When coming to college, one of the many repeated questions you will answer is, "Where are you from?" Why do people ask this question? They ask because they are curious about who you are. Knowing where people are from give people a sense of beginning to know who you are. Knowing people's hometowns help shape first impressions. However, some states can be greatly under appreciated. This can be because of different stereotypes, or lack of knowledge about the state. My home state of Idaho is included in this list of under appreciated states. People tend to think that Idaho is nothing by potato farms with nothing to do. However, there is much more to this great state than what meets the eye.

First of all, even though Idaho is most popular for having potato farms, we have beautiful sceneries as well. Idaho has the largest amount of river milage of any state. The nearest river from my house in Meridian is only a 5 minutes drive. There you can go fishing, swim, and float the river. Idaho's forests are also the most vast and gorgeous forests I've experienced. In the summer, the lights bounce off of the trees and the wild life is so active. It is amazing to drive only 20 minutes out of town and find yourself amongst animals such as deer, elk, and fox. I remember the days in summers when my family would rent a cabin in the town of Stanley, Idaho. Our balcony overlooked the river, and we could see deer running through the meadow across the water. Kind of like Bambi! If you were lucky, early in the morning, you could see the deer crossing the river; it is one of the most majestic scenes you will ever witness. In the winters, the mountain are magical, but no less beautiful then the summers.

People come from across the country to ski on our mountains, or even just experience snow itself. Living in Arizona for college has made me truly miss the seasons that Idaho brings. In Idaho, the seasons are very dramatic and picture perfect. Summers are warm and bright, falls are a colorful orange and yellow, springs are rainy as flowers bloom, and the winters are cold with just the right amount of snow. Fall is my favorite because the city becomes absolutely stunning. The picture below shows downtown Boise in fall, and you can clearly see just how gorgeous this city really is.

When you think of Idaho, maybe you will think differently about the state. We are more then just farmers. Sure, we are outdoorsy with all of our activities such as fishing, hunting, winter sports, and white water rafting; but those are the things that makes Idaho even better. Even if you aren't the outdoors type, the city of Meridian and Boise appeals to the city folk without being so overwhelming. The population is low, meaning less traffic, which is always a plus. The unemployment rate is very low, as well of the poverty rate. Boise isn't the type of place where you will find people on the street corners. This tends to be one of many things family members take notice of when they visit for the first time.

The last thing about Idaho that I love is how safe the towns are. The city is the type of place where you can leave your front door unlocked without a worry. The crime rates are extremely low, making you feel safe at all times. It is always such a blessing to watch kids walking by themselves to the park or home from school with no concern. Idaho is a great place to raise a family with urbanized homes, parks on every street, and a growing economy. USA Today published an article naming Meridian, Idaho (my home town) "best city to live in," in the entire United States. Idaho is starting to finally make a name for itself as people realize just how incredible the state of Idaho really is. Plus everyone loves Napoleon Dynamite!