Carey, ID

Tucked into the Little Wood River Valley, Carey is a quiet farming and ranching town of around 700 residents. While it sits in the same county as resort spots like Hailey and Ketchum, Carey moves at a much calmer, more traditional pace. Daily life revolves around the local K-12 school, working ranches, and the annual Blaine County Fair and Rodeo, which brings the whole community together each summer. It is the kind of place where neighbors know one another and wide-open space is easy to come by.

ATTRChris Light / CC BY-SA 4.0

For anyone who loves the outdoors, there is plenty to explore right outside town. You can spend weekends fly fishing on the famous Silver Creek Preserve, kayaking at Carey Lake, or hiking the lava trails at Craters of the Moon. Because Carey sits at the junction of Highways 20, 26, and 93, it offers an easy commute to regional jobs throughout the Wood River Valley while letting you come home to genuine small-town peace.