Why I think you should visit Boise:
Boise is a mid-sized Idaho city that, even after a decade of explosive population growth, retains the safety, charm and local pride of a small farm town.
Here you can enjoy a hike and a bowl of lamb stew, and the next day enjoy the opera and a tour of the city’s wineries. Whether you plan to mountain bike to the foothills, ski or attend Jaialdi, one of the world’s largest Basque festivals, learning a little about the city’s history as you go will deepen your appreciation of its charm.
Start the day around 8am
Hop in the car and start your day with a drive to the Camels Back trailhead, located at the dead end of 9th Street into the foothills. Enjoy the historic architecture-filled streets of the late 1800s and early 1900s on the north end until you reach the dusty, informal parking lot. Then, wake up with a hike along the Florence Trail (#43). As you reach the top of the short, steep ridge, stop to admire the bungalows and Queen Anne-style houses scattered below.
From this vantage point, Boise is truly the “City of Trees”. In the fall, the valley turns into a sea of reds and golds, dotted with downtown office buildings and the dome of the Idaho State Capitol. Follow the Camels Back Trail (#40) across the ridge for the best views, then return the way you came or go down the steps into the park and around the mountain back to your car.
8:45 a.m. – Head Downtown
Drive downtown on 9th Street, park at the ParkBOI 9th & Front Garage ($3 per hour or $15 per day) to avoid the hassle of feeding the meter, then walk a short distance down 8th Street to Slow by Slow Coffee. take a deep breath of caffeinated air and enjoy the pleasant tunes coming from the jukebox: you’re about to experience Boise’s best You’re about to experience some of Boise’s best pours. Don’t forget to order a locally baked Gaston’s Bakery croissant from the case (I love almond croissants). Grab a chair on the sidewalk and enjoy a leisurely breakfast, watching the kitchen staff, bicyclists and dog-walking locals stroll through the crowds of downtown’s “Restaurant Row.
10 a.m. – Explore Boise’s stores
Stroll through waking Boise and browse the most popular local stores. At Idaho Made and Mixed Greens, you’ll find handmade souvenirs, from jewelry and leather goods to art prints and beard care products. The Record Exchange is a great place to browse used records (find Boise’s favorite son, Built to Spill) and sought-after merchandise from the Treefort Music Festival.
Make sure your path takes you through the campus of Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP), an office and community space that looks like a collection of discarded glass children’s blocks. Stroll through the on-site tractor collection and let your inner child relax on the oversized playground, which includes a three-story climbing structure and a five-story slide (the slide opens at 10 a.m. Saturday and noon Tuesday through Friday).
12 noon – Head to Warehouse Food Hall for lunch
From JUMP, cross 9th St along Broad St, then turn left on 8th St and stop for lunch at Warehouse Food Hall. This bustling spot doubles as an incubator for local restaurants, with booths selling everything from Korean Wok N’ Roll to Texas-style meats (Neighbor Tim’s BBQ) and Thai-style pizza. Sit at a communal table and talk to Boise locals.
1 p.m. – Explore Boise by bike
After lunch, download the Vall-eBike bike share app and pick up a bike from a nearby bike rack, or pick up a Lime, Bird or Spin electric scooter from almost any street corner and head south. At the Idaho Anne Frank Memorial for Human Rights, you’ll learn about Idaho human rights activists like Senator Frank Church before joining the Boise River Greenbelt, a 25-mile riverside bike path and walking trail that connects Boise to the rapidly upscaling suburbs of Garden City and the upscale bedroom communities of Eagle. Follow the Boise River west for 2.5 miles until you reach Esther Simplot Park, then take the bridge on the left through Garden City.
1:20 p.m. – Visit Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District
Continue along the Greenbelt for 1.5 miles, then leave the trail at 43rd St and walk through the Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District’s quirky art studios and auto repair stores until you reach the urban brewery and brewery scene in the heart of Garden City on West Chinden Blvd. Enjoy a wine tasting at Par Terre Winery or Cinder Wines, or head back a few blocks to Boise for an afternoon of axe throwing at the Section 37 Axe Room ($25 per person per hour).
