Where to stay in Moscow....Idaho, that is

March 11, 2013 9:13 PM

My family and I will be traveling with some friends to Moscow, ID in July. Our friends will be staying with their family, and we will need a place to stay for a few nights. We hoped to camp, but it doesn't look like much of a camping place, am I right? Where should we stay? B&B? Hotel? Or are there campsites close by? We are 2 adults, 2 kids (ages 2 and 5).
posted by lil' ears to travel & transportation around Moscow, ID (7 answers total)

Stay at the University Inn! You are in for a treat.
posted by Knowyournuts at 9:32 PM on March 11

July in Idaho is HOT. Personally, I wouldn't camp in the Palouse in the summer. Beautiful area to drive around in, though.

Moscow is the home of the University of Idaho. Just a few miles down the road (and across the border into Washington) is Pullman, home of Washington State University. The area is littered with hotels, motels, and B&Bs. Totally agree with the University Inn recommendation. That's where I stay when visiting family. Both the indoor pool and the bar are great, the rooms and the restaurant are just fine.

I'm sure your friends have lots of ideas of places to go, but driving to the top of Steptoe Butte is unforgettable. (Too bad you'll miss the Lentil Festival in Pullman in August....)
posted by kestralwing at 9:39 PM on March 11

I grew up in Moscow and love and miss that place. My folks own/run a motel there, The Hillcrest motel, which is clean and cheap. The nicest hotel in town is the University Inn.
Check out Idaho Repertory Theatre which is the summer gig for the University of Idaho and normally a good time. Depending on when you are there they will do a Shakespeare outside. You should go for a hike/picnic at Idlers Rest
I haven't been home in a couple of years but I will be there in June, and I can't wait.
posted by Uncle at 10:31 PM on March 11

Oh also the one thing Pullman has going for it is Ferdinand's Ice Cream which is part of WSU's agriculture department and has Courgar Gold Cheese
posted by Uncle at 10:37 PM on March 11 [1 favorite]

You can camp at Robinson Park. This is a nice park a few minutes outside of town. I was going to recommend "glamping" at Mary Jane's Farm, but sadly it looks like they're not doing it this year. I think July is the perfect time to camp on the Palouse--yes, it's hot during the day, but it cools down deliciously at night.

In addition to the University Inn (which is nothing great, it's just a 70s-era Best Western), there is now also a much newer La Quinta in town. Also, in the past few years a lot of houses have been converted to B&Bs, some of them out on the Palouse with beautiful sweeping views, some them charming older houses right in the historic district next to downtown. Here's a list. I haven't stayed in any of them but I know that "Andriette's" underwent a ton of renovations so it should be pretty nice.
posted by HotToddy at 8:20 AM on March 12

I stayed at Meadowwind B and B. Great place!
posted by jennstra at 4:41 PM on March 12

Thanks all! I will start looking around at which we'll go with, and will update with the results!
posted by lil' ears at 8:14 PM on March 19