No matter how you feel about the current state of the world and how the coronavirus is affecting our lives, we have a great way for you to relax.

It gets you out of the house.

You don't need to wear a mask.

You can safely distance yourself away from most people.

Just get in the car and drive.

That's right. Fill up the gas tank and go explore Idaho. We are blessed to have some incredible scenery that's waiting for you to go see it.

Grab a camera, too. You don't have to be a professional photographer to get some great images of your trip. Even the one on your smartphone will do.

Let's check out some of our favorite day trips around Southern Idaho:

PONDEROSA PINE BYWAY

This is probably the most popular day trip from Boise, taking you through the Boise National Forest, along the Boise and Payette rivers, and past old mining towns, hot springs and lots and lots of trees.

You start at on the Idaho 21 and head northeast for three hours to the junction of Idaho 75 at Stanley, an historic area that was first explored by Canadian fur trappers. The town, platted and built around 1919, is now a basecamp for all kinds of outdoor adventure, like hiking, backpacking and rock climbing.

Along the way, you can stop at the gorgeous Lucky Peak Lake, grab a cone at the Sarsparilla Ice Cream Parlor in the historic downtown of Idaho City, take a walk along the Granite Creek Interpretive Trail, and dip into the Kirkham Hot Springs.

When you're ready to home to Boise, you can go back the way you came or jump onto the Sawtooth Scenic Byway.

SAWTOOTH BYWAY

From Stanley, head south on Idaho 75 to Sun Valley. You pass over the Galena Summit and the view of the Sawtooth Valley will take your breath away. Both Galena and Easley peaks are easily seen to the east. To the west, you might see North Raker, Mt. Everly and Blizzard Mountain.

If you're leaving from Boise, hook onto Idaho 20 at Mountain Home and head east through Castle Rocks to Idaho 75 at Stanton Crossing. Head north to Ketchum and Sun Valley where you can spend some time eating, shopping and exploring. The Sawtooth Botanical Garden is a must-see with a prayer wheel blessed by the Dalai Lama. Don't forget the grave of writer Ernest Hemingway at the Ketchum Cemetery.

THOUSAND SPRINGS BYWAY

This one is a little bit shorter by mileage but you can spend all day on this route and not see everything. We're taking you south again to Mountain Home and then some. Just a short way down the 84, take Idaho 330 right after Bliss. The route winds along the Snake River and takes you right to the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. The area is nationally and internationally significant for its world-class paleontological resources, particularly the world's richest known deposits of fossil horse.

This byway also lets you visit the Faulkner Planetarium, the Centennial Observatory, the historic downtown of Twin Falls, museums, host springs and lots of trails for walking and hiking.

The crown jewel of this trip is Shoshone Falls, just outside the downtown area of Twin Falls. At 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide, Shoshone Falls is one of the largest natural waterfalls in the United States.

Head to Idaho 93 and take the Perrine Memorial Bridge over the Snake River and get back onto the 84 and head home. The Perrine Bridge is the fourth highest arch bridge in North America.

WILDLIFE CANYON BYWAY

Keep your eye out for big game, little game and everything else. The Wildlife Canyon Byway comes by its name naturally. On this route, you can see elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, turkeys, eagles, cougars, bears, wolves and more … so much more! From Boise head north on Idaho 55 to Banks and head east to Lowman on the 17.

There are lots of turnouts along the way to jump out of the car and enjoy the scenery. Now is the time for some panoramic pictures on your smartphone.

Don't miss a chance to pick up some fresh fruits and veggies at Volcanic Farms in Horseshoe Bend. Grab brunch and a coffee at Wild Bill's Coffee & Bistro in Garden Valley (their breakfast scrambles will fill you up!).

From Lowman, it's an easy trip back home when you hit the 21 and head south through Idaho City.

PAYETTE RIVER BYWAY

Pack a picnic lunch for this drive because there are lots of spots to find a beach and take in the beautiful sounds of nature on the Payette River. Head north on the 55 to McCall and your eyes are treated to mountain valleys, canyons, forested expanse and awesome views. Lake Cascade, Idaho's fourth largest lake, is on the way and it's a terrific spot, especially if you just happened to strap your kayak or standup paddleboard onto the roof of the car.

If you want to make a loop out of the day, head west to connect to the 95 and go south through Tamarack, Fruitvale and Midvale.

PEAKS TO CRATERS BYWAY

This route celebrates the diversity of landscape we have in southern Idaho, from mountain ranges to lava flows and from wetlands to high desert.

We're going to head back to Stanton Crossing on the 20 but keep going to Carey. There you're met with the Lost River Mountains, a stunning range that's home to nine of Idaho's 12 highest peaks, including Borah.

At Carey, access the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, a landscape created by eight major volcanic flows that occurred around 20,000 years ago. It's a geological wonder!

Now head east to Arco, which sits on the edge of the Idaho National Laboratory, the country's leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Arco is the first city in the world to be lit by nuclear power.

Take the 93 north to Mackay where gold was discovered in 1879 and continue up to Challis. You pass through Chilly, a ghost town with a few remaining cabins still standing, and catch Borah Peak to the east.

Challis is a neat old town, founded in 1876, and home to the Challis Hot Springs, a fifth-generation family-owned hot springs with a campground.

Head west on the 75 to connect to Stanley and head home to Boise on either the Wildlife Canyon or Ponderosa Pines route.