Boise is a complete city, with a long list of things to do and sites to see. Cultural sites and performances, nature centers and city parks, extensive facilities for golf and tennis, professional sports, mainstream and boutique shopping, plus an active nightlife all combine to create a sense of complexity and adventure.
The Basque Museum and Cultural Center in downtown Boise preserves the Basque heritage and gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about this colorful culture through collections of manuscripts, artifacts, documents and photos. The museum also manages educational programs and organizes Basque activities and celebrations that are open to the public.
Boise is also home to the Idaho Black History Museum, which promotes awareness about the history and experiences of the African American community. It is one of only a few black history museums in the country. The museum offers workshops, performances, lectures and other educational programs and is housed in the historically significant St. Paul Baptist Church. The African American congregation built the church in 1921; at that time, it was one of just a few gathering places for the African American communities in Idaho. The building became a registered Historic Place in 1982 and was donated to a preservation committee in 1993. The museum opened on the site in 1995.
Another example of Boise's cultural sensitivity is the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial located in the North End neighborhood of the city. The memorial is an educational park honoring the struggles of Anne Frank under the weight of religious and cultural persecution. The site was built with citizen donations and through fundraising efforts of Idaho school children.
Boise has several world-class attractions that cater to nature enthusiasts. The World Center for Birds of Prey, for example, is the world headquarters for the Peregrine Fund. The Peregrine Fund uses the center primarily to breed birds of prey for release into the wild. Research and education are also core parts of the center's mission. Visitors are invited to visit the Velma Morrison Interpretive Center to learn more about raptors and their environmental needs.
The Boise River runs through downtown, breaking up the hustle and bustle with its scenic banks. Running along the river's shoreline is the Boise River Greenbelt, a system of paths that links city parks. The Greenbelt is often busy with people biking, inline skating, jogging or walking.
Several sites in the Boise River Greenbelt area provide a broader view of Boise wildlife. These include Zoo Boise, Morrison-Knudsen Nature Center, Idaho Botanical Gardens and three large city parks.
Zoo Boise is home to about 175 different animals, including tigers, leopards, deer, camels and zebra. Surprisingly convenient to reach, the 10-acre site is a great venue choice for a family fun day.
Nearby, the Morrison-Knudsen Center features under-water viewing windows, through which visitors can watch several species of fish in their natural habitats. The center's Stream Walk has nearly 20 noted spots of interest, where one can see everything from muskrat to lava rocks.
For those who appreciate the vibrancy and color of cultivated gardens, the Idaho Botanical Garden will surely be a favorite retreat. The 50-acre site is located on the farm and nursery grounds of the now-closed Idaho State Penitentiary. (The penitentiary closed in 1973.) The Garden features 13 themed specialty gardens, including the Historic Iris Garden, Herb Garden and the Contemporary English Garden.
The three large city parks, which anchor the Greenbelt, are Kathryn Albertson Park, Ann Morrison Park and Julia Davis Park. Kathryn Albertson Park is an undeveloped wetland habitat, used primarily for its walking trails. The thick plant life and scenic ponds make for an intensely beautiful atmosphere and two gazebos on the site provide scenic resting spots. The park is named after the wife of Joe Albertson, founder of Albertson's, Inc.
In contrast to the lush serenity of Kathryn Albertson Park, Ann Morrison Park is often busy with softball, soccer or football games, pick-up tennis matches and children stretching their imaginations on the Candy Cane playground. This park is 145 acres in size and is located conveniently close to downtown Boise. Ann Morrison was the wife of Harry Morrison, founder of the Morrison-Knudsen Company.
Julia Davis Park is a memorial to the woman of the same name who would generously offer her kindness and support to Oregon Trail travelers passing by her town at the turn of the 20th century. Today, the park dedicated to the gracious Julia Davis houses several of Boise's renowned cultural sites, including the Idaho Black History Museum and The Cultural Network, a consortium of organizations that serves the cultural interests of Boise residents and visitors.
Boise has many additional park sites and public recreation areas throughout the city. Ball fields, soccer fields and basketball courts serve the needs of youth and adult sports leagues, while playgrounds, picnic areas, pools and fishing ponds provide families with plenty of Saturday-afternoon activities. The city also manages three skate parks, a BMX dirt jump park, and several volleyball and tennis courts.
If golf is your sport of choice, Boise will not disappoint. There are several options in the city, and several more within driving distance. Public courses in town include Boise Ranch Golf Course, Indian Lakes Golf Club, Shadow Valley Golf Course and Warm Springs Golf Course. Crane Creek Country Club, Hillcrest Country Club and Plantation Golf Club are Boise's private facilities. Additional courses are located in Eagle, Nampa, Payette and Meridian.
Just outside of Boise there are a multitude of recreation areas, serving nearly every outdoor interest imaginable. Ski resorts, equestrian communities, campgrounds, white water rafting runs, kayaking sites, snowmobile trails, hunting and fishing sites and more can be found within an hour's drive of the city. Bogus Basin, for example, a popular ski resort, is only about 16 miles outside Boise. Equestrian groups of all disciplines, including hunters, dressage and western, are popular in the region, particularly in the community of Eagle. For hikers and climbers, the Rocky Mountain foothills feature many rock climbing areas, including Tablerock and the cliffs near Lucky Peak Dam. Nearby, backpackers and explorers frequent the Sawtooth Mountains.
For a more structured retreat, Boise locals often head to the mountains for a stay at one of several dude ranches. Some of these are working cattle ranches; others may offer hunting trips as well as horseback riding, fishing and hiking.
The city's openness to cultural experience creates a fun and diverse set of nightlife activities. From salsa dancing to live blues to dinner theatre, you won't have trouble finding your favorite genre in Boise. Hannah's is popular with the 30-something, rock and roll crowd, while the Gamekeeper Restaurant & Lounge caters to a more sophisticated crowd. Boise also has its share of movie theaters, coffee houses and sports bars.
Coldewell Banker
Aspen Realty
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