Staying Busy In Boise

From beers to birds, bikes to Basques, a journey to Boise isn’t boring.

By Susie Wall

November 2021

Boise, Idaho, has an unofficial motto: “In Boise, boredom is not an option.” This philosophy could not be more true, as Boise boasts more than a dozen museums and nature centers, 20-plus golf courses, nearly 100 miles of walking and biking trails, and one world-class zoo. All of this in a town inhabited by welcoming and laid-back locals. In fact, the biggest stress you’ll face when visiting Boise is deciding how to fit it all in.

Walk The Greenbelt

Start your trip to Boise by exploring the Boise River Greenbelt, at 25-mile path that follows the river through the heart of town. Many of the city’s most beloved attractions and parks are accessible along the way, providing an opportunity to get outside and get to know Boise.

Veterans Memorial Park is a good place to begin on the path. Have a picnic, go fishing, and explore the many memorials dedicated to U.S. heroes. Then head three miles down to Julia Davis Park, home to museums, a rose garden, Zoo Boise, paddleboat rentals, and bocce ball courts.

Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Idaho State Museum all lie within the boundaries of the park and can fit into one day’s visit. The Boise Art Museum (BAM) features rotating and permanent exhibits, ranging from pieces by American and international masters to Native American art and an ARTexperience gallery for young art enthusiasts.

Housed in the historic St. Paul Baptist Church — Idaho’s first Black church — the Idaho Black History Museum contains exhibits and artwork related to Black historical figures, and it offers lectures, workshops, and musical performances. After your explorations, head over to the Idaho State Museum to learn about Idaho’s fascinating history and landscape.

An entire day can be devoted to exploring Zoo Boise and the more than 300 animals that call the facility home. Watch the giant anteater slither its long tongue to feast on ants. Feed mealworms to a sloth bear, and take a conservation cruise to learn about the patas monkeys and white-backed vultures you’ll pass.

Back on the Greenbelt, head a mile past the park to make a stop at the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center to learn about Idaho’s flora and fauna. Take some time to look around the informative exhibits in the indoor visitors center, then grab a trail map to explore the outdoor

The Idaho State Museum, in Julia Davis Park.gardens and nature paths. The paths take you past a butterfly garden, as well as fish-viewing windows where you can see trout swimming in the clear streams. Climb inside a replica of the largest bald eagle nest ever found. End your peaceful stroll at the Sturgeon Pond and lay bets on who will be the first to spot the resident monster sturgeons that rule the waters.

Delight In Downtown

Keep your walking shoes handy and head over to Boise’s vibrant downtown. Many eclectic shops and galleries await you, as well as public art displays and historical sites.

Boise boasts one of the highest concentrations of Basques in the United States, and the Basque Block on Grove Street celebrates their culture and contributions to the city’s history. Basques are an autonomous ethnic group from northern Spain and southern France who began immigrating to Boise in the late 1800s, finding work as miners, ranchers, and sheepherders. They discovered a welcoming town where they could continue to practice their culture with little threat of interference. Visit the Basque Museum and Cultural Center to learn about these fascinating people.

One of the best ways to get to know a different culture is through its food, and the Basque Block doesn’t disappoint in this respect. Restaurants like Leku Ona, which is Basque for “Good Place,” serve up mouthwatering dishes piled with lamb and roasted peppers. Stop by the Basque Market to create a picnic of spiced almonds, salty olives, and crispy calamari to take to one of Boise’s many parks.

Few things define the soul of a city as much as public art displays, and

Freak Alley Gallery is no exception. Covering the length of an alley off Ninth and Idaho streets, this explosion of colorful murals features a wide range of art styles and subjects. Pose alongside some of your favorites for a free and unique photograph commemorating your time in Boise.

For a deep dive into Boise’s past, join a guided walking tour of downtown, held every Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m. Purchase your tickets at preservationidaho.org and then follow your guides as they walk you through history to discuss the architecture and cultural influences of early Boise.

Warm Springs Avenue

Give your feet a short rest and take a drive through the Warm Springs Avenue Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The homes lining this neighborhood once housed some of Boise’s most prominent residents. The architecture alone is worth the drive, showcasing a wide range of styles and eras, from Spanish Mission to Tudor to Queen Anne. Along the way, be sure to take a detour to visit several attractions found at the base of Table Rock — a mountain pillar just southeast of downtown Boise — including the Old Idaho Penitentiary, the Idaho Botanical Garden, and the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology.

