :)

I have nothing but fun memories here of my many visits with family and friends but you should check it out for yourself.