HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
Where you choose to stay and rest during your visit is a critical component to receiving and retaining everything our training has to offer.
Due to our rural location, the nearest (and cheapest) accommodations leave a lot to be desired. However, there are some wonderful areas nearby with clean, comfortable and affordable accommodations.
HOTELS IN BOISE
Boise is an easy 45 minute drive from our base. Those interested in excellent restaurants and entertainment should consider staying in our wonderful capital city. Our recommended hotels are walking distance from beautiful downtown Boise. Another perk, downtown Boise is only four miles from Boise Airport. If your spouse will be joining you on your trip to Idaho, staying downtown will afford you both an enjoyable experience during your time here.
HAMPTON INN DOWNTOWN : website | map (not to be confused with the Hampton Inn at Boise Airport)
MODERN HOTEL: website | map
GROVE HOTEL: website | map
INN AT 500: website | map
HOTELS IN Eagle
GETTING HERE
If visiting us from outside Idaho, you’ll want to book a commercial flight to Boise Airport. From the Boise Airport, you’ll drive yourself 43 minutes to our base in the Emmett Municipal Airport.
If arriving in your own aircraft, we recommend Nampa (MAN) for the best services and closest proximity to our recommended hotels. Click here for an airport overview provided by AOPA.
- Program your GPS/navigation to take you to the Emmett Airport: 2000-2428, W Sales Yard Rd. Emmet, ID 83617.
- Just past the Emmett Municipal Golf Course club house and Chuck Sawyer Field hangar (on Sales Yard Road) – turn right onto the ramp area.
- Proceed carefully towards the self-serve fueling terminal and towards the parallel taxiway.
- Then, proceed carefully down the parallel taxiway to the West (Always giving-way to the airplanes).
- Find Hangar #54 (4th hangar from the West end row).
- Turn left and park in the gravel between the hangars, next to the OUR Hangar man door.
You will see my White RAM pickup with camper shell – parked in front of you (unless you’re early).
WHAT TO BRING
- FLAT, THIN-SOLED SHOES LIKE A LIGHT-WEIGHT RUNNING OR WALKING SHOE: It’s important that you’re able to feel the sensitive rudder pedals and not accidentally apply the toe brakes.
- BASEBALL HAT, SUNSCREEN AND NON-POLARIZED SUNGLASSES: With glass overhead and bubble doors below your seat, the 360 degree views can be bright. You’ll want sun protection, no matter the time of year. Viewing our glass panel displays with polarized sunglasses can render them black to the eye making non-polarized glasses essential. The factory and flight school have logo’d hats for purchase (or free on your first solo).
- FOR BACKCOUNTRY TRAINING TOURS: Pack light in a soft duffle or backpack (with a carabiner). Please NO hard suitcases (especially with wheels). Plan on warm days and cool nights. Plan on not having cell signal while in the backcountry.
- YOUR LOG BOOK AND PILOT LICENSE
- WE PROVIDE BOSE ACTIVE NOISE-CANCELING HEADSETS
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
FOOD
Restaurant parameters: good food, good atmosphere, good service, consistent, good value. Most Boise restaurants are walkable from the recommended Boise hotels.
GREAT DINNER CUISINE (food + atmosphere + service):
BRICK 29: Locally sourced, farm to table. Located in Nampa.
ALAVITA: Local sourced, farm to table, Italian. Located in Boise.
ECLECTIC
FORK: Locally sourced, farm to table. Located in Boise.
ORCHARD HOUSE: Located in the wine region, 10 minutes from Greenleaf. (Closed now for dinners & Sundays)
WILLOW CREEK GRILLE: Located near the Boise Airport.
NATHAN’S GREENLEAF CAFE: Located in Greenleaf.
MEAT
COWBOY CHOP HOUSE: Located in Emmett
GOODWOOD: Beats all other BBQ around Idaho. Multiple locations.
CHANDLERS: Jazz every night. Located in Boise.
INDIAN CREAK STEAKHOUSE: Located in Caldwell.
CHOP SHOP BBQ: smoke-house themed from local sources, chef run specials, minimal seating and small local-only beer/wine bar. Located in downtown Caldwell.