A fascinating and stark look into the history of Idaho’s prison system is found at the Old Idaho Penitentiary. In operation from 1872 until 1973, this compound of imposing brick buildings housed some of the state’s most notorious male and female criminals. Visitors can explore the grounds through time, from the skeletal remains of the 1870 territorial prison to the tiny solitary confinement cells of “Siberia,” to the shudder-inducing gallows in the maximum-security building. Plaques on the walls in several buildings feature mug shots and captivating personal histories of inmates who once called the penitentiary home.

To brighten your mood after the penitentiary, head over to the blossoms and blooms at the Idaho Botanical Garden. Take a self-guided or guided tour through 12 unique gardens, observing the artwork scattered throughout. Native and nonnative plants are featured, from the Lewis and Clark Native Plant Garden to the English Garden.

Birds Of Boise

The city of Boise is surrounded by nature, and residents take full advantage of this whenever possible. They have an especially big place in their hearts for their feathered friends. There are numerous places to bird-watch in Boise, but two in particular really make you want to break out the binoculars.

The World Center for Birds of Prey is small but packs a punch for birding enthusiasts. Here you will see raptors from around Boise and around the world, such as the American kestrel, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, and California condor. See if you dare to stare down Grayson, the fearsome harpy eagle. Each one of these birds came to the center because they were unable to live in the wild for various reasons.

The center is also the headquarters of The Peregrine Fund, so it offers much more than just a chance to see some really cool birds. There are numerous exhibits on conservation and bird ecology, plus opportunities to get up close and personal with the raptors during educational shows held daily. The center’s grounds offer sweeping views of Boise, with short nature trails that invite you to explore the landscape and bird-watch.

For a serious bird-watching experience, take a side trip to the expansive Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Home to the largest concentration of nesting birds of prey in North America, this 81-mile stretch of the Snake River and the grasslands above it support more than 700 pairs of nesting falcons, eagles, and owls each spring. The birds are attracted to the safety of the steep canyon, as well as the small prey that live among the endless fields of sagebrush.

Narrow your search within the 485,000 acres by heading to Dedication Point, 30 miles south of Boise. Begin the half-mile loop trail among the Wyoming big sagebrush to see northern harriers cruising low, scouting for their favorite meal of black-tailed jackrabbits. The trail curves past the edge of the basalt cliffs towering over the canyon where prairie falcons make their home. Watch as the falcons dive at 120 miles an hour and listen for their eerie screams echoing off the canyon walls.

Drink Up Boise

If all this exploring has made you tired and thirsty, Boise has a remedy. Like many western cities, Boise loves its craft beer. At this writing, approximately 20 breweries call Boise home, each offering a range of unique brews. Visit one of Idaho’s largest, Payette Brewing Company, for a sample of Mutton Buster Brown Ale and Rustler India Pale Ale. At the opposite end of the spectrum is cozy Mad Swede Brewing Company, where Viking-inspired brews like Longship IPA and First King of Kiev imperial stout are served up to thirsty patrons.

If you prefer your libations to be fruit forward, Boise doesn’t disappoint. Idaho’s desert-like climate, with warm days and cold nights, provides an ideal growing environment for apples and grapes, which leads to a host of local cideries and wineries. Visit the homey tasting room of Coiled Wines to sip a dry Riesling or Idaho Syrah. Meriwether Cider Company brews outside the box with flavors such as candied pecan and American apple pie.

To stay safe and still enjoy several of these establishments, sign up with one of Boise’s tour companies. Boise Brews Cruise, Indulge Boise Food Tours, and Snake River Wine Tours all offer excursions that include transportation with a knowledgeable guide ready to give you a worry-free and fun experience.

More Info

Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.boise.org
(800) 635-5240
(208) 344-7777

Where To Stay

Boise/Meridian KOA Journey
184 Pennwood St.
Meridian, ID 83642
(208) 888-7003
www.koa.com/campgrounds/boise/

Boise Riverside RV Park
6000 N. Glenwood St.
Garden City, ID 83714
(208) 375-7432
www.boiseriversidervpark.com

Hi Valley RV Park, C11830 *
10555 Horseshoe Bend Road
Boise, ID 83714
(208) 939-8080
www.g7rvresorts.com/rv-park/hi-valley-rv-park

Mountain View RV Park
2040 Airport Way
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 345-4141
www.boiservpark.com

 

* FMCA Commercial Member