GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR TRIP

HOW TO GET HERE | WHERE TO STAY | WHAT TO BRING

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

Please consider our new recommended (closer) hotel options in Eagle (26 min (20.5mi) via ID-144 and ID-16 N).

 

HILTON GARDEN INN:  website | map  
HOMEWOOD SUITES:  website | map

 

HOTELS IN EMMETT

This is the closest option, but the logistics are not guaranteed.

The city of Emmett has a courtesy car at the airport, but first come, first served.  It is available to keep over night. 

Very few tie downs – often occupied with transient maintenance shop airplanes. We do not have hangar space. 

There is 100LL self-serve fuel available.

 

HOLIDAY MOTEL & RV:  website map – small number of rooms (often booked unless plan way ahead.

There are a few Air B&B’s

Most sit-down or local drive-through restaurants closed either Sunday or Monday, Some on Tuesday too. Fast food would be the only every evening option. One grocery store is available.

 

 

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.

*Please note: We don’t recommend Caldwell due to a large Helicopter & airplane flight school traffic, lack of control tower (proposed), and a lack of services (no FBO).

 

  • 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 across the tie down ramp, towards the self-serve fueling terminal and then past the pilot shack, and behind the fuel island.
  • Then, follow the gravel road right behind the hangars.
  • Look for Hangar #54 label (Tall, Beige, Rear RV door, 4th hangar from the West end row).
  • Turn-in & Park between Hangar #53 & 54.
  • If you don’t see my White Ram truck (you’re early) – Please leave room for me to Park between the hangars too.

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. 
  • 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.
3 HORSE WINERY: Located between Emmett & Eagle.
PARMA RIDGE WINERY: Wine tasting as well as a full menu, beautiful patio with views.  Located in Parma.

ECLECTIC
FORK:
Locally sourced, farm to table.  Located in Boise.
WILLOW CREEK GRILLE:  Located near the Boise Airport.

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.
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.

ITALIAN
LUCIANO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT:  Located in Boise.

PIZZA
TONY’S:  Located in Boise
FLATBREAD: Multiple locations.

WINE BARS
BODOVINO:  100s of wine on-tap.  Located in Meridian.

ASIAN
DHARMA SUSHI & THAI:  Located in Boise.
KICHII: Located in Boise
PF CHANGS:  Located in Boise.
RAW SUSHI:  Located in Boise.

MEXICAN

AMANO: Hand-crafted Mexican located in Downtown Caldwell.
ENRIQUE’S: Unique, hard to find dishes.  Family run, truly authentic.  Located in Kuna.

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.

 

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