THE BRICKYARD. Located in Boise.
BURGERS & LOCALLY BREWED BEER
10 BARRELL BREWING COMPANY: Brew Pub located in Boise.
BARDENAY: Spirit Distillery. Two locations + in the Boise airport.
BOISE FRY COMPANY: Bison burgers, fries of different Idaho potatoes, local beer. Located in Nampa.
BURGER THEORY: At the Holiday Inn in Nampa.
HOLY COW: Gourmet burgers and hand cut fries. Located in downtown Nampa
UNIQUE ETHNIC
BAR GERNIKA: Small Basque restaurant in downtown Boise. Order the Croquetas.
FISH
BONEFISH: Located in Boise.
ITALIAN
GINO’S: Located in Meridian.
CUCINA Di PAOLO: Located in Boise.
LUCIANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT: Located in Boise.
PIZZA
TONY’S: Located in Boise
FLATBREAD: Multiple locations.
MESSENGER PIZZA AND PRE-FUNK BAR: Rotating selection of local only beer. Bring the pizza into the bar. Located in Nampa.
WINE BARS
BODOVINO: 100s of wine on-tap. Located in Boise.
2C WINE DOWN: Located in Caldwell.
ASIAN
DHARMA SUSHI & THAI: Located in Boise.
PF CHANGS: Located in Boise.
RAW SUSHI: Located in Boise.
MAI THAI: Located in Boise.
MEXICAN
ENRIQUE’S: Unique, hard to find dishes. Family run, truly authentic. Located in Kuna.
MESA TACOS & TEQUILA: a la carte gourmet tacos, great cocktails and tequila menu. Located in downtown Nampa.
BREAKFAST
GOLDY’S: Popular downtown Boise breakfast spot.
THE GRIDDLE: Multiple locations.
JAVA COFFEE: Multiple locations.
FLYING M COFFEE: Locations in Boise, Nampa and Caldwell.
BIG CITY COFFEE: Great place for waffles in a funky garage-type atmosphere. Near Modern Hotel in Boise.
NEW
GRIT CALDWELL: Regional American inspired. Located in Downtown Caldwell.
AMANO: Hand-crafted Mexican located in Downtown Caldwell.
PARMA RIDGE WINERY: Wine tasting as well as a full menu, beautiful patio with views. Located in Parma.
VINE & BRANCH: Cider & Wine Tasting Room, small plates…all on an organic farm. Located in rural Caldwell.
ENTERTAINMENT
WARHAWK MUSEUM: They fly their displays. Idaho Aviation with a World War II focus. Located at the Nampa Airport.
WINERY TOURS: We’re located minutes from Idaho’s Snake River Valley Wine Region. Click here to learn more about the 12 vineyards along the Sunnyslope Wine Trail.
BOISE CONTEMPORARY THEATER: small professional plays 6x/year + special musical & dance events
EGYPTIAN THEATER: Old movies and concerts. Architecturally unique inside.
SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: Summer/Fall in their own unique outdoor theater.
BOISE ART MUSEUM: Located downtown Boise by the river.
BOISE TROLLEY TOURS: narrated trolley tour of the city (pickup by the Black Heritage museum)
BOTANICAL GARDENS AND ADJACENT PENITENTIARY TOUR: Warm Springs Ave.
WORLD CENTER FOR BIRDS OF PREY: 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane (just south of the Boise Airport)
BOGUS BASIN SKI AREA: Alpine slide. Only 45 minutes (18 miles) from downtown Boise.
PAYETTE RIVER WHITE-WATER RAFTING: See www.cascaderaft.com and www.bearvalleyrafting.com
BOISE RIVER BIKE PATH: rent a bike @ George’s or Idaho Mountain Touring
ALL DAY SCENIC DRIVES: Through the mountains and along the rivers & lakes, to historic mining towns, natural hot springs, fire lookouts. See Paul
DRIVE IN MOVIE THEATRE: Parma Motor-Vu. Located in Parma.
FLY-IN BREAKFASTS: to backcountry dude ranches. See Paul
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN BEAUTIFUL IDAHO!
“If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you can use the aircraft the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.”
― Chuck Yeager