You might not know it, but unheralded Boise has a lot of natural and historic charm worth exploring, with a 29-mile greenbelt along the Boise River with paved paths and natural walkways. There’s also a whitewater park, and .
The Shoshone, Bannock and Northern Paiute tribes dwelled in the Boise Valley until the “Boise Valley Peoples” were displaced in large part because of the discovery of gold by white settlers in the area in the 1800s. Boise was made the capital after Lewiston when gold was found closer to Boise. It was French-Canadian fur trappers who exclaimed, “Les Bois!” which translates to “The Woods!” when they saw the tree-lined river; it eventually became Boise.
Local bike and boat rentals are available for some outdoor adventures in the city.
Yet, as delightful as the river is to play in and relax near, visitors are urged to seek out sights and experiences that make Boise special. (Plus, there are nonstop flights from Denver to Boise that take less than two hours, making this an easy weekend getaway.)
The Basque Museum and Cultural Center
Visit the Basque Museum and Cultural Center on the . The Basque people came from Europe to America in search of work in the late 1800s, when sheepherding was a way to make a living. The sheep industry grew and, along with it, the Basque population in Boise. Local restaurants specialize in Basque food, and a large festival, “Jaialadi,” is held every five years (a smaller one is yearly).
Further north in Ketchum, the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival includes traditional Basque dance performances. For a taste of Basque food, head to for chorizo, bocadillos and cheesecake or for a lamb burger or stay the night. For a Basque-themed room, book a night at the nearby, where two of its 57 themed rooms celebrate the Basque culture as well. The includes a historic home, and the exhibits tell the stories of Basque people in other Western states as well.
Potatoes, potatoes, potatoes
Seventeen states have an official state vegetable. Of those, six declared a potato or sweet potato their own. But Idaho is clearly the most well-known for this humble tuber.
In Boise, you can lean in on the designation. Within walking distance of each other in downtown Boise, several restaurants celebrate the potato:
-
- is a fast casual spot where you order your baked potato like a burrito, with various toppings.
- Ansots offers a selection of delicate croquetas or patatas bravas.
- Hemlock (inside Inn at 500) can provide a “Tableside Baked Potato Experience,” in which a server takes a huge Idaho potato and dresses it with toppings like lobster butter or prime filet burnt ends and more.
- offers a rotating selection of potatoes daily — russet, red, blue, gold or sweet — custom-cut to go with your burger or salad.
- And not far from downtown is the which offers a special kind of sundae that looks exactly like a baked potato, called the “Idaho Ice Cream Potato.”
If simply eating potatoes (or lookalikes) isn’t enough, book the Idaho Potato Room at the Inn at 500, a locally-owned boutique hotel, or the , about a 30-minute drive from downtown Boise in the middle of a field.
In local shops, you’ll find more tater and spud creations, like candy bars, toppings and T-shirts.
And a visit here can be timed with , a fall festival.
Human rights memorial
Boise is home to the only Anne Frank Memorial in the United States, the , part of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. Itap an inviting spot along the city’s Greenbelt with benches, fountains and statues, with quotes about human rights carved into the rocks. Tours are available by appointment, but the memorial, opened in 2002, can be visited anytime for free.
A charming prison
Imagine you’re a common criminal in the 1870s who gets arrested in Idaho. Your punishment: quarrying the stone to build your own prison. Thatap how , one of four territorial prisons open to the public today, was built — and it is surprisingly charming. The prison includes expansive rose gardens and books in the gift shop about a beloved cat that lived with an inmate.
Prisoners from this penitentiary were enlisted to help build the state’s capitol building just a few miles away in downtown Boise. Closed in 1973, the penitentiary grounds have hiking trails and it abuts the , located in a historical neighborhood.
Birds of prey
Birders may find The Peregrine Fund’s of interest; it boasts the largest captive California Condor population in the world. On this 580-acre property, located a short drive from downtown Boise, you’ll find the “Archives of Falconry,” believed to be the largest “repository of falconry material culture, literature and historical records” in the world.
Time a visit here for one of the daily shows where raptors — owls, falcons, condors and more — fly about with trainers.
More to see
Time your visit to include a game at Boise State University to see the country’s only blue artificial turf, locally referred to as for the shade of blue matching the cartoon characters. For Denverites, the Boise Broncos blue and orange will be very familiar, but this shade of blue turf is now legally protected from being imitated so don’t expect to see it at Empower Field at Mile High.
For travelers with more than a weekend (and a car available), the in Idaho’s Magic Valley is about a two-hour drive from Boise. There, visitors can opt for hikes or scenic drives to spots seemingly hidden just below the corn and potato fields of this region.
