Curator’s statement
Boise is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream destination! Whether you want to bike, hike, kayak (or all three!) Boise has it. The best part was that everything was close by, easily accessible and either free or reasonably priced. This was a perfect spot for a daddy-daughter weekend trip!
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Things to do
Boise Greenbelt — A trip to Boise isn’t complete without biking, walking or running along the Greenbelt. It offers parks and natural settings right in the heart of the city.
Bogus Basin — This is a ski resort that turns into an adventure paradise in the summer. You can hike trails, mountain bike or zip down the mountain in a coaster. They also have live outdoor concerts throughout the summer!
Float the Boise River — Rent a kayak or tube to float down the Boise River. There’s a convenient shuttle that picks up from Ann Morrison Park in the heart of Boise so you can park there, take the shuttle and float back to your car!
Hike Table Rock — An iconic mountain peak right near downtown. Pretty easy hiking trails even with young ones with great views of the city, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Idaho Botanical Garden — With Table Rock in the background, they have a wide range of desert gardens as well as Victorian and shade gardens.
Roaring Springs Water Park — Huge water park about 15 minutes from downtown. It has more extreme water slides for adults and older kids as well.
Boise State University — Right along the Greenbelt, Boise State has a beautiful urban campus and a famous blue stadium if you’re in town during a football game.
Places to eat & drink
Green Acres Food Truck Park — Hands down the best place to spend an evening in Boise along the river! They have about five food trucks parked there every evening, as well as a drink stand and live music.
Westside Drive-In — This one’s fun for kids! They are famous for their “potato ice cream”. They assemble an ice cream sundae that looks exactly like a baked potato, plus it’s delicious!
Madre Boutique Taqueria — Trendy taco restaurant with a range of flavors and ingredients in their tacos. Right near some breweries to enjoy afterwards!
Das Alpenhaus Delikatessen — I couldn’t believe how popular this German market and restaurant was (until I ate their food!). You can stop in for a Schnitzel sandwich and a beer while picking up some German goods.
Mother Earth Brew Co. — Wide range of beers and an amazing outdoor space to relax, play games and socialize.
Need to know
There are plenty of bike rental companies in Boise so you can enjoy the Greenbelt. Several hotels (like The Grove) have bikes available for their guests as well. Boise State has their own bicycle service shop that you can rent for a reasonable price.
Depending on what you plan to do, you may not need to rent a car. Many of the best “things to do” and “places to eat” are all within walking or biking distance along the Greenbelt. Some downtown hotels (like the Residence Inn University) offer free airport shuttles so you could save money on a car rental.
Labor Day was a perfect time of year to go, as it was still a sunshine-filled summer but not quite as sweltering as midsummer.
Travel Advisor
Mike Mertel
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