Exploring Idaho’s beautiful cities as a local is an absolute joy.

More often than not, it’s a much better option than a far-away getaway. We may be biased, but we think Idaho is bursting at the seams with sensational landscapes and charming communities that can make every trip feel like an exciting new adventure. From the quaint and picturesque lakes of Coeur d’Alene to the historic streets of Boise’s Harrison Boulevard, there’s always something to explore in the Gem State.

One of the biggest perks of local vacays is affordability.

Common sense dictates that most folks would save a ton of money by nixing expensive flights or extensive travel plans while enjoying unique experiences.

Just as cool, local trips are so much more convenient! Pack up the car and the kids, and within a few short hours, you and yours could be marveling at the beauty of the Sawtooth Mountains on a hike or tasting your way through the wineries nestled in the Snake River Valley.

Idaho has adventures for everyone.

For couples and families alike, Idaho’s diverse cities and townships offer something for everyone.

Have curious kiddos? They’ll love the interactive exhibits at the Discovery Center in gorgeous downtown Boise. At the same time, couples can relish in romantic getaways in dreamy towns like McCall on the banks of Payette Lake. We’d be remiss not to mention Idaho’s spectacular cuisine scene! Fresh farm-to-table dining experiences are a staple across the state.

When you live in Idaho, there’s no need to travel far when you have such a treasure trove of experiences waiting to happen in your own backyard.

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2024 has been brutal for retailers both big and small. Big name brands like Denny’s, Dollar Tree, Red Lobster, Rue 21 and more have already announced closures of some or all of their locations in Idaho.

Now the nation’s eighth largest retailer has announced that they’ll close more than 2,000 locations across America. CBS News reports that in a recent earnings call, Walgreens revealed plans to close nearly 25% of their locations in the United States. 

READ MORE: 11 Big Brands Closing Idaho Locations in 2024

The headline feels a bit familiar. It was about this time last year that Walgreens reported that their Q2 earnings were down about 59% from the year before. They attributed that downturn to things like a drop in demand for COVID-19 testing and vaccines. The company also felt like uncertain economic conditions led consumers to spend less than they were in 2022. At the time, they announced plans to close 150 stores nationwide by the end of August 2024. 

Things appear to be even bleaker for Walgreens after Q2 2024. During the call, the company’s CEO said that they plan to shutter about 25% of stores in America. If you do the math, 25% of Walgreens approximately 8,600 locations is about 2,150 locations. He admitted that the current pharmacy model is not sustainable and that changes are imminent. The talk track was a little bit different this year. Rather than blaming a change in attitudes about COVID-19 testing and vaccines, inflation seemed to be the main factor blamed for the pharmacy chain’s issues.  

Good Housekeeping says they’ve obtained a list of 91 Walgreens locations that have closed or are slated for closure after the earnings call. That list includes four locations in Oregon, four locations in California, two locations in Washington and one in Utah.

While Idaho didn’t appear on the initial list of closures, those 91 stores only account for 4% of the over 2,000 Walgreens locations that will close over the next three years. It’s also worth noting that a Walgreens location in Idaho did close earlier this year. The location on Federal Way in Boise closed on February 27. Prescriptions were transferred to a nearby Walgreens on Apple Street and employees were given the option to transfer to other locations. 

What lies ahead for Walgreens in Idaho is unclear. At press time, they still have 38 locations in Idaho, including 21 in Boise and its surrounding neighbors. With so many locations on the chopping block, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Gem State lost a few more locations. 

As I ponder this question, I cannot think of a single instance where compromise has made us better. Have we lessened our debt through compromise? Have we stopped shedding the blood of innocent unborn children because of compromise? Has education improved? Have we stopped the sodomy of our youth? How about protecting our lands, our borders, our water, our liberties, our freedoms—have these been safeguarded through compromise? How about gun control? Compromise will always infringe on the Second Amendment. Can you think of one thing that has improved because of compromise?

Did our Founding Fathers compromise to give us our Constitutional Republic? One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation—should it be based on population or divided equally among the states? The framers compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person. Slavery itself was a thorny issue that threatened to derail the Union. It was temporarily resolved when the delegates agreed that the slave trade could continue until 1808.

They counted Africans as three-fifths of a person. Going back to the definition of compromise—“accept standards that are lower than desirable”—this would be a difficult compromise for me, to say someone is less than a person. Did we get the Constitution ratified because of this compromise? Yes, we did, but we later fought a Civil War to recognize their full humanity. Compromise always comes at a cost later.

Compromising on what song will be our National Anthem, what our State Flag will look like, or how many days we will be in session—these are compromises I can be flexible on. However, when it comes to compromising on life, suggesting that some are less than human, or compromising my morals, principles, or integrity, that is something I will protect and defend.

Adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4