The banners on downtown Pocatello’s lampposts proclaim “Proud to be Pocatello,” and it doesn’t take long to understand why. Once inhabited by the Shoshone and Bannock tribes, the city was named for Shoshone Chief Pocatello, who granted the railroad right-of-way through the area. Initially developed as a trade center and transportation junction, today Pocatello is the third largest city in Idaho, home to a host of technology companies as well as Idaho State University, and has been recognized by Forbes.com as a “Best Small Place for Business” three years in a row. Yet the atmosphere here is definitely small town with residents so proud of their city, they refer to it as THE “U.S. Smile Capital.”

A historic downtown shopping district and museums, the new Stephens Performing Arts Center, and a couple of big-name rodeos mean there is always something to do here. Parks and trails along the 12-mile Portneuf River Greenway provide endless recreational opportunities within city limits. Outside of town, the Gibson Jack Trail and Mink Creek are places to go for hiking and mountain biking. Pebble Creek Ski Area was made for skiers and snowboarders, and Lava Hot Springs is the best way to end any day on the trails or slopes. Top all of this off with a four-season climate, where clear, sunny and dry is the norm, and “proud” Pocatello is a good place to do just about anything